Kingdom Keepers VI(12)
Amanda was returning.
She opened her eyes, threw her legs off the upper bunk, and jumped to the floor, arriving at Jess’s side as her sister sat up in pain, her startled eyes wide. She grabbed for her leg. Amanda covered Jess’s lips and signaled quiet. Jess squeezed her eyes shut and nodded, tears running down her face.
Amanda carefully peeled back the bedding and winced. Even in the dark, she could see the stain on the sheets and the open wound on Jess’s leg. She checked repeatedly to make sure their roommate was sleeping. She helped Jess out of bed, and together they went into the hallway bathroom. Amanda locked the door behind them and ran warm water.
“The bandages didn’t return,” she told Jess.
“I sort of figured that out. The ice didn’t work so great either, I’m sorry to say.”
Amanda touched around the wound. In fact, it was incredibly cold—the ice treatment had worked— which meant it was only going to hurt worse as it warmed up.
“There’s ointment here,” Amanda said, checking the medicine cabinet. “I’ll wash it. Then we’ll bandage it again.”
“I’m going to be fine.”
“It’s nasty.”
“It’s like a few cuts all together. No big deal.”
“It is a big deal, and you know it.”
Jess bit her lips as Amanda washed the wound with soap and water.
“You’re a lot braver than I am,” Amanda said.
“We need to get back on the ship.”
“Chill. We need to get you healed.”
“I had almost the same dream again. Maleficent and the Evil Queen. Someplace dark. A cave, I think, same as last time. But this time I was inside, and if it was Charlene, I don’t think she was alone. It looked like her from the back, but when she turned…there was a scarf wrapped around her. Maybe a rope around her neck. I couldn’t see her face clearly. I don’t know exactly what was going on, but if it was Charlene, I think they meant to kill her. We have to protect her. We have to tell the Keepers.”
“I can send Philby an e-mail. You stay still.”
“It doesn’t feel right. We need to be on the ship with them.”
“I know, but we’re not. And you’re in no condition to go anywhere.”
Amanda’s phone vibrated. It was insanely late to receive a text or a call. Driven by curiosity, she checked the device.
“It’s from Wanda. A text.”
“Saying?”
Amanda read, “‘Sorry to hear about current situation. Text me back when you two are able to TAKE A NAP.’ She capitalized that last part. What’s with that?”
“She probably thought you wouldn’t get it until tomorrow morning.”
“So?”
“So someone wants us to cross over.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen! You’re injured!”
“Amanda, she knows that. They wouldn’t cross us over if we couldn’t handle it. They must need us.”
“Need you, you mean,” Amanda said, emphasizing Jess’s importance. For years it had been the same: everyone wanted what Jess had. Her ability to dream the future was more precious than money.
“I’ll probably feel better crossed over. So if you’re worried about me, don’t. Write her back and tell her we’re going to sleep now.”
“It’s not right.”
“It’s Wayne. It’s Wanda. It’s right. They’ll have us back by morning. Remind them of that in the text—that Mrs. Nash will check on us if we’re not down for breakfast.”
“As if you’ll get downstairs like that,” Amanda said, the phone suddenly heavy in her hand.
* * *
Amanda awoke beneath a superstructure of metal beams on an open-air, circular tiled terrace. It took her several seconds to recognize it as the base of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
She studied her hand’s peculiar quality—a luminescence that she wished was hers. It was, in fact, her hologram’s. She’d crossed over.
Jess was to her left. Amanda wore the boxer shorts and spaghetti-strap tank top that she always slept in. Jess still wore the clothes she’d been wearing when she was injured on the ship. Her bandages were blood-soaked and nasty.
“How are you?” Amanda asked.
“I don’t think it hurts as much.”
Amanda took Jess’s hologram hands and began dragging her awkwardly into the shadows. In that moment, a voice called out.
“Willow?”
A red-haired girl in a purple clamshell bikini top approached. Amanda froze. It was Ariel!
Recalling Willa’s stories about Ariel saving her here in the Studios, Amanda smiled and called back.