Tangled

Unshift 254

Unshift 254

254 Ava: In the Attic

Just as I'm about to suggest we try something else-anything else, like banging until we find at hidden door-movement catches my eye. A shimmer ripples across the far wall, like heat waves rising from sun- baked asphalt. It swirls and coalesces, taking on the familiar appearance of the portals we used to travel to Dakota Sanctuary,

Relief floods through me, tempered by caution.

Magister Orion asked for a portal, but his directions were vague. There's a hell of a lot of world out there.

Marcus steps forward, his jaw set with determination. "I'll go first," he says, his tone brooking no argument. Before I can protest, he's through the portal, vanishing in a blink.

Vanessa and I exchange a quick glance, an entire conversation passing between us in that split second. Together, we step into the swirling vortex.

The world twists and blurs around us, and for a heart-stopping moment, I feel like I'm falling through an endless void. Then, abruptly, solid ground materializes beneath my feet. I stumble forward, colliding with warm bodies in the darkness.

"Oof!" Vanessa grunts as we all tangle together, a mess of limbs in a space that feels far too

small.

"Sorry," I mutter, trying to extricate myself without elbowing anyone in the face. "Where are we?"

A rustling sound, then a click. Soft light floods the space.

Marcus stands a few feet away, his hand on a dangling pull cord attached to a bare bulb.

what appears to be an attic, but unlike any attic I've ever seen. The space is absolutely crammed with... stuff. Artifacts of every

the rafters.

surfaces cloudy with age. Delicate porcelain figurines pose next to weathered leather-bound books. Intricate clockwork devices. tick softly, their gears exposed like

clean. No cobwebs drape the corners, no dust coats the surfaces. It's as if time has been suspended here, preserving everything in a perfect state

her eyes wide as she takes in the

shake my head, at a loss for words. The air itself seems charged with potential, tingling against my skin. My newly awakened magical senses hum, picking up on some sort of energy present in the space. Marcus moves cautiously, his trained eye

13

In the

wouldn't touch anything if I were you. No

We might not know where we are, but I can tell

I'd reach out and grasp them. I clench my fists at my sides, resisting the

how to contact Lucas and the others. They need to

damn communication orb, but at least Vanessa

stay with Vanessa. I'll investigate the area. We need to make sure it's

doesn't mean

don't hear anything, but

can hear

go dark.

coming from somewhere below us. My breath catches in my throat as I exchange alarmed glances with

We're not alone.

and Vanessa move in tandem, shoving me behind them. Their bodies form a living shield, and I struggle to quell the surge of guilt that rises in

time for heroics or misplaced pride. I force

my temple. The air feels thick, oppressive. Every creak of the floorboards beneath us sends a jolt

the tension radiating from Marcus and Vanessa. Their muscles are coiled tight, ready to spring into action. My body thrums with nervous energy, my heart booming in