Page 16 of The Cursed Kingdom

I sigh, looking around the shed once more. There’s a short, wooden chair toppled over on my left, a godsend if I’ve ever seen one. I don’t find anything else of interest, though. This isn’t precisely the shelter I hoped for, but it’ll do. The roof seems sturdy, and the thick, wooden walls are hopefully enough to keep any nighttime predators away.

It would suck to die on my first night.

I step farther into the forgotten structure, avoiding the splintered wood on the ground, and righten the chair. It wobbles, and I prepare for the legs to splinter underneath me as I tentatively lower myself onto the hard seat.

It creaks under my weight, which I think is quite rude, but it doesn’t break.

Besides the chair, the floor is the only other place to sit—and it’s covered in dust. I take a moment to rest before digging into my backpack and pulling out my water bottle. It’s full, and I send a mental prayer to the gods of insulation as I realize the water is still cold. Splurging on this stupid thing was the best decision I’ve ever made, and I let out a quiet moan as I unscrew the lid and take a few calculated sips.

I don’t know how long it will take me to find civilization or water, and I need to preserve what little I brought with me.

I allow myself only a few moments to rest before deciding to take the risk of searching through the junk pile in the corner ofthe room. There could be something helpful in there, and I need all the supplies I can get.

My movements unsettle the dust, and I wince as it gets into my eyes. The magic here doesn’t seem to be aggravating me, but the dust sure as fuck is. I turn and sneeze into my elbow before beginning my search.

After almost two hours of pulling apart and inspecting every piece of trash in the pile, I call it. Besides a half-broken pencil and what’s either the handle of a hairbrush or a very painful sex toy, there’s nothing to be found here.

I step outside, needing to get out of the dusty space before I cough up a lung.

The sun is quickly streaking across the sky, signaling this place is likely on a twenty-four-hour cycle like the human realm. That’s good. I know the human realm, and the more similarities I find, the better.

I don’t want the faeries to recognize me as fresh meat. That’ll only lead to questions I don’t want to answer, and I need to do everything in my power to protect Lill. There’s a reason she and her mother ran away from this place, and I’m not about to bring a bunch of faeries to her.

The wooden steps of the cabin creak as I plop down on them, and I rest my chin on my knees as I stare out into the seemingly endless prairie. I suppose I’ll just continue forward.

I’ll eventually run into something—either a person, building, or road.

I put in too much work just to get lost in a damn field and die from hunger or thirst. That’s too embarrassing a way to go.

Chapter Six

ABBY

IF THERE’S ANYTHING I’m sure of, it’s that I’m never going to sleep on a wooden floor again. Not if I have any say in the matter.

Every muscle in my back aches, and I stretch out my spine with a wince before shoving open the creaky shed door and stepping outside. The temperature dropped slightly overnight, just like it would back in the human realm, but it wasn’t anything my sweatshirt couldn’t handle.

There’s still a slight chill to the morning air, but I assume it will eventually warm to yesterday’s temperature. In preparation, I shrug off my sweatshirt and shove it into my bag. I’ve got a lot of ground to cover, and I’ll be wishing for this cool air later today.

I might as well enjoy it while I can.

Caffeine withdrawals are already setting in, but it’s not unbearable. I should’ve anticipated this and cut back before coming here, but I’m weak. I love my coffee, and the second I step into my workplace break room and smell the overwhelming scent of brewed beans, I can’t stop myself from pouring a giant mug.

I sit on the steps and shove a handful of nuts from my backpack into my mouth. I should be mindful about how muchfood I consume, but I need energy for the long day ahead. I could only pack so much food, but I think I did a good job. I have a giant bag of nuts and beef jerky. It’ll have to do, at least until I reach civilization.

Once I do, I’ll see if I can flirt my way into a meal or two. I’m moderately attractive for a human, and I’m hoping that helps me here.

I’ve considered trying to pickpocket, but I have a feeling that won’t blow over well. Lill’s always said faeries have quick reflexes, and I don’t think taking the risk of getting thrown into whatever their version of prison is would be my brightest move.

Magic still swirls around me, but I’m adjusting quickly. My brain’s blocking it out just as it does my nose in my peripheral vision, and I’m hoping I soon won’t notice it at all.

I finish my handful of nuts and step away from the shed, peering around to ensure no faeries are lingering nearby, but the prairie is just as empty as it was yesterday. I suppose I should be relieved Lill’s portal didn’t draw any attention, but it sure would be nice to have somebody to ask for directions right about now.

I have no idea where I am or how to get to the Redstall Forest, and I’m nervous about walking in the wrong direction.

There’s a noticeable path where my footsteps yesterday crushed the long grass, and I stare at the general area where Lill’s portal spit me out before sucking in a shaky breath and turning back to the shed. To say I’m scared would be the understatement of the century, but I can’t let it paralyze me.

I need to get moving.

---