Page 76 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

As if the thought of him alone calls him to me, he appears across from me, a worried look on his face that soon disappears once he spots me.

He moves over to me, his eyes scanning my face.

“I’m fine.” I glance up at him as his eyes run over every inch of me, making sure there’s not a scratch on me before he’s happy.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone else here,” I tell him.

He nods before glancing around, narrowing his eyes on the grove of dark trees.

“I don’t think we’re in another Realm. There’s an invisible barrier that runs along the edge of the field and trees. It’s small. A lot smaller than your island.”

“It looks like a pocket world,” he says.

“A pocket world?” I never heard anything like it before.

“Small places created for one thing or another. A garden for instance. Or a room.”

“Why?” Why would someone go to the trouble to create such a thing? The power it would take alone would be extreme.

“For privacy, fun or whatever you require.” Hook glances around, his gaze finding the lake and field of flowers. “I haven’t come across many. They take a lot of power to create and sustain.”

Just like I thought. It seems like such a waste but who am I to judge?

“How do we get out? I can’t see any doors or portals.” I look at Hook. “How did you follow me in here?”

One corner of his mouth twists slightly. “I inspected the bush and around it when you disappeared.”

“Did you touch anything?” I ask.

“I ran my hand across the flowers to see if there was something hidden behind it.”

Flowers…The red flower with a blue center flashes across my mind. I glance around for anything similar when I find a tall bush with one not too far away from us.

“Did you touch a red flower with a blue center?” I ask, my mind already coming up with an idea of how to get out of here.

Hook frowns as his gaze swings to me. “Yes. Why?”

Before I get the chance to test out my little theory, Cash appears beside Hook. His wide eyes sweep around the garden. “Woah. Where are we?”

“Basilius’ hidden garden,” I mumble while looking around for more blue and red flowers.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Hook freeze.

“Basilius’ garden? The one he wanted to show you?” Hook narrows his eyes on the garden, a sharp look in his eyes that makes me think he’d actually consider burning it down.

“Either of you figure out how to get out?” Cash asks with a wince.

“We’re working on it.” Hook clenches his jaw as he glares over at the shadow tree.

I shake my head at him before moving toward the bush with the red and blue flower.

“I think I have an idea,” I tell them.

Both give me their undivided attention before following me over to the bush.

“I noticed a red and blue flower before I came in here.” I point at the flower. “If I’m right, it should bring us back to where we were.”

“But you can’t be sure?” Cash asks with a furrowed brow.

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