Enchanted High Book I

Charlie was quite furious when they explained to him again that the building had appeared by itself at sunrise. ‘After all that searching in the library!’ He had complained. ‘Do you know that I didn’t even catch a glint of sleep last night?’ This comment had made Dominic furious too, because, after all, they were ones who fought off a sand monster.

After Charlie’s rounds, he calmed a little and began helping them when they entered the village gates again. For June, the village felt even more familiar. But the people; the woman, the children, the girl she had seen with scales - they still weren’t there. The village was lifeless, deserted.

Although, now and again, she would catch a slight movement from the corner of her eye, only to realize that the wind had blown the sand.

‘Are you okay?’ Nicole asked.

‘I’m fine.’ June replied.

They had reached deeper into the village this time, searching through many buildings, but there was still no sign of the tree. Sand followed them everywhere they went, delving them into its lame color.

‘Go left ... yes into that building.’ Charlie would say and they were forced to follow his instruction.

Half an hour later, they had reached a manmade tunnel arched into the side of the wall. They had to crouch to catch a glimpse of what was inside, but all they saw was darkness. Dominic clicked his fingers; a small flame ignited, providing enough light to view the tunnel. The sand flowed into it as far as they could see; the walls ancient and the roof looking as though it would collapse at any moment.

‘Charlie, there’s a tunnel here,’ Dominic said, feeling the outline of the entrance.

‘Yes,’ Charlie replied. ‘There’s a chance the tree could be in there.’ So they switched on the torches, to add to light of Dominic’s flame, and walked into the opening.

Apart from James discovering the bat skull, nothing interesting happened. They just walked and walked deeper into the cave with no idea whatsoever what may lurk at the end. It was like a long corridor, just another passage through a labyrinth, only difference was, it only allowed them to walk in one direction, one tedious path, for a long time.

After what June estimated to be about forty minutes, Dominic, who was leading the way with the walkie-talkie in his hand to constantly update Charlie, stopped dead in his tracks.

‘What’s wrong?’ June asked, making her way towards him. But she stopped too – staring at the wall of sand. It was a wall, alright, a wall that prevented them from advancing any further, covering any space from the floor to the wall.

‘It’s a dead end,’ said Dominic.

‘What?’ Charlie sounded confused. ‘No, you’ve only just stopped right at the center of the tunnel, there’s a long way ahead of you.’

Dominic frowned, looking around; at the muddy roof, at the floor. ‘There isn’t.’ He replied firmly.

‘Yeah,’ Nicole said. ‘All we see is a wall.’

‘Huh?’ Charlie said. ‘There must be a secret entrance or something...’

June, Nicole, James and Dominic exchanged a skeptical expression, while Charlie contemplated the matter.

‘Look for a hidden handle or button.’ Charlie said.

The group searched the four corners of the wall without much luck. June felt the sand, it was rougher than the outside sand, and colder too.

‘Check the roof of the tunnel.’ Charlie instructed, which the group did, they searched every inch of the low ceiling within three meters of the wall.

‘Nothing,’ Dominic said.

’Maybe you have to pick up a certain grain of dust...′ Charlie began.

James sighed. He hadn’t slept a wink last night, and he started to feel the effects hitting him. Yawning, he leaned tiredly on the wall behind him. But fell backwards instantly, into the wall that had suddenly disappeared.

The others quickly rushed to him, not because he had fallen onto the floor, but because a segment of the wall behind him had slid open, leaving a place ideal for a portrait to hang from. But instead of a portrait; there was a thick piece of parchment neatly rolled up into a scroll.

‘What was that?’ Charlie asked, referring to the sound that was made when the wall slid back.

Dominic picked up the scroll. ‘I – I found something.’

Nicole frowned at him.

‘I mean James found something.’ Dominic corrected.

‘Great, what is it?’ Charlie asked eagerly.

Only one color but not one size,

Stuck at the bottom yet easily flies,

Present in sun but not in rain,

Doing no harm and feeling no pain

They stared at the piece of yellowing parchment in Dominic’s hands.

‘What are we supposed to make of that?’ said Nicole.

‘It’s a riddle!’ Charlie exclaimed. ‘This is great for your problem solving skills, now think, what’s only one colour but not one size?’

June thought. ’Water?

‘No. Fire,’ Dominic suggested.

‘Okay, what’s stuck at the bottom yet easily flies?’ Charlie said.

‘Definitely fire.’ Dominic continued.

‘Present in sun but not in rain?’

‘True, the sun is a big ball of fire and a fire would go off in rain,’ said Dominic, grinning.

‘Doing no harm and feeling no pain?’

Dominic thought, crossing his arms. ’Well, fire itself won’t feel any pain, but if someone were to get burnt then they would be in pain.′

‘So it’s not fire,’ said Charlie.

‘Nope,’ Dominic replied.

‘Then what is it?’ Nicole asked. ‘This doesn’t make any sense.’ She stared at the others.

June gazed around absent-mindedly, as if the answer was written on the walls of the tunnel. She stared at the torch that James was holding; he pointed it at the riddle, making sense of the words. She flicked the switch of her own torch and pointed it directly at him, making him cover his eyes from the bright white light.

‘Hey, do you mind?’ he said, raising his arm to shield his eyes.

June moved the torch away from him, guiding it to the wall instead. She placed her hand in front of it, blocking the light only partially, so that she could see her shadow. Quickly, she looked at the riddle again, her mind assembling the puzzle.

Only one color but not one size,

Stuck at the bottom yet easily flies,

Present in sun but not in rain,

Doing no harm and feeling no pain

She grinned, turning around to face the others. ‘I know what it is – that!’ she pointed at the wall behind James.

‘The brick?’ Nicole asked uneasily.

‘No,’ June walked closer to the wall. ‘The shadow.’

At that moment, the wall that stood blocking their way, instantly dropped to the ground in a pile of sand, pouring them with dust along the way. They stared at the heap of sand.

‘Ladies first,’ Dominic gestured.

Nicole shot him a blank stare, but stepped over the sand with the rest following close behind.

Polkadot is playing the piano. The same tune, again. The same haunting tune. She’s thinking of someone. Someone. I don’t know who, and I’m afraid to ask. I wouldn’t dare to ask. Once, I was too inquisitive ... a light flashed in her eyes. It was horrible.

Love from all the secrets my boss keeps,

--THUG.