A Journey To The Clouds, Escape From Cloud Castle - Book Two - ✓

Chapter Twenty-five

Silence filled the rest of the way to Lily's cottage. Not of awkwardness, or anger, but of the massive emotions. We couldn't speak. Just today, we had both said our first I love you. I couldn't tell you how lucky I am right now.

I take a deep breath and I pause where I'm standing. Ally keeps slowly trekking through the forest but I grab her hand and pull her towards me. She gasps softly as she realizes how close we are to each other. I put my hands on her waist, pulling her even closer. I then saw her smile a smile that I only could have imagined. So much passion, and love, and curiosity all in one action.

"I know this might be a little late, or early, depending on how you think of it, but I thought I could do this now before we both end up missing the opportunity." I rush. She has a puzzled look on her face and I smile weakly as I softly trace my fingers on her cheekbones. Then, I do it.

I lean forward slowly before my lips meet hers.

Ally tenses up for a few seconds, before realizing what I have been holding in the urge to do, and responds with almost as much enthusiasm. We stand there for a few minutes, my hands sliding up to her back, up to her neck, pulling her in, and then back to her waist. Her body curves into mine. It feels like a perfect fit, although it was meant to be.

She places her right hand on my neck, and her free hand grazes through my hair, pressing me into her.

It felt so magical and so surreal. So soft and sweet. When we break apart, we can't stop smiling. I press my forehead against hers and I let out a laugh softly before moving back in to kiss her one last time, sure to make it better than the last.

When we break apart for the second time to take a breath, Ally takes a deep breath, ready to speak, when stone birds start to flutter around us, and we break apart immediately. There was only a brief feeling of surprise, as remembrance set in; birds last flew around us like this when we had first found the entrance.

One of the doves flew in a slower pace, allowing me to take a closer look at it. I then notice a small piece of paper in its beak. It flies slower and slower, gradually getting lower and lower into the air until I can jump up to reach it. I gently rip the piece of paper from its beak and skim it. Again and again and again. Then, an abrupt flash of purple light blinds me as I feel the ground move beneath me.

A split millisecond later, I feel fresh dirt under my feet and I feel warm rays on my back. When my sight begins to return, I instantly know where we are; we're back in New York. We landed in the outskirts of the forest we entered when starting the quest.

Ally looks shocked, and confused. I wouldn't be surprised, as I also have those feelings. Though, the similarities of this experience compared to how we got to the Fantasy World in the first place were obvious. The birds circled around us when we found the entrance, but they then circled around us and transported us back to New York. One question remains, however. How could the birds transport us back to New York, if they had to create the entrance in the first place?

Then, It hits me.

They are the entrance!

"Connor how did they-" Ally doesn't get to finish her sentence when someone screams, "Ally!"

Me and Ally abruptly turn around until I recognize Ally's two friends, Kylie and Melinda. I immediately want to ask how they got here, but I stop myself. We have much more important things to talk about then how they found us. After a few brief seconds of silence, Ally blurts out, "You need to come with us!"

Melinda and Kylie's eyes widen at the tone of Ally's voice. Their shock turns to worry in an instant.

"What? Ally, are you okay?" Melinda asks quietly.

"I knew something was up." I hear Kylie mutter. Melinda glares at her before turning back around.

"She's fine. It's true. You need to come with us." I rush in. I then read aloud the piece of paper I had just received from the dove.

"Two allies: M and K are destined to help you on this quest to save the whole history of Fantasy." I recite. "You two are the only people we know whose names start with an M and a K. Unless you don't want to help save the world?" Ally chimes in cooly. Melinda and Kylie look at each other, and then to me in shock. Melinda then closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and opens them again.

"Where do we need to go?" Melinda asks.

"The Fantasy World."