Kingdom Keepers: Next Generation

Chapter 3: A Cry for Help

Finn Whitman

"They're back."

Wanda's words felt like a balloon inside of me had been popped by a pair of scissors. As she explained what had transpired at the firehouse, I tried to control my breathing. I had to keep the panic rising in my throat from showing itself in my voice.

It couldn't be possible. The Overtakers had been defeated. Maleficent and Chernabog were dead. The OTs hadn't reorganized since their defeat- almost 20 years ago. Now all of sudden, Wayne is kidnapped right out of his home? They were the only explanation, but my brain didn't want to admit it.

"Finn," Wanda's voice snapped me back to reality.

"We'll find him,"

The promise came out of my mouth before I could stop it. How could I promise that? We weren't as young as we used to be, and we hadn't crossed over in years. We had kids, responsibilities. We couldn't just go running around the parks like we used to. Right?

"I have a meeting with Brad today, maybe we can cross over and ask around. Do you want to come over for dinner? Alexander, Elijah, and Emma are already coming over to watch a movie with Lucas and Sofia; I can invite Philby, Willa, Charlene, Maybeck, and Jess over as well."

The plan came together without much thought. My head was still spinning from the news. Amanda leaned against the door frame, with the kids all off to school via bus or bike. She looked concerned.

"Finn," Wanda's voice trembled, as if she was just holding back tears, "Thank you."

Finn looked right at Amanda, "We're going to find him."

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"How are we supposed to do this?" Philby asked.

After all of these years, I could still see the gears turning in his head as if we were solving the Stonecutter's Quill or one of Wayne's riddles.

We were eating lunch at a small diner near the Disney property. Philby and I both had a break around the same time today, something that doesn't happen too often as he tends to work longer hours than the rest of our friends, developing some software or another.

"I just talked to Brad," I said, swallowing my food, "He agrees this is important. He's going to look into what it would take for us to cross over again."

"Willa's going to love that," Philby said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It's for Wayne," I said, trying not to let my anger seep into my words.

"I know," he said quickly, "And that's why she'll come around. But crossing over was always dangerous, and now we have to consider how our holograms will be affected. It's a lot to figure out."

He took another bite of his food, "Have you told Amanda yet?"

"She knows Wayne's gone, but not about crossing over." I paused, "She's not going to take this well either, is she?"

"Probably not."

I groaned. I knew everyone would help, but I didn't want to have to deal with the reluctance of crossing over again.

"Charlene and Maybeck will be excited." Philby said, in an attempt to lighten the mood, "They're always down for an adventure."

It didn't help. The weight of this mission came crashing down on me, even more so than before. Every bit of confidence that I could find Wayne spilled out of me like candy out of a piñata. Even if we did find him, that meant the Overtakers were back, and I couldn't bring myself to admit that. But I had made a promise to Wanda and I planned to keep it.