Imperfect (Disappeared #1)

Chapter Sixteen

And so, it was easy to cast the great city out of her mind that afternoon as she raced up the hill toward the woods, away from the estate. The sculpted rivers with their tidy stone bridges sparkled in the light and the grass waved invitingly in the summer breeze. The air was heavily scented with clover and purple vetch. The horse chestnut trees were laden with glossy leaves and their spiky nuts, still green and small.

Theodosia was elated to be back in a simple sky-blue muslin dress and her usual tan overcoat and bonnet. Without the restricting layers of lace and the weight of jewels, she felt like she could finally move again. She plunged into the forest without delay, imagining with glee the estate disappearing far behind her. She had sat in the nursery all morning after having banished Nurse. She and Louisa had curled up with one of her favorite illustrated botany books and reviewed the Latin and common names of their favorite plants. Louisa was to have lessons that afternoon, but she promised her big sister that she would do a watercolor of a violet, one of Theodosia's favorite wildflowers, as soon as she could.

There seemed to be a very convenient time difference between the worlds, and Theodosia was happy Lou wouldn't miss her. She eagerly pushed her way along the paths she had taken the day before. The forest was quiet, though there was the occasional rustle of squirrels dashing up trees, their fluffy tails twitching, and the melodic call of thrushes and sparrows. The branches of ancient oaks spread laterally in search of every patch of light possible. Pleasant streams meandered through the woods too, their pebbly water butting up grassy banks.

It wasn't until Theodosia reached the flooded forest that she was sure she was on the right track. The pools reflected the green spread of leaves above and here and there a patch of azure sky. She picked her way among them carefully. Where was the baobab? Surely it had been closer than this? 

She came to a halt. Her heart thudded in her chest. Misery pressed upon her brain so that her eyes blurred and her cheeks burned. She should have reached the baobab already. Was it gone?

Theodosia closed her eyes. 

Please, if there's anything good in this world, let me touch that tree one more time, she prayed. And if you can, please let me through to the other side. I know it's a lot to ask, but I swear it's the only thing I will ever really want. You must hear so many prayers from so many unhappy people, but today let it be my turn. I was happy there. I can't bear to never feel that again. Please.

She paused for a moment, afraid to open her eyes. Yet she was equally eager to see the tree, if it did exist, and go through it. Eventually, hope won over dread and she slowly opened her eyes.

There before her, massive, gnarled, knotted, and strange, was the baobab.

Theodosia gave a cry of delight, sent a quick and fervent prayer of thanks upward, and dashed toward the tree with abandon.

As before, it hummed with energy and when she touched it she felt as if a light had been turned on within. She kept her hand there and let the feeling wash through her body. There was some resistance, which was new, yet the sensation of dissolving soon followed. 

For anyone else, this feeling might have been terrifying. But it was exactly what Theodosia secretly wanted: to disappear from her life. She threw her whole self into it. Maybe that was what allowed her to pass over to the other side: her wholehearted desire. She couldn't be sure.

And then the feeling disappeared. Her vision cleared but something was different. Her hand was touching something else. A someone, in fact. Golden eyes looked straight at her.

It was Ahuil.

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The reunion begins! Skip ahead to chapter seventeen if you want to read all about it.

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