Take the Yellow Brick Road [Ways to Wonderland Book 1] [OLD VERSION]

The Red Twins

You dare to trespass on the Reds land?" Said a female voice. Carter looked at the silhouetted figures, unsure of which one had spoken. Otto spoke up.
"Listen lady- Ladies. You can't say we're trespassing if you don't have a sign or something-"
Carter cut him off. "Who are the Reds?" He asked.
The female voice laughed. "Who are the Reds?" She chuckled, "Did you seriously ask who are the Reds?"

Carter blushed. He didn't want to feel stupid in front of a girl. "I'm kind of new here, so-"
The voice cut him off.
"Are you a Lost Boy?" Asked the voice. Carter still couldn't tell who was speaking.
"No." He answered. "Well I mean I am a boy. Who is lost but-"
The two figures moved towards him in unison.
"Well," called the voice, "We'll just have to take you to Big Red."
Carter stepped back as the pair moved towards him. "Who is Big Red? Is he like your leader?" The girl chuckled again. "You could say that. Big Red owns the land."

Carter felt a glimmer of hope. "Yes take me to Big Red. Maybe he can help me find out how to get home." The figures stopped in their tracks.
"Most men shudder at the thought of being taken to Big Red." The girl hissed. But Cater insisted.
"No, no, I need to see Big Red." The figures looked at each other. "Well then we won't take you to him." The voice said, both figures crossing their arms. Carter felt something drop in the pit of his stomach. Then something clicked.
"There is no Big Red is there?" He asked.
The girl laughed again, but it was unmistakably forced. "Of course there's a Big Re-" The figures looked at each other. "Fine, there isn't a Big Red. Happy?"
Carter shrugged his shoulders.

With a quick nod at each other, the girls took their hoods off. Two girls stood there, both staring at Carter with piecing green eyes. They appeared to be twins, each girl with freckles and long curly ginger hair. One reached out to shake Carters hand.
"Fiona." She said.
"Georgia." Said the other, with a wink at Carter. Carter felt his cheeks redden. He hoped it wasn't visible in the light of the fire. There was a voice from near his feet.
"Well then." Otto grumbled. "Now we have all been acquainted, except for me for some reason, can we find some light somewhere? I'm not a fan of the dark."
Fiona laughed as she knelt down to pet the talking cat. Georgia rolled here eyes.
"Please excuse my twin, she has a slight... Obsession with cats-"
"I'm not obsessed."
"Our camp is this way." Georgia continued. She beckoned for them to follow and soon, the group was once again traversing through the forest.

***

By the time the four got to the twins campsite, the sun had just begun to rise in the distance. Fiona yawned. Carter did the same. Georgia plonked herself down onto a cushion near a crackling fire.
"If this doesn't sound like too much of a stupid question," Carter began, "Where exactly are we."
Georgia looked over at him inquisitively. She pulled out a metal water canteen and said simply. "Red Wood."
Carter looked at her as she struggled to unscrewed the cap of the bottle. She held it out to Carter. With some effort, he opened it and handed it back to Georgia. She nodded at him in thanks. Carter continued. "But where is Red Wood? Is it in England?"

Georgia spat the water from her mouth in laughter.
"I tough to we were the jokers." She chuckled. Carter looked over at Fiona, who was also giggling.
"What's so funny? He asked.
Georgia smiled at him. "England doesn't exist dude. It's just a story."
Carter looked from one twin to the other. They didn't seem to be joking. Fiona looked at his baffled expression with almost mild concern.
"It's like Kansas, it's just made up place filled with characters like Dorothy Gale and Wendy Darling."
Carter looked down at Otto.
"I'm staying out of this." The cat muttered, stretching in front of the fire.

"Wendy Darling does exist, she's my great aunt. I'm from England." Carter insisted.
"Whatever joke you're trying to pull, it's not funny." Georgia sighed. Otto jumped onto Carters lap.
"He's telling the truth." The cat said sheepishly.
The girls looked at each other. They spoke in unison. "Loopy." They agreed, nodding.
"Kinda cute though." Said Georgia. Carter had never had a girl say he was cute before. On the other hand, she could be talking about Otto.

"Where are we really?" Carter asked. The sun began to rise, and the girls stated to pack up their camp.
"Oz, duh." Georgia said, tipping her leftover water onto the fire.
Carter was silent for a minute. "So if this is Oz, the Wizard can send me home right?" He asked, standing as Fiona took the cushion he had been sitting on.
"Loopy." Said Fiona.
"Completely." Added Georgia.
Carter thought for a second. "Right the Wizard is a fake." He said.
"Ureaka," shouted Georgia, "The mans a genius, give him a medal!" She knocked him in the head with a pillow.

"Well I'm going to Emerald City." Carter announced as they reached the yellow road. The golden bricks shimmered a deep orange colour in the morning light.
"Alright." The twins said together. The girls stepped onto the road and began walking towards the sunrise. Carter walked the opposite direction.
"Hey England, Emerald City's this way." He heard one of the girls shout. He turned to see them waiting for him down the road. He and Otto jogged over to them.
"Why didn't you know that?" Otto mocked, as the four began their trek down the yellow brick road...