Into the Realm

Chapter 14: From the Cinders

Tessa felt a sharp pain in her side. Then another. And another. God, if Heather-Jane kicked her one more time... Tessa rolled her eyes and didn't even bother to finish the thought. What good would useless threats do? They were in another world with no way for her to fulfill anything she promised in the heat of the moment. No access to chainsaws (to cut her legs off), her phone (to send stupid texts to random people in her phonebook), or a camera to videotape the kicking and the snoring. She scooted over an inch, a futile attempt to make the incessant kicks stop. With a sharp snore, Heather-Jane's leg twitched dangerously, making Tessa stand up with a huff of anger to walk a few paces away before she kicked Heather-Jane.

"Is she still kicking you?"

Brown looked up from the next tree over. He had his phone in his hands, popping the case off and on again. Tessa stepped out of the way as Heather-Jane's leg flailed close to her again and walked toward Brown. The phone didn't work in the Realm— they already tried to see if they could contact someone from their world. Of course, nothing happened. The screen of his stupid Android stayed black no matter how many times they tried to turn it on or tried the factory reset button. They decided it must be because of the magic in the air, or maybe the fact that they were in a fairytale world. A world that didn't seem to have electricity. Or cell phones. Nevertheless, Brown kept his phone in his hands and still played with the phone case—probably to just keep his hands busy.

Tessa wiped the dirt from her sweater and nodded. "Unfortunately." She gazed out over the clearing. From their vantage point under the tree, she could watch as people scurried around the camp. "How much longer do you think we have to stay out here?"

"Beats me." Brown stood and pocketed the useless cell phone. "I wonder what they're talking about in there."

Tessa snorted, glancing at the tent where Snow and Red disappeared to.

"Probably about how much of a disappointment we are."

"Wouldn't be surprised."

"When speaking about you, yes."

Brown smirked. "Someone's full of themselves, aren't they? Is the title of Heroine already getting to your head?"

"Shut up," Tessa bristled and Brown chuckled. Remembering something that bothered her since they got to the Realm, she dropped her attitude and said, "Do you think that Cinder is actually—"

"Cinderella?" Brown finished her question. "I think so. And Red is Little Red Riding Hood—"

"I always preferred Little Red Riding Cap."

"—and I don't really care what you prefer, but whatever. Snow White? What do you think?"

"She can talk to animals, Brown." Tessa rolled her eyes. "They must be the real deal."

His questions only conferred what she believed— that they were definitely in a fairytale land. They definitely weren't in Kansas (or in their case, Pennsylvania) anymore. They were in a land of magic and spells and Tessa had something to do with saving them. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve and pulled her hair down from its jumbled ponytail. The humidity made her hair expand to twice its normal size and she quickly retied it into a bun, wondering how the people scurrying around could wear those layers of clothes and hair their hair styled down without dying from heat exhaustion.

Brown looked out over the clearing, following her line of sight. Everyone had a grim expression on their face. If someone accidentally laughed their expression immediately mellowed, almost grief stricken that they would have a moment of joy while in the midst of this war. "I wonder what made these 'happily ever afters' become warriors."