Fairy Magic: The Forest Wars of the Fairy Princess and the Goblin Witch

Chapter 3

Dad turned to Gabby and sighed.

"We better head inside honey."

Gabby frowned. Sissy isn't happy right now. Might be better to stay outside till she calms down.

"Five more minutes. Please, Daddy."

Her father pursed his lips. "Sure. Five more minutes, then you need to wash up."

Dad went inside.

Gabby sat in the grass and pretended to have a tea party. The dolls loved their tea and crumpets and sharing the latest gossip. Gabby wished that Ali hadn't left. These games were far better when Ali played too.

Something glimmered in the of the corner of her eye. Gabby turned to see what it was. A shadow raced through the back yard. It carried a shiny object on top of it. Gabby watched the shadow dash up the hill toward the trees. The dim light made it hard to see.

Was it a bird?

No. Birds fly.

Maybe it's a cat? Or a bunny rabbit! Oh wow, what if it's a bunny!

Gabby started up the hill.

A plastic arm shone against the sun.

It's a toy.

Maybe it was Sola?

If she got the toy back, Sissy might not be upset with her anymore. Gabby inched toward the trees to get a better look. The toy's hand poked out of a hole in the ground. It wiggled around, like it was waving at her. What? Is it alive? No. Toys can't move. Maybe the rabbit is trying to take it down its hole.

Strange noises shuffled in the woods. Gabby paused to scan the treeline. The dim light made it difficult to see anything.

Maybe this isn't a good idea. I might get in trouble with Daddy if I go this far out. Maybe he'll get it for us.

She backed away from the trees.

The sliding glass door squeaked open. Gabby looked over her shoulder. Sissy stood on the deck with her hands on her hips. She still looked mad.

"Gabby, Dad says that you have to come inside now."

Gabby turned back to the hole in the ground and waved her hand. "Sissy, come here. I think found Sola."

Ali didn't respond.

When Gabby turned around, Ali was gone.

Gabby frowned.

Sissy was definitely still mad.

I have to get the doll back so Ali and I can play again. But how?

She approached the hill, but couldn't see the toy anymore. Maybe it fell down the rabbit hole? Better find it before it's too dark. Gabby raced to the spot. She had to grab the toy before it was lost forever. A stench filled the air near the trees. Gabby wrinkled her nose. Ugh. Gross. What a disgusting smell. Probably a skunk. Or maybe Theo pooped back here? She brushed a branch to the side and continued deeper into the trees. A twig snapped behind her. Gabby spun around. What was that? Her eyes darted as she surveyed the backyard. Why did she come out here? She'd never been this far back before. Maybe this was a bad idea. She should turn back now.

A creature screeched behind her.

She cupped her hands over her ears.

What type of animal made that noise? A crow? Or maybe a rat? Yuck. She had to get out of here quick. Gabby sprinted toward the hole in the ground.

When she arrived, the toy was gone.

Gabby furrowed her eyebrows. What the heck? That makes no sense.

"It was here just a minute ago."

She slumped against a nearby tree. Mud seeped into her shorts. Ack. That's not good. Now she'd be in trouble with Daddy for sure. She couldn't do anything right. Gabby always messed things up. She didn't mean to. She just wasn't good at stuff yet. She wished she wasn't so little. She wished Mommy was still around. Gabby grabbed a rock and tossed it into the brush. From now on she would leave her sister's stuff alone. Then she wouldn't get blamed for every single thing. Speaking of which, she should probably get inside before it got too dark. She could barely see. Daddy was already going to be upset about her pants.

Gabby tried to stand up but something tugged at her shirt and she fell on her butt.

She looked around.

Must have caught a branch or something.

Gabby brushed off, then attempted to get up again.

But whatever had ahold of her shirt pulled harder.

This time she fell on her back. Leaves stuck to her skin. Gabby struggled to roll over but something wrapped around both of her hands. The texture felt scaley. What had her? A frog? A lizard? No, too small. Wait. Was it a snake? Gabby screamed but a clawed hand covered her mouth. It couldn't be a snake. They don't have arms. Gabby jerked as hard as she could. Multiple screeches grated at her eardrums. What are these things? Where is Daddy? Why didn't I just go inside? Gabby felt another tug and then her world turned upside. Grass blades grew to the size of trees. Pebbles blew up to the size of boulders. And the rabbit hole from earlier looked bigger than the biggest hole she'd ever seen. It was so deep she couldn't even see the bottom. It just got darker and darker.

And whatever had her, carried her deeper and deeper into the darkness.