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

Chapter 9

That night Ali couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in bed. The events of the last few days replayed in her mind. The last time she played with Gabby. The last time they spoke, when she told Dad she wished she didn't have a little sister. The police. The search with Ben. Running into Mr. Wilkins. And now this new information from the internet. Her mind wrestled with the logic of it all, and her heart struggled to keep her emotions in check.

Ugh. I've got to get some sleep.

Ali placed a pillow over her head.

Bang.

Ali jumped.

What was that?

It sounded like a crash. From...

...Gabby's room.

Was she home?

Ali slipped out of bed and crept toward her sister's room.

As she approached the door, shadows flurried across the floor.

"Gabby?" she whispered, "is that you?"

No one answered.

Bang.

Another loud noise came from inside.

Has Gabby been trapped in there the whole time? Maybe in her closet? All Ali wanted to do was run downstairs to Dad. But Gabby might need her right now. No matter how scared she was, she had to check. Her sister's life might depend on it.

Ali cracked the door open and inched into the room.

The dim light made it difficult to see. When her eyes adjusted, her jaw dropped. Rodent-shaped shadows raced throughout the room attacking toys and stuffed animals. Books fell. Plastic broke. Stuffing flew.

What in the world?

Ali flipped the light switch on. The dark creatures screeched and moaned, then fizzled out of existence.

Ali shook her head.

Did that just happen?

Something moved at her feet. She looked down to find a toy approaching her. It wore a pointed hat like a wizard and walked with a staff. A scraggly gray beard covered its face.

Ali looked from side to side.

This can't be happening. Maybe she was still in bed dreaming.

Something in her gut told her that this was real.

Ali inched backward.

"Dad," she called over her shoulder.

The toy held his hands up.

"Don't be alarmed."

Ali placed a hand to her mouth. "You're a talking toy."

"I can explain." The toy gestured his staff toward Gabby's bed. "Just have a seat, and I'll tell you everything."