The New Guardian

Chapter 11: Lost Girl

Six Days Later:

"Come on Marinette, we want to get there before there's . . . people." April gagged, leaning against the doorway. "I prefer to eat and shop when there's the least amount of people present."

Marinette separated her hair in two and grabbed a scrunchie. "I still have no idea where we're even going." She tied one pigtail. "We are at the top of a mountain, far, far away from anything. No people, no stores, and no restaurants."

"Wrong. I told you that some appear on the weekends." April grabbed her bag. "They disappear during the week, so the students don't get distracted. Obviously the school has several food options and a small store, but without access to the extra stuff, no tourists. The whole world would love a magical place like this, but we don't need a small, magic town to attractive normos." April pulled out her phone. "We've had a few mountain climbers stumble upon the temple, but our security people stop them and erase their memory."

"Does it work?" Marinette tied her other pigtail.

"Most of the time. Although I was called on a mission one time when an entire news crew showed up to research the temple." April zipped her puffy coat and stuffed her phone in the pocket. "I compelled them an image of an abandoned, useless, rodent infested temple. They won't come back because they don't have blank spots in their mind. Perks of my miraculous. And if they do, I'll just push them over the mountaintop."

Marinette stood up and grabbed her purse. She pulled a knitted hat over her head. "So where is this town? A mountain over?" April walked over to the window and parted the curtains. The town stood at the bottom of the mountain, clean enough to be fake. "What?! That wasn't-"

"There yesterday? I know. My point." April shook her head, walking to the door. "So let's go."

. . .

Marinette and April made it out of the temple to the front entrance. A long flight of stairs stood in front of them that led to the bottom where the town starts.

"That wasn't here before either." Marinette said, turning to April. "You know, these should really stay here past Sunday because I had to scale this mountain through the freezing cold in snow in order to get here before."

April started walking. "It looks a little out of place when the town disappears."

Marinette caught up. "I think a lot of this looks out of place. Certainly a well needed set of stairs shouldn't be a problem."

Roughly 200 steps later . . .

April stopped at the bottom. "Marinette, the town. The town, Marinette."

"Very funny." Marinette said, walking by. "So where are we going first?"

"I want to get some tea. There's a really cool tea shop around here, but I want to go to a certain magic shop first." April looked around. "It should be close by."

"Magic stores? Those exist?" Marinette questioned.

"Of course they do." She answered.

"What about that one?" Marinette pointed to a comical looking shop.

"No, that's for fortune telling or good luck charm type of stuff. A lot of these shops are for simple magic or tips and tricks for miraculous holders. They're basic. That's not what I'm looking for."

Marinette scanned the area. "Then where would the right ones be?"

"Hidden." April answered. "The best things aren't out in the open for everyone to see." April turned and stepped inside a small shop. "Let's try here."