Handy Hiding Place (NaNoWriMo 2014)

Chapter 30

When the time came for the kids to check out of their hotel, they got everything packed and headed out to meet Zaiden, who had agreed to drive them to the realm exit. The kids waved before leaving. Zaiden watched as the headed to the realm exit and bumped into it. Ve realized something was wrong when the kids started panicking. Zaiden pushed the car door open and ran over to them. “It’s alright,” ve told them. “It’s okay. Is there another way for you to get home?”

“We could combine our powers,” Amelia suggested.

“Your what?”

“You’ll want to stand back, Zaiden,” Amelia warned. Everyone stood close together and used their powers. They waited to be transported, but nothing happened.

“Didn’t know you guys could do that,” Zaiden remarked.

“It’s supposed to help us get home,” Amelia told vir. “I don’t understand why it’s not working.”

Zaiden shrugged. “I’m sure it’s a temporary thing. Why don’t ‘cha come to the apartment and we’ll think of a way to get ya home.”

The kids comforted each other as they headed back into Zaiden’s car.

Day after day, the kids tried to return home but failed. They couldn’t understand what had happened. Nobody had an answer. Only part of their powers worked. They had tried to call their parents, but they could not make calls to other realms. For the first few months, they tried to get used to being in a new place without their families. They got jobs to provide them with privileges such as supplies and access to a hotel room. Zaiden, Adrian, and Jude visited them often to see how they were doing. Zak was provided with new medication. The kids were seeing a therapist to help them get used to their new life. Months passed and they began to accept that they would not be able to return home.

Slowly, the kids found happiness again. They were happy living in the little town and going back and forth between there and the city. They were happy being with Zaiden, Adrian, and Jude, as well as the new friends they made all over the two places. Amelia could go to the beach still. After finding the website where she had saved her work to, she could keep working on Zak’s story. Sometimes they would have bad days. Their sadness couldn’t just disappear. Some days, they would really miss their families and old life. Overall, they began to improve and get used to the idea that they would be living there now.

So many things happened. The little town became very populated. It wasn’t as big of a population as the city by far, but it was big. All of the buildings had people to maintain them again. The kids grew older and celebrated their birthdays together. When Zak turned seventeen, Amelia presented him with the book she had been working on for him. Zak had cried and hugged her tightly, thanking her over and over again. Then he had to do the same to Quinn, who had helped Amelia edit and publish it. The kids became closer with their new friends.

One winter, when there was no snow, Quinn went outside and made it snow. They had been practicing their powers and had worked their way up to do something like this for everyone. Amelia beamed, watching as Quinn created snowflakes.

“Do you like it?” Quinn asked.

“I love it, this so cool!” Amelia exclaimed.

All the children came out to play in the snow. By now, the townspeople knew that the four kids had powers. They were even referred to as the Seasons because of their powers.

Quinn started a snowball fight with Amelia, and in an attempt to take her down, slipped and fell into the snow. Laughing, Amelia went over to see if Quinn was alright. She kneeled down next to them, and in that moment, they shared their first kiss. This moment was cut a little short by Zak’s announcement that Biscuit and Riley had just had puppies. Amelia helped Quinn up and ran inside with them to see the newborn puppies.

“They’re so little,” Lexis beamed.

Zak pet Biscuit’s head, watching her four puppies. “This one looks like Riley,” Zak pointed out.

Amelia agreed, making comments about what their names should be. Quinn watched as everyone sat gathered around the puppies. They watched Amelia suggest names and smile at the puppies.

“Hey Amelia,” Quinn spoke.

“What?”

Quinn smiled. “I think we’re gonna be okay.”

Wherever Vem’s book was, it finished writing itself.

I could not warn them that they would be trapped in that realm, should they stay for too long. I felt bad for them, but now it seems as if they don’t mind. Actually, they are safer there. The kids know not of what happened to their home realm. I suppose they need not know when they are safe in their hiding place.