Magics: Escape (Book 2)

Chapter Eighteen

Kai honestly was surprised to find out the Amy hadn't been joking about her house being nearby. After walking for about seven to ten minutes, the group came across a small hut that was so hidden by the forest, if you looked at it from afar, you wouldn't guess that it was a house. It was short, only one story, and a black-brown color. It was made out of wood, so it really was a hut. 

Amy stopped at the door and rapped on it with her knuckles, making everyone look at her in confusion. She glanced back at them and shrugged. "I don't live by myself, and she likes to be warned before I just barge in." 

"Coming!" called a voice from inside, followed by muffled footsteps running toward the door. 

Kai, who was leaning on Chase, looked over at Linda, who seemed to have stiffened the slightest bit. Chase looked a bit wary as well, but everyone else seemed happy to finally have a place to rest for a little.

"Thanks for letting us raid your house," Falte said with a chuckle. "Hopefully we won't stay too long." He looked like he was going to say something else, but a warning look from Chase, Linda, Gabriel, and Kai told him not to mention what they were really doing in the woods with camping backpacks. On the way to the house, they told her that they were on their way back from a camping trip together.

The door handle turned, then the wooden door swung open slowly. A tall, slightly chubby young woman was standing in the doorway. Her eyes were large, friendly, and a creamy brown. Her mouth was tipped into a smile that became a little more confused but welcoming as she looked at the party at her doorstep. Her hair was long, just past her chest, wavy, and brown with streaks of pink through her bangs. She looked down at almost all of them, except Chase - who was her height - and Kai, who was just a tiny bit under her. 

"Oh," she said in surprise, tipping her head to the side and studying the group before her. "You brought guests." She paused for a moment, then turned to Amy and swatted her arm. "Amy! The house isn't ready for guests! You didn't tell me we were having any! I didn't even know we had friends to invite in the first place!" 

"Your version of a 'ready house' is literally not a speck of dust anywhere," Amy said, cocking her hip with a smile. "Besides, I wasn't expecting guests either. I found them wandering not far from here. Kai here miss-stepped and broke his ankle. I decided that they were fine, because I actually know her." She pointed to Linda with a broad grin.

"You... do?" the girl said, training her eyes on Linda, who was staring right back with an expression Kai couldn't read. Amy and the girl then shared a look (Amy was smiling though) that meant they knew something important. 

"Yeah," Amy said, her voice softer. She gave the girl another meaningful look. "She's the friend I told you about." She glanced over at Linda, who was now looking at the girl with a wide-eyed stare. 

"You're... Linda, then?" the girl asked, her voice shaking a little. 

Kai wasn't sure what was going on, but all three of the girls - Amy, Linda, and the new girl - obviously had something in common. Now that he looked, Linda had the same facial structure as the girl in the doorway...

"Y-Yes," Linda said, and Kai was wrenched from his thoughts because how Linda stuttered for a moment. To him, Linda had always seemed like a person who was always sure of what she was going to say, like she had a script tucked somewhere in her head and she was reading off of them with normal emotions. "Th-That's me." 

The girl opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She took a deep breath then tried again, but once more, nothing came out.

"Oh for heaven's sake," Amy said, slapping the girl on the arm playfully. "Linda, Rachel. Rachel, Linda. I do believe you two know each other." She grabbed Rachel's arm and pulled her out of the doorway toward Linda, who's bewildered look was getting more intense.