Page 31 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

"Attacked by something with big teeth and bad intentions?" she chuckled, settling back onto the ground.

"Yeah."

Robbie shifted closer to me, his presence immediately calming. His arm encircled my shoulders, and I leaned into his warmth. "It's okay, Cendi. We're all here."

"Thanks, Robbie," I whispered.

We sat in silence for a moment, none of us sleepy anymore, the strange symphony of Doodle playing around us. "This place is nuts," I finally said. "One moment it's beautiful, thenext it's terrifying."

"Tell me about it," Jessie said. "Never know what's going to jump out at you."

"Or what world you'll fall into," Robbie added.

"Right? I was so scared when I lost you guys. Thought I'd be stuck in those woods forever," I admitted, tightening my grip on Robbie's hand. "But I'm glad we're back together."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Jessie patted my knee.

"Same here," Robbie gave me a reassuring squeeze. "We stick together, no matter how bizarre this gets."

"Agreed," I nodded, noting how the bond between us was stronger than ever. "Together."

"Okay, so what do we do now?" I asked, still feeling the warmth of Robbie's arm around me. The darkness seemed less oppressive with them by my side.

"First thing in the morning, we check out that door," Jessie pointed at the odd-shaped entrance on the mountain wall, barely visible in the moonlight.

"Sounds like a plan," Robbie said. "Let's try to get some sleep though. It'll be light before we know it."

I nodded and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. But sleep didn't come easy. Strange noises echoed around us, whistles, clicks, and something that sounded like giggling. My heart raced each time a new sound reached my ears.

"Can't sleep either?" Robbie whispered after a while.

"Every noise makes me think we're about to be ambushed," I confessed.

"Me too," Jessie added from the other side. "This place is like a kid's drawing book came to life. You never know what to expect."

"Exactly." I sighed. "But we made it through today. We'll handle tomorrow."

"Yep," Robbie squeezed my hand gently. "Together, remember?"

"Always together," I smiled in the dark, feeling grateful for their presence. With that thought, I finally drifted off into an uneasy slumber.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I wokeup to Robbie shaking my shoulder gently. "Cendi, time to go. You don’t want to miss what’s on the other side of the door." His voice was a mix of mystery and excitement.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Jessie stood by him, her wand already in hand, casting a soft glow in the dim morning light of Doodle.

"So," I asked, my stomach grumbling. "What’s for breakfast?"

"The same thing we had for dinner," Jessie joked.

Robbie laughed. "Actually, my bet is that a doormeans people, and people means food. I think we’ll find our breakfast there."

"Well, what are we wasting time for?" I asked with a laugh.

Robbie nudged me and pointed toward the door in the side of the mountain. It glowed in multiple colors that rippled up the mountain. "Wow," I said. "That looks beautiful and freaky."

"That’s exactly the way I’d describe it," Robbie said.