Page 33 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

"Found this place while searching," Robbie pushed open a door that creaked on hinges. "Come on."

Inside, our footsteps echoed off the empty walls. We entered a room where shelves were lined with cans and boxes, their labels a scrawl of imagined brands and food items. There was a stack of water bottles, the plastic looking as though it was molded from a lump of clay.

"Safe to eat?" I asked, picking up a can.

"Tested by yours truly," Robbie popped open a bottle of water and took a swig.

"It’s the only thing that looks safe to each since we got here," Jessie said, her voice bouncing around thebarren room.

I grabbed what looked like beef jerky, hoping it wasn’t one of those creatures with googly eyes. Chewing cautiously, I was relieved it tasted familiar. Definitely not beef, but something sweet and soft, which is nice.

"There’s another room too with something interesting," Robbie said after we finished our makeshift meal.

"Lead the way," I said.

In another room down the hall, stuffed with crates and barrels, a large map dominated the wall. It was faded, the edges curling. Jessie waved her wand, and the room lit up, shadows dancing between the clutter.

"Look at this," she brushed dust off the map with her sleeve.

We huddled around, tracing lines and shapes with our fingers, looking for clues. Our location was marked by a red 'X' in paint, while other outposts dotted the landscape in smudged charcoal. Which meant, there might be other places we could go with people. Places that Jaylyn might have gone. Places we might be ableto find a way home at.

"Having a map will help heaps," I said, relief washing over me.

"Can't peel it off," Robbie tugged at the corners.

"Let me help," I said, grabbing ahold of it.

"Me too," Jessie said.

We each grabbed an edge and started pulling. When the dang thing didn’t move, I braced my feet on the wall and yanked with all my might. Still, nothing. Huffing and puffing, we stopped, staring at it like a new foe.

"Sketch it then?" I said.

Jessie gave me a look. "Do you want to do it?"

I laughed. "No, oh no, definitely not me, but Robbie is an amazing artist. I know he could do it."

"Can do. Just need to find something to sketch with. Be right back."

He left, the glow of his light going with him. When he was gone, silence swallowed us, and I glanced at Jessie. She looked as nervous as I felt.

"We’re goingto get back home."

Her head jerked toward me. "What?"

"We’re going to find a way home."

She gave a shaky nod. "Yeah, I’ve just never done something like this before."

"Same," I admitted with a laugh. "Jumping through portals into other worlds is the kind of thing other women do. I prefer to stay at home with my cats.

She laughed, but then her gaze grew more somber. "I wonder how Jaylyn is doing, all alone in this world."

I wondered too. "She’s tough. She’ll be okay."

Robbie returned with a wide grin and pulled out a notebook and pencil. "Score!"

Jessie glanced around us. "What should we do while you’re busy with that?"