So far, Amerie's plan was working.
The police had given her questioning stares as she ran past. Amerie had waved and yelled something about how it was such a nice day for a jog. Luckily they were too engrossed in their work to concern themselves as to why a child was out and about during school hours.
Amerie found an unpatrolled nook in the woods, just like she had hoped. She stealthily slipped in, praying that this edge of the forest was included in the star spot. Amerie let herself fall, breathing a sigh of relief when she opened her eyes to the starry sky instead of the midday sun.
All the time she had spent in the woods hadn't been for nothing. Even from one of the most remote parts of the forest, Amerie was able to race to Grandmother Lyndzei without looking back once.
"Grandmother Lyndzei!" she cried out to the old oak, who of course already knew that Amerie was in the woods. Grandmother Lyndzei gave her a worried smile.
Amerie found that she could not speak. Not because she was overcome by emotion, but because she was out of breath. She held up one hand, signalling that she needed to recover somewhat before she could continue.
"Grandma Lyndzei...the police...his parents...I'm not supposed to be here, I don't have much time," Amerie wheezed.
"Amerie, slow down. I know the police are in the forest, I can sense them in the human realm," she said, her grain furrowed in concentration.
"Jack Lumber - a boy - went missing in these woods. He must be here in the star realm!"
"Amerie, listen to me -"
"We have to find him!" Amerie pleaded.
"He's not here, Amerie," Grandmother Lyndzei spoke as softly as she could.
"What?" Once again, Amerie was speechless. Then she swallowed, "No, he has to be! I figured it all out. He was here on the last day of summer, he -"
"Amerie, I'm the Gateway Guardian. I can sense each time a person enters the star realm," Grandmother Lyndzei revealed the truth as gently as she could, "Jack was never here. If he was, he would have been guided out by me. I would have known, and so would've you. Think about it, dear. If he came to the star spot and stayed here, you probably would have run into him."
Amerie's heart dropped like a stone.
She knelt to the ground, tired and exhausted. Self-doubt crept back into her limbs, sneering, of course, you wouldn't be able to save the day. You can't help anyone. You're helpless yourself. She dug her nails into the mud, wishing the earth would swallow her whole.
"Amerie. Look at me," instructed Lyndzei.
Amerie looked up miserably.
"You didn't come here for nothing. I urgently needed to speak to you," said Grandmother Lyndzei seriously, "It may help you find Jack."
Amerie looked at her muddy hands for a second, then dusted off the dirt. She stood up.
"Tell me," said Amerie, the determination beginning to build in her voice.
"I received this leaf from King Cedrych."
"Who's King Cedrych?" asked Amerie, puzzled.
"The oldest and wisest tree in this forest, at least I hope," said Lyndzei sadly.
Amerie looked shocked, "But I thought that was you!"
Grandmother Lyndzei rumbled with mirth, "The stars above, child! No, no. In my youth, I was known to be quite the rebel! It was Cedrych who always - never mind, back to the matters at hand."
Grandmother Lyndzei gravely gave the purple leaf to Amerie, "Ask it what it says, Amerie."
Amerie solemnly held up the leaf in front of her, "Um, excuse me...leaf? Could you please tell me what you say?"
Amerie couldn't really tell whether or not the leaf had eyes, but she was certain that if it did it would have rolled them. It certainly had a mouth, which it opened. It sputtered and coughed like an old man.
Amerie looked unsurely at Grandmother Lyndzei, "Maybe the signal isn't good or something?" she suggested.
"The what?" Lyndzei queried.
"Uh, um, never mind."
But soon enough the static silenced and the leaf began to repeat the words of the King:
"Victory awaits us. The humans will pay in fresh blood for their cruel intentions."
Amerie stared blankly at Grandmother Lyndzei, dropping the leaf.
"Um, sorry if this is rude, but your King sounds kind of tyrannical," said Amerie, horrified.
"I couldn't agree more. I'm worried it might be related to Jack's disappearance. 'Fresh blood'..."
"Meaning the blood of children," Amerie finished. Her chest tightened, "Then those three other missing children, they might be connected somehow."
"I'm afraid it's possible. But what worries me more is how he could have anything to do with those disappearances. Trees are strong, but they aren't very mobile. At most I can sense people entering the star realm, but even that ability is limited. Especially if children somehow entered the star spot without me knowing."
"What are you trying to say?" asked Amerie.
"Cedrych must've had some type of accomplice. Someone who helped him. Someone," Lyndzei looked at Amerie, "who snatches children."
Amerie's eyes widened in realisation.
"Miss Crystal," she said shakily.
"I don't think that's her real name. I think her real name may be Desaraelfrun," admitted Grandmother Lyndzei.
"Desaraelfrun?"
"Yes, a powerful sorceress who deals in deals. I fear she may have a bigger part in this than I realised. The King is unrecognisable from the tree I once knew. It's likely that she is the reason. She must have taken Jack and those other children."
"But why?" wondered Amerie.
"I don't know, Amerie. But I can't imagine she did it for this forest. Whatever the reason, she did it for herself."
Amerie nodded. An understanding of what type of person Desaraelfrun must be washed her away her naivety.
Then she jolted with the realisation of how much time she had spent in the woods, "I have to go!" Amerie exclaimed.
Grandmother Lyndzei looked like she was about to say something else, but Amerie had already bolted off.
Maybe it's for the best, Lyndzei thought in hindsight, Knowledge of the prophecy would only pressure Amerie.
Lyndzei gazed sorrowfully at the lurid purple leaf laying limply on the ground.
Cedrych, what have you become?
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