TSP Draft Three - Ch4

Overview: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/draft-three-of-the-secret-portal

Read-aloud, pt1: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaylinrosealexander/video/7187034325077003566?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7168171927235937835

Previous: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/tsp-draft-three-ch3

I have highlighted the text exclusive to the first version of this draft and underlined the text exclusive to the second version.

Chapter Four

Date: November 22nd, 2024 Time: 1:35

Place: Endless Field

Madison

Um……Okay……

“Can someone explain why Lexi and Aurora’s stuff are here but they aren’t?”

Kelsey’s question rang through the air. Honestly, I agree with her. Lexi never leaves her violin. Ever. I’m serious. Mom has to debate with her about leaving it in the car. She always says if it gets too hot, it will melt (which is totally true), and when Mom says it’s too cool for it to melt, Lexi will just say that it will crack. (Again, this is true. If violins get too cold they will crack. Wood, sorry Lexi.) So why would Lexi leave her violin here, in the late November weather? Well, late November Houston weather, but still.

Mikey looked just as confused as Kelsey and I did, but Hannah however was smiling to herself. “I’ve been waiting ever since my thirteenth birthday for this to happen. When it didn’t happen in September, I thought it would never happen to Aurora. I guess she never walked near the barrier.” She sighed. “I was afraid it wouldn’t come out in her. Maybe they were wrong. But if they were, she’d be here.”

The rest of us looked at each other. What was Hannah talking about? She was going crazy!

Hannah turned around to face us. “Guys, you are about to see something I could never explain. You’ll all find out something you never knew about.” She turned to me. “Where does Lexi keep her phone?” I pointed to her backpack and Hannah pulled out my sister’s phone. “Good. Aurora keeps hers in her pocket. Do you all have your phones?” I nodded, but Kelsey and Mikey don’t have a phone. “You’ll have to stay near to at least one of us. If you get separated, there is no way of contacting you.” She waved us all closer, and while she did it, I swear it got colder. a chill seemed to come to the air, like someone turned to AC on. Outside. [paragraph break] “Most of your friends are one of us. We usually become close with our own kind.” (Whaaaaat?????) “But even with that being the case, you can’t tell anyone about this, except your parents.” She looked at Kelsey. “You can tell your sister, but not around her friend June.” But I’d tell a parent first, since I don’t know much about your family.” Kelsey nodded, not sure how to respond. She Hannah looked at me. “You know that this is a little early for the three of you, right?” I nodded, not sure what she meant. “Protect them if I can’t.” “Keep close to them.”

Wait, what? I should protect them? Kelsey was the one who was over a month older than me! I don’t know why Hannah was putting her faith in an eleven year old girl, but I didn’t argue, Hannah was obviously waaaaaaaaay to crazy for that!

“We are going to jump on the rock on three.” Okay! Hannah IS crazy! But I grabbed Kelsey’s hand, who grabbed Mikey’s hand, who grabbed Hannah’s hand. “One, two, THREE!” We jumped toward the rock and we were suddenly were flying through rainbows. I’m not making this up! the field dissolved into bright colors.

“What the…” Kelsey whispered, then looked down at her all-black clothes. “I feel so out of place.”

I had to agree. I thought I was dreaming, but it was impossible for me to make this up. Alexia and Aurora must have come through here. Hannah, Mikey, Kelsey, and I were just one step behind them.

Were we going to rescue my sister? I hoped so. Most kids my age might rejoice over the disappearance of a sibling, but Lexi wasn’t like that. I had to save her. I was sure of it.

That is, until we started to fall.

Our hands somehow let go, so I honestly have no idea where I am or where my friends are. That’s when everything went black.

**********

The average middle school student probably doesn’t spend the start of their holiday knocked out, but Kelsey and I do. Mikey is probably the only fifth grader to EVER fall through rainbows.... Okay that sounded weird. [paragraph break] Hannah was already standing up when I opened my eyes, so that was really weird, given that I was blinded as soon as I opened my eyes. But what was weirder was the scenery.

I was sitting on what looked like a cloud, and the buildings nearby looked like pure gold. That was a little weird. Okay, a lot weird.

When Hannah helped us up, I began to wonder where Lexi was. I mean, if she went through the Rainbow Tunnel, wouldn’t she’d ended up here?

“Welcome to Raven Falls,” said Hannah.

“Can I eat the cloud?” Kelsey asked, excitedly. Hannah shook her head and Kelsey hung her head.

I looked around in amazement. It was beautiful here. Raven Falls. Wherever that was.

“I know someone who can help,” said Hannah, and she ran off.

Kelsey and I looked at each other, than then at Mikey. He shrugged, and the three of us ran off after Hannah.

We stopped at a house that looked exactly like the rest. Hannah knocked on the door.

“They aren’t home,” a voice said. We spun around. A man was stand- ing a few yards away from us. He was tall, thin, and wore a black hat and coat. “They’re out somewhere, chasing Bobby. Who knows how much trouble that little brat has caused?” He chuckled. “I’m William. William Nightingale. I live right over there,” he said, pointing to a house right across the street, which suspiciously looked like diamonds. “I saw them just a while ago. I know where they are. I can take you there.”

He smiled, showing perfect teeth. Hannah smiled back. Then she turned to us. “Okay, you go with him; I’ll stay here. In case they come back. I’ll call you if they do, okay?”

I nodded. “Um…. Okay….” I was shocked how she could be so trusting.

I looked back at Hannah, but she just gave me an encouraging smile and held out Lexi’s phone. I held up mine, and nodded.

William led us down the road and to a canyon. We passed beautiful houses, and soon were in a forest. I looked back, starting to wonder if Hannah was right to trust this guy. I mean, hasn’t she ever heard of stranger danger?

Why should this guy in black be so trustworthy?

Soon, the trees parted and the ground opened up into a canyon, grander than the Grand Canyon.

I don’t know why whoever we were looking for would be here, but we just walking beside it. We soon stopped by a small waterfall that went over the side of the canyon. William turned to us, smiling. But this time, his smile wasn’t so pleasant.

“Children are so easy to fool,” he sneered, and reached into his pocket and threw a purple powder on us.

I feel like Hannah could have explained a little more to the kids because she's acting weird, and I personally don't think the kids said nearly enough and went along with her almost too quickly. This is so much better in the current Draft, I swear.

Kelsey asking to eat the cloud is hilarious though.

Don't forget to like, comment, sign up, leave a rating, and join me on Spaces to never miss an update.