"I came to apologize," Shawn said. "Then I saw you sneaking out. Followed you—and walked right into a trap. You nearly knocked me out with a book!"
Cris laughed despite herself.
"What were you doing anyway?" he asked.
Her smile vanished. "I… needed the bathroom," she mumbled, clutching her stomach.
"In the library?" Shawn folded his arms. "Since when did you start lying? And badly."
She cracked under the stare, covered her mouth, and everything spilled out.
"You're an idiot," he said. "You should've told me."
"You should've seen her say, 'There's a traitor.' I was sweating," Cris muttered. "Doesn't matter. Liam's not even here."
"Who is this guy anyway? I've never even heard of him—"
A voice interrupted. "Apologies for the delay."
They spun around to face the darkness but then stepped out a tall figure, scarf covering most of his face. White hair fell across his forehead.
"Why do I feel like he's related to Zinnia?" Shawn muttered.
"Because I am her brother," Liam said, pulling down the scarf.
Shawn blinked. "Wait… what?"
"Ha! You're not her brother," Cris fired back. "I know Brian, and you're nothing like him. I can bet my world on it!"
Liam turned toward the stairs. "Can we talk somewhere else?"
Cris rushed after him. "Wait—guards!"
They looked around. Every single guard was slumped, asleep.
"What happened to them?" she asked.
"This is why I was late?" Liam replied.
They slipped out of the school.
"Should we get Don?" Cris whispered.
"No," Shawn said. "He's too weak."
She nodded, heart heavy.
"Not that way," Liam said as she turned.
"Why not?"
"Because we're using a portal," he said. "We're looking for someone—Kace. He might be imprisoned on the other side."
Cris blinked. "A portal?"
Liam nodded. "You'll see it. When it opens, step in before me."
She gave him a look.
He whispered something under his breath, palms pressed together. A glowing line formed in the air, widening into a gate filled with smoke and light as his hands parted.
"Go," he said.
They stepped through. It felt normal, like any door. But on the other side stood a cold, silent garden walled by towering grass and a stone gateway. A single bench sat untouched.
Liam moved ahead. "I'm Liam Raymond Paragon. Twin brother of Zinnia Raymond Paragon." He looked at Cris. "Never bet your world on something you don't understand."
"Did Zinnia know?" Cris asked quietly.
Liam nodded.
It hit like a punch. Cris drifted to the bench and sat, stunned.
"We can't sit here," Liam called. "This place is dangerous."
"Oh no, angry bushes?" she muttered sarcastically.
"Is she always like this?" Liam asked.
"She's hurting," Shawn said. "Zinnia was like family. Let me talk to her."
He sat beside her. "See… you have every right to be mad at her. She's your best friend. And when a best friend hides something, it hits you like a punch to the gut. You feel angry, betrayed, like you're about to erupt. But," he took a deep breath, "we don't know what they're doing to her right now. So decide. Right here. Right now. Either we go rescue her and ask her why she kept this from you, or… let her die in there."
"Don't say that," Cris growled, standing. "If anyone's killing her, it's me." She shouted, "We're coming for you, Zee!"
"That's my girl," Shawn whispered.
"Why not take the usual way out?" he asked.
"When Zinnia was taken, my aunt sent spies. Wolves tore them apart in front of me. Every path led to death." Liam hung his head in disappointment.
"Who's your aunt?" Cris asked.
"Your Headmistress."
Cris rolled her eyes at Shawn, who shrugged.
"And yes," Liam said. "Zinnia knew that, too."
Cris clenched her jaw. "She has a lot to answer for." She stepped forward. "What is this place?"
"I don't remember the name. I was a kid." Liam paused. "Your Headmistress may've given you a map."
"She gave me this," Cris said, pulling out a note with a strange cube.
Liam squinted. "Something's written here…"
"You will earn what you draw…"
"That wasn't there before!" Cris said.
"We gave you a blank page. It's up to you," Liam read. "Does anyone have a pencil?"
"I have eyeliner," Cris offered sheepishly. "Emergency use only."
"You were thinking about giving winged eyeliner tutorials to Odon?" Shawn teased.
"It'll work," Liam said, though the smudgy eyeliner made him grimace. He drew a path—and waited.
Nothing happened.
The drawing disappeared.
"Maybe Aunt Eva gave you the wrong note," he muttered.
"Well, it's too late to turn back; besides, we're not here to quit," Shawn said, stepping into the gateway.
Liam and Cris followed.
But the garden was gone.
They were in a maze.
"Pretty," Cris said, eyeing the walls. "But those aren't just leaves…"
"Stay sharp," Shawn warned.
An arrow shot from the left, grazing his hair.
He turned stiffly. "That was close."
Cris kept her eyes down. "This place is full of traps." She jumped over a floor crack—only for the ground beneath her foot to collapse. She screamed and dropped into a square hole.
Shawn and Liam spun. She was in the pit, dusting herself off.
"Why is it always you?" Shawn asked.
"Says the guy nearly scalped by a flying arrow," Crisi smirked.
Liam sighed. "Anything useful in your bag?"
"No!" she called. "I didn't plan to fall into a hole!"
"So… makeup?" he snapped.
"Hey!" Shawn warned.
"I'm sorry," Cris yelled. "Okay?"
Liam stepped back and exhaled. "I'm sorry too. Every minute we spend here… she's suffering there."
The fire in Cris cooled. His voice cracked with something raw.
Shawn dug through her bag—nothing. He crouched next to Liam, who was now on his knees.
"We're not leaving without her," Shawn said. "This is just the hard part. Happiness is around the corner."
He smiled—small, but real.
Liam suddenly looked up, eyes lighting up. "You're right!"
"Of course I am," Shawn said smugly.
"No, look!" Liam rushed to a wall of vines with a long vine piled up like a coil of rope. "Happiness is literally around the corner!"
They pulled the vine loose, tossed it down to Cris, and hauled her out.
She stood, panting, brushing dust from her clothes.
They were safe—for now.