The door creaked open, revealing a warm, flickering glow inside. Strange machines hummed softly, and shelves were stacked with glowing jars, ancient books, and half-finished inventions.
Leo stepped in cautiously, Jace right behind him.
The lab was bigger than it looked from the outside—like it bent space around it. In the center stood a tall man with wild gray hair, thick goggles, and a coat covered in ink stains and moss.
LEO "Professor Karo?"
Professor Karo turned around, blinking.
KARO "Ah! The boy with the paper. And who are you?"
He looked at Jace.
JACE "My name is Jace Rivers!."
Whiskers hopped onto a nearby table.
WHISKERS "They're with me. The Hollow's fading faster than we thought."
KARO (expression darkening) "Then we don't have much time."
Just then, a voice called from the back of the lab.
??? "Dad, the crystal stabilizer is humming again. I told you not to overload the—"
A girl stepped into view, holding a glowing tablet. She was Leo and Jace's age, her midnight blue hair with a streak of sky blue was tied into a ponytail with swept bangs. She had round glasses on, and a look that said she'd rather be anywhere else than in the middle of a dramatic entrance.
She stopped when she saw the boys.
GIRL "Oh. Visitors."
Leo gave a small wave
LEO "Hi?"
GIRL (thoughts) "Great. More people to track mud into the lab.."
Professor Karo chuckled.
KARO "Leo, Jace—this is Arca. She's my assistant and daughter. Keeps me from blowing myself up."
Arca rolled her eyes.
ARCA "Barely."
Jace leaned toward Leo.
JACE "She seems fun."
WHISKERS (smirking) "She's smarter than all of us combined. Just don't ask her to go outside."
LEO (tilting his head) "You don't want to explore the Hollow?"
Arca shook her head.
ARCA "No. I prefer not being chased by vines or falling into glowing sinkholes. I'll stay here and keep the lab from collapsing."
JACE (whispering to Leo) "She might be the smartest one here."
---
The group gathered around a glowing map projected from the center table. Professor Karo pointed to a warehouse that was in their original world.
Leo looked at the map, then at the glowing paper in his hand.
LEO "So what do we do?"
Karo looked at him seriously.
KARO "You follow the trail to your world. Find the flash drive. Get it and come back."
KARO "And that's only the beginning."
Jace gulped.
JACE "Cool. No pressure."
Whiskers hopped down.
WHISKERS "We leave at first light."
Arca turned back to her tablet.
ARCA "Try not to die. I just cleaned the lab."
--