Beyond Coutarine Island’s reef, in a windy, rough Atlantic Ocean, Tracey continued to sail for the Bermuda Triangle. Ronda’s raft was getting a bit beat up from the weather, but he refused to give up, even though he literally was dying from hunger and thirst. Tracey finally just had to stop and dive into the ocean to search for food. He found a calmer section of it and dropped the sails of the raft. When he did, he opened the empty compartment that used to hold his food and water and dug out a spear that had been buried in it. Tracey didn’t want his shirt and tank top to get wet, so he set the spear down and took them off. On his back, where his wings used to be, were two scars. Tracey slipped off his boots so he was barefoot and grabbed hold of the spear. With it in hand, Merlin’s young apprentice leaped off the raft and landed in the ocean. He searched it for fish. There was one. It was a good-sized fish too. Tracey could taste it already. The setting sun’s rays shone on his bare back as he kicked his legs and swam towards the fish. Just before he could spear it though, suddenly a splash exploded above it, and a huge beak scooped up the fish instead! Frustrated, Tracey clenched his fist, and bubbles escaped his lips as he accidentally cursed underwater. He hurried to surface and poked his head out of the ocean.
The teenager’s eyes rolled over to Ronda’s raft, and he yelled, “Ugh!” when he saw a pelican sitting on it with the fish he saw in its beak. Tracey continued, “You darn pelican! I saw that fish first! No fair!” He waited for the pelican to swallow his prey right in front of his eyes, but it didn’t. Instead, it tossed the fish into the compartment on the raft and called for Tracey. He swam to the raft and climbed aboard. His eyes widened when he saw that the empty compartment was now full of fish. “Whoa.” Tracey spoke. He set down his spear and leaned in to see the fish better. “Tha-Thank you,” he told the pelican. The pelican nodded. Together, it and Tracey waited for the fish to die, and then they chowed down. Mm, Tracey had forgotten how good food tasted. Now he just needed to find water, and no way was he going to drink the ocean water! Groaning, he said, “I need water,” and the pelican cautiously listened.
Tracey decided to try his fairy dust again. Now that he wasn’t as hungry, maybe it came back? “Abracadabra!” Tracey shouted, but yet again, only smoke escaped his hands. He tried to stay calm, but it was difficult, “Abracadabra! Come on!” More smoke; nothing else. “I need water to survive!” Tracey yelled, “At least tell me where I can find some!” Right as he said that, green and purple magic spat out of his hands with such immense force, he fell off the raft. A powerful wave smacked the side of it and flipped it upside-down. While it flipped, the pelican flapped off and landed on its upside-down deck. Tracey soon came to surface and groaned. He needed to stock up on fairy dust, but he refused to sail back to Coutarine Island. His first day on the high seas did not exactly go as planned. The ocean was still too rough for him to stay out there. This time around, Tracey decided to ask the ocean for help. “Ocean please,” he begged, “I need water. Please point me in the direction where I can find some.” He waited for a few minutes, but the ocean didn’t respond. “Please.” Tracey repeated.
Finally, the ocean came to his assistance. A wave lifted out of the sea, and Tracey’s jaw fell open when he saw it. Turning, the bubbly body of water turned in the direction of another island. How come Tracey didn’t see it there before? What was going on here? The only problem with this island was that it looked quite sketchy. There weren’t a lot of trees on it. Most of the island was just rock. What was even creepier was that a random lighthouse with a house attached to it stood on top of the tallest rock. Even more, the light still worked. Just seeing the island, Tracey broke down in sweat. The sun vanished from the area where he floated even though it was still setting. It looked like it was always dark around here, which was great because Tracey loved the dark. Did this creepy lighthouse mean he was going the right way to the Bermuda Triangle? He decided to be brave. The ocean said so itself that there was water on the island. It even followed him there, but the friendly pelican just fled. It wasn’t going to get wrapped up in a haunted island case. The wave flipped Ronda’s raft back over and picked up Tracey. It set him down on it and next pushed the back of the raft, escorting the young fairy to the island.
Tracey grew tenser the closer they came. The journey to the island took about ten minutes, and then the raft hit sand. A wave pushed it up onto a rocky beach, and Tracey gulped. The first thing he noticed was an abandoned sailboat that looked a bit newer than other abandoned sailboats. Merlin’s apprentice took one glance at it and looked away. He did not want to be on this island, but he needed water. Before he went exploring, Tracey put his ninja-style shirt and tank top back on. He then drew a ninja star and clutched it tightly in his right hand. Behind him, the wave nudged him forward.
Tracey peered back to it and asked, “Are you sure about this?” The wave nodded. “All right,” continued Tracey, “then make sure you put together my funeral.” Before he knew it, the wave dove back into the water and left him alone. “Okay.” Tracey gulped when he noticed this. As quiet as a mouse, he crept forward and started his exploration on the haunted island.
Tracey made sure he stayed out of the lighthouse’s rays while he explored. It looked like the island had once been inhabited. There was a ghost town on it. Most of the buildings were run down though, and there was even a spooky Ferris wheel. Tracey honestly was terrified. He searched for any signs of paranormal activity, but he didn’t get anything. He hoped he wouldn’t get anything. The island itself was creepy enough. The young fairy passed a playground set in which the swings swayed back and forth in the breeze. They creaked while they did. The town was completely empty. Right now, the only place that looked a little more inhabited was the lighthouse. Tracey searched for a path that would lead him up to it. He noticed the lighthouse’s rays creeping towards him and quickly moved out of the way. When the light left, there was a sudden blast of wind, and Tracey closed his eyes against it.
He jumped out of his skin when he heard a sign fall and asked, “What was that?!” in a frightened voice. Sweat fountained down his temples. Tracey crept forward in the direction of the sound and attempted to use his magic to create a light, but it of course didn’t work. He was totally magic broke. Just as Tracey was beginning to calm down a bit, paranormal activity caught him. He heard another crash – this one was much louder, and took off at a full sprint. Since it was so dark and his magic wasn’t working, he couldn’t see where he was going. A black figure suddenly appeared in front of him, and his eyes widened. Turns out the figure was an old well. Tracey crashed right into it and whispered, “Ow!” He tripped over its edge and fell right into the mouth of the well! If only he was used to walking! Luckily, Tracey caught himself on its rocky wall, but he could only hold on with one hand because the arm he injured was beginning to hurt again. Groaning was heard deep in the well under him – Tracey knew they were ghosts, and by then he was gone. He scurried up the well’s wall and rolled over its edge. Unfortunately, he landed on his injured arm, and it started to bleed again. Grabbing it, traumatized Tracey got up on his knees and rapidly searched the area. Then, just to his luck, the lighthouse’s rays finally caught him. They landed on the young fairy, and he gasped. Things only got scarier from there. Immediately after the lighthouse’s light landed on Tracey, it started to blink on and off, and multiple crashes were heard all around him. As fast as a ninja, he leaped to his feet and hurried forward, asking, “Why on Earth did the ocean lead me here?!”
Tracey soon left the ghost town and started to run on a path which was under a small but spooky forest. Bats zoomed by his head, and he quickly ducked under them. He didn’t even realize how far he ran. When he reached the end of the path, he tripped over a rock and fell into some grass. Splat!
Merlin’s apprentice remained on the ground for a few minutes. When he finally had the guts to look up, he did. Again, his eyes widened. It turned out the path he ran on took him right to the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house, if there was a keeper. They looked a lot spookier up close. The keeper’s house, besides only a single light on the front porch, was pitch black. A similar situation went on with lighthouse. The beacon was the only light; the rest of the lighthouse was black. Tracey slowly stood up and grabbed hold of his injured arm again. His eyes landed on the keeper’s house. Something about it intrigued him, even though he was so deathly afraid. Tracey had his ninja star, so at least he had a weapon in case he was attacked.
“Oh, Makenna, where are you?” he mumbled, but he went ahead and built up his confidence. His legs jiggled beneath him, and he stumbled to the keeper’s house. Tracey’s boots touched the front deck’s stairs, and they creaked under him as he climbed. He came within reach of the front door and peered up to the single light he saw. It was a lantern, and it swayed gently in the breeze. Bumps were heard behind the door, but Tracey bravely knocked on it. As soon as he did, another blast of wind hammered him, and the lantern’s light went out. The door creaked open on its own. Tracey stared into the dark house and took deep breaths to calm himself down. He was getting bad vibes about this place.
Merlin’s apprentice stayed brave.
He poked his head inside the mysterious house and called, “Hello? Is anyone home? Listen, I’m sorry I intruded, but I was wondering if you could at least spare me some water.” Without another word, the young man stepped into the house. The front door closed behind him, and he quickly peered back to it. “Now it’s pitch black!” he whimpered. Tracey hated, hated the dark. He tried to use his magic again to create a light, but of course nothing happened. After a bit though, his eyes adjusted to the dark. He saw a staircase on his right that had a string of flowers wrapped around its outside railing. For being a haunted house, the keeper’s house actually didn’t look that bad.
Young Tracey took a few steps forward and nervously called, “Hello? I-I just want some water.” He accidentally hit a table leaning against the wall. It almost tipped, but he saved it at the last second. Then he continued his exploration. Tracey was forced to stop though when he heard a weird sound – a static sound. “He-Hello?” he repeated. He stepped into a new room – the living room. This room was beyond creepy. The young fairy passed an armchair. He glanced at it but regretted his decision immediately and took a few steps back. A few, old-timing dolls sat in the armchair. Tracey knew what it meant when there were dolls in a haunted house – things were about to get real. The dolls seemed to stare at him. Tracey refused to touch them, so he just let them be. He noticed that the static sound was getting louder. He soon found the source behind it. It was a TV – a TV with a static screen. Okay, now that was just weird. Why was a TV on in this old, run down house? How did it still work? Tracey did not want to find out, but something forced him to approach the TV. He stared into the screen and knocked on it. It continued to static. “Okay,” frightfully spoke Merlin’s apprentice. He turned away from the TV but gasped at what he saw in front of him, “Oh, gosh!” One of the dolls he saw on the armchair had suddenly been moved! It sat on the coffee table and stared straight into his eyes!
Tracey literally was having a panic attack. What on Earth moved that doll?! He quickly moved out of its way but couldn’t help to feel that it was watching him. Tracey had to get out of that living room. All the paranormal activity started after he saw the dolls. The sound of a door slamming shut was heard from the second story, and Tracey lightly screamed. He dove out of the living room and leaped into another room – this time the kitchen. It didn’t look that bad either, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t creepy. The kitchen’s table was set with white plates that had flowers on them, silverware, glasses, and a basket of bread. There also was a sliding door that led outside. Even though the bread looked quite delicious, Tracey stopped himself from eating it. He checked the glasses to see if there was water in them, but it turned out they were empty. The young fairy whimpered, and a few tears dropped down his cheeks. He was so thirsty.
Just as he was beginning to leave the kitchen and step into another room, he again yelled, “Oh, gosh!” The doll! It was the same doll that had been moved from the armchair to the coffee table! It now sat in the doorframe that led to another room, not the living room! Tracey did not approach it; this was too weird! Instead, he dove behind the kitchen’s countertop and pressed his back up against it. “What is with this freaking doll?!” shouted the Apprentice Fairy. He couldn’t help himself – he was so scared and thirsty. Tracey started to cry. He slid his back down the cabinets and buried his face in his knees. Pouncing was heard from behind the countertop. That startled Tracey even more. What on Earth did the pouncing belong to? He rubbed his eyes and unburied his face from his knees. His entire face turned white when he saw the same exact stalker doll sitting in front of him!
Yelping, Tracey leaped to his feet and next sprinted into the little den. He had to get out of there! To the spirits, he said, “Ta-Take it easy. I-I’m sorry I intruded. I’m getting out of here right now.” After he said that, he next heard footsteps! Footsteps! The same doll appeared in the little den’s doorframe. Another door slammed shut. It was all over. Tracey was going to die. When he turned to run away, he tripped over another table, and both it and he fell. The only thing on the table was an old timing picture of a bride and groom. It crashed into the rug but didn’t crack. Tracey’s leg became caught in the table’s legs when he fell, and he couldn’t shake it off.
The footsteps drew closer.
Tears streamed down the petrified fairy’s face, and he mumbled, “I’m going to die.” He peered behind him because he heard another static sound, and sure enough, it was another static TV. Tracey jerked his head back in the direction of the little den’s doorframe where the doll still sat. A dark shadow appeared behind it. Merlin’s apprentice breathed heavily. Oh, he was so dead. “I’m sorry!” he shouted, “Please spare me!” Things took a twist here. The dark shadow stepped over the doll into the haunted room and shone a sudden flashlight on Merlin’s apprentice! “AHHH!!!” he screamed.
“AHHH!!!” the figure screamed back. Turns out it was only an old woman who looked to be maybe in her sixties! She fell onto the floor with the flashlight still shining on Tracey, and the doll was moved again. He tried to make a run for it, but he couldn’t get far because his leg was still caught in the table. By now, he was sobbing.
The woman, who wore her white hair in a bun and red glasses, soon realized he was trapped, and she slowly rose to her feet. She was a pretty, old woman. She slowly started to approach the young fairy.
He saw her approaching, and another wave of fear washed over him. “Please don’t kill me!” he begged. Tracey cried harder, “Please don’t kill me.” The woman stopped over him and kneeled. Tracey felt her presence. He covered himself with his arms and tightly shut his eyes. The woman though didn’t steal his soul. She instead grabbed hold of the table he was stuck in and pulled the legs off his own leg. “Huh?” Tracey asked when he felt he was free. Unburying his face, he met the mysterious woman’s eyes and jumped. He didn’t even think about thanking her. He just wanted to get the heck out of there. The young man grabbed his ninja star and scurried to his feet. He hurried towards another door and prepared to open it but stopped midway. Peering over his shoulder, he saw that the woman had stood up, and she looked slightly disappointed. She already really liked him. Tracey started to have an internal conflict with himself. He felt terrible just leaving this woman without saying thank you. The fairy sighed and shook his head. Finally, he let go of the doorknob and came within reach of the woman. She had turned around and was getting ready to enter the kitchen when she heard him, and she stopped dead on her tracks. Tracey stopped in front of her and shakily said, “Tha-Thank you for freeing me.”
The woman couldn’t help but to smile. She faced young Tracey and shone her light again on him to see him better.
After a bit, she spoke in a sweet voice, “Do you have a name?”
“Tra-Tracey.” Tracey choked out, “I’m so sorry I intruded, ma’am.”
“Oh, you didn’t intrude. It’s just not every day a teenager visits us. Come, come, why don’t you take a seat?” She pointed him towards a couch that sat in front of the static TV, but Tracey refused to sit down.
“Wait a minute,” he nervously spoke, and he pointed at the TV, “What’s with all these TVs with static screens?”
“There was this terrible storm that blew in earlier,” the woman explained in her kind voice, “It knocked out the power and TV cable. We were watching the news when it happened, and I guess we forgot to turn off the TVs. I was making dinner, so I had a clear view of each TV whenever I turned.” Tracey still didn’t know if he could trust this old woman.
The doll now sat in front of the static TV, and he pointed at it, “What about that doll?!”
The woman glanced at it and chuckled, “Oh, that doll. Little Angelina.” She passed Tracey and pointed her flashlight’s light into the main living room, “Hiro, were you playing with this young man here? You gave him quite a scare. Remember, we don’t scare guests.”
“Hiro?” asked Tracey.
He saw the old woman’s foot tapping, and she called, “Hiro, come here, boy.” The pouncing was heard again, and then from the living room, out stepped a beautiful Rough Collie dog. He playfully barked and jogged over to the stalker doll, picking it up.
Tracey and the woman watched as he started running around the room, and the woman ran her fingertips through her white hair, “Hiro there absolutely loves guests, and that doll is his favorite toy. Whenever a guest visits, he always drops it in front of them, with hope they will eventually throw it for him. We are very blessed to have a dog like him.” Hiro dropped his toy in front of her, and his tail wagged. Leaning down, the woman picked it up and threw it into the kitchen. The dog chased after it. Hearing him slide on the floor startled Tracey.
It was still pretty dark and spooky in the house. “We?” he shakily asked the old woman.
She smiled, “Oh,” and shuffled over to a random door in the hallway. Tracey followed her because she had the light. The woman knocked on the door and asked, “Jesse, have you fixed the power yet?”
Tracey jumped when he heard a mysterious, yet spooky voice behind the door, “Almost. Just give me a few more seconds.” It creaked open, and Tracey yelped when he saw a shadowy face in the doorway. He took off at a sprint and slid behind the little den’s couch to hide.
“What was that?” asked the shadowy figure behind the door. He flipped up a switch in the room he was in, and suddenly, all the lights in the house turned on, and the TVs came back! It turned very bright. Tracey was blinded by it. He frightfully closed his eyes and clutched his injured arm.
The woman laughed when she saw the lights and TVs on again, “Jesse, you did it! We have power and TV again!” She switched off her flashlight and opened the door all the way. Out stepped an older man who wore a pair of glasses like her and also looked very friendly.
Chuckling, he brought his hand to his lips and said, “I did. Now, Emilee, what was that yell I heard?”
“Oh, Jesse!” she announced, “We have a guest! I think the storm shipwrecked him onto this island. The poor thing’s scared half to death though. Hiro tried to play with him, but it didn’t exactly work. Right, Hiro?” Hiro had appeared next to her with the doll in his mouth, and his tail started to wag. He set the doll down in front of Emilee and pushed it in between her legs with his nose.
Jesse searched the area and asked, “Is that so? Where is this guest?” Emilee replied by lifting her hand and pointing at the couch Tracey supposedly hid behind. Except, he wasn’t there anymore. Instead, he had opened a window and was attempting to climb outside to the dark area. It was way too dark for him though. On top of that, the house’s little den section rested right on top of a hill. If Tracey climbed out, then he would fall and seriously injure himself. The kind, older couple pulled him back in before he could commit his own suicide.
The old man grabbed hold of his arms, and Tracey yelled as he felt him tugging him back through the window. “Let me go!” he cried out, and he ripped his arms free. Merlin’s apprentice sprinted to a closet and threw open the door. He dove inside and slammed it shut. Tracey not only was scared because of all the weird things happening, but also because he was trapped in a house with humans. After last year, Peter Nelson scarred him for life. The young fairy found it very difficult to trust humans now.
Outside the closet, Jesse peered down on Hiro and asked him, “Hiro, what on Earth did you do to him?” Hiro shrugged and plopped down on his belly. He rolled around on the carpet, and his owners watched as he played with his doll.
Emilee soon noticed something red on Jesse’s left hand, the hand he used to hold Tracey’s left arm, and pointed at it, “Jesse, what’s on your hand? Is that blood?”
“Wha-What do you mean, dear?” questioned Jesse. He picked up his hand, and his eyes widened when he saw the stain, “Oh, my gosh! That kid is hurt! No wonder he’s scared! Emilee, go get the First-Aid kit. I’m going to try to get him out of the closet.”
Emilee nodded and saluted at him, “Aye, aye, captain or in this case, lighthouse keeper.” She turned on her heel and marched out of the little den.
Jesse took a few moments to think about what he could do to get Tracey out of the closet. After maybe five minutes, something came to mind. He picked up the TV remote and turned off the little den’s TV. Setting it down on another coffee table, he nudged Hiro, and they both approached the closet Tracey hid in.
Jesse friendlily knocked on the door and told him, “Please, kid, you don’t have to be scared. We’re not going to hurt you. Why don’t you come out?”
“No!” Tracey choked out on the inside of the closet, “I don’t trust humans! Leave me alone!”
“Trust humans?” Jesse confusingly asked, “What do you mean?” Then he gasped, “Oh, my gosh.”
Emilee soon reentered the room carrying a First-Aid kit, and she sat down next to her husband.
“Emilee guess what.” he spoke.
“What?” she asked as she set the kit down and opened it. She peered into her husband’s face. Hiro stopped playing with his toy and curiously sniffed the inside of the First-Aid kit. He was quite a curious dog. Emilee pushed his face away though so she could see Jesse better.
He pointed at the closet and whispered, “I think this kid may be a fairy.”
“A fairy?” questioned Emilee, “Se-Seriously?”
Jesse nodded, “Yes. Just now he said he doesn’t trust humans. I don’t know what it is, but something about him tells me he’s a fairy.”
Emilee couldn’t help but to smile, “That’s amazing. Guys, let me through.” Hiro and Jesse moved off to the side to let her through. Emilee sat cross-legged in front of the closet and gently knocked on it, “Tracey, I promise you can trust us. We only want to help you. You obviously have been through a lot today. Please.” Tracey glanced at her through a crack in the closet and took deep breaths. He tightly clutched his arm.
On the outside of the door, Emilee snapped her fingers and said, “I have an idea. Jesse and Hiro, leave the room for a moment.” They nodded and shuffled into the main living room. Behind, Emilee shut the First-Aid kit and tossed it onto the couch. She then went into the kitchen and prepared a dinner plate for Tracey. Food almost always worked with trying to have something or someone come out of hiding. She put a huge chunk of lasagna on the plate as well as a piece of bread from the basket Tracey saw earlier. The last thing she did was she poured him a glass of ice cold water.
Emilee took the meal over to the closet and set it down, explaining, “There’s food and water here in case you’re hungry. This is my specialty – homemade lasagna. It’s very tasty. I’m just going to leave it out.” As soon as Emilee set down the plate, she shuffled over to where Hiro and Jesse hid and joined them. They together waited and watched the closet.
Ten minutes passed. Emilee rested on the floor, and Jesse paced back and forth. Hiro was playing with his toy again. Tracey finally decided to come out. He was so hungry and thirsty.
Slowly, he opened the closet’s doors, and his eyes landed on the plate of lasagna. “Mmm, food,” he whispered, and he cracked a small smile.
“Jesse!” Emilee whispered when she saw him crawl out, “He’s coming out!”
“Really?” Jesse asked. He stopped pacing and shuffled over to her. Emilee pointed at Tracey.
He stopped at the plate of lasagna and reached for the glass of water. “Water!” he whispered. The young fairy picked up the glass and gulped it down in one sip, “Oh that’s refreshing.” He still was really thirsty though. Hiro decided to try to play with him again.
He picked up his toy and trotted by his owners. “Hiro!” they whispered.
Tracey saw Hiro approaching and gasped. He didn’t like the sight of the doll in his mouth. He thought about hiding in the closet again, but then he changed his mind. Hiro sat in front of him and wagged his tail. He looked pretty cute with the doll in his mouth. Dropping it, he plopped down on his belly and licked Tracey’s cheek. Hiro’s warm tongue helped the young man calm down. Smiling feebly, he lifted his hand and ruffled the fur on his head. Jesse and Emilee sighed with relief when they saw he didn’t look as afraid anymore. They tried one more time to make friends. Emilee picked up the First-Aid kit she had set down on the couch and handed it to Jesse. She nodded, and he nodded back. Emilee had to find a way to distract Tracey so Jesse could take care of his arm.
They slowly came within reach of him, and chuckling, Emilee placed her hands on her hips, “Well would you look at that? Hiro really likes you, young man.” Bending down, she stretched her arm across her knee, “Do you like dogs?”
Tracey nodded, “I do, ma’am. It’s just, the dogs look quite different here vs. the dogs where I’m from.”
“I understand.” Emilee spoke. She knew for sure now that Tracey was a fairy. She even noticed his pointy ears. Jesse plopped down next to the young man’s injured arm and quietly opened the First-Aid kit. Emilee picked up Hiro’s toy and offered it to Tracey, “Do you want to throw it for him? I think he’d like that.”
“Sure,” spoke Merlin’s apprentice, and he took the toy out her hand, “Thank you, ma’am.” Emilee watched as he drew back his arm and tossed the doll forward. It landed in the kitchen, and Hiro immediately chased after it. Both Emilee and Tracey chuckled. Tracey finally calmed down. He plopped down on his backside and relaxed his shoulders.
Emilee peered into his golden brown eyes and admitted, “You’re quite calm, young man.”
“Thanks. I learned how to be calm from my teacher. He told me calmness is the way of the ninja.”
Emilee lost her smile when Tracey said this, “Your teacher? Don’t you have parents?”
He upsettingly shook his head and answered, “No, ma’am. They died when I was only a year old. I never knew them. Sensei said my realm was destroyed, and that was how they died.”
“Your realm?” Emilee questioned.
Tracey opened his mouth to speak, but he wasn’t able to because Jesse grabbed hold of his arm, and a searing pain engulfed it. “OW!” yelled the young man.
He tried to rip his arm free, but Jesse held it tightly. “I know it hurts,” he said, “but we need to take care of this arm of yours, kid.”
“Trust him,” gently spoke Emilee, “Before we retired, he was a doctor.” Jesse jabbed his fingers into Tracey’s arm to feel for a broken bone. It hurt so much that Merlin’s apprentice started to cry again. “Just don’t look at it.” Emilee continued, “Look, here’s Hiro coming to comfort you.” Sure enough, Hiro entered the room from the kitchen and plopped down next to Tracey.
Emilee finally built up her confidence. Right now, this orphan fairy needed comfort from an adult. The woman shakily lifted her hand and took his own. Tracey felt her and jumped. He calmed down though when he and Emilee met eyes. He felt something warm inside. They stared at each other for the longest time.
Emilee soon gently pulled some of Tracey’s hair out his face and admitted, “You remind me so much of our son.”
Tracey became nervous, “Is that a good thing?”
“Yes.” Emilee whispered, “You know,” She cleared her throat and scratched her nose, “it’s pretty late, and the sea is still recovering from that storm. Wou-Would you like to spend the night here?”
“Are you serious?” Tracey felt a pinch of excitement in his system. The ocean saved him.
“Of course,” said Emilee, “we can give you our son’s room.”
Jesse looked up from Tracey’s arm and took a deep breath, “Um, Emilee, can I speak with you in the kitchen? Alone?” He rubbed his hands together.
“Sure,” his wife answered. Jesse nodded and stood up.
He glanced down on Tracey and politely asked, “Do you think you can wait here for us? We’ll be right back.”
“Yes, sir.” Tracey calmly spoke.
“Thanks,” spoke Jesse, “Until I come back, try not to move your arm around a lot. I still need to confirm if it’s broken or not.”
“Yes, sir.” Tracey repeated. He watched as Jesse took Emilee by her hand and helped her to her feet. They together ventured into the kitchen and left the young fairy alone with Hiro.
Jesse led Emilee to the corner of the kitchen where Tracey couldn’t hear and double checked to make sure he wasn’t listening in.
“What’s wrong?” Emilee asked.
Jesse inhaled and faced her, “Emilee, I know where this is going. We just met the kid. We know nothing about him. You’re jumping to conclusions way too fast.”
Emilee puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and crossed her arms, “We can’t just kick him out and make him sleep in that ghost town.”
“I understand.” Jesse whispered, “The thing is though, we need to learn a little more about him before we reach beyond the limits of just letting him sleep here.”
Emilee protested, “But doesn’t he remind you of Matthew? Not letting him stay here is like kicking our own son out of the house. Every child deserves a family. Can you at least give him a chance for a few days? At least until the ocean settles down? In a few days, we can learn who he is, who his teacher is, and where he’s from. Please, doll. Just give him a chance. He’s hurt.” She turned on her puppy face. Jesse thought about this for a few moments. Closing his eyes, he took his elbow and scratched his chin. Emilee anxiously waited for his response.
Finally making up his mind, Jesse opened his eyes and placed his hand on his hip, “All right. He can stay.”
“Yes!” Emilee silently cheered. She lifted her fist and excitedly leaped into the air.
Jesse continued, “But only until the ocean settles down.”
“Oh,” spoke Emilee, “All right. Deal.” She nervously nodded, and she and Jesse shook hands. Deep inside, Emilee wished for the ocean to never settle down – that it would stay rough forever. She wished that somewhere in the near future, she and Jesse would have a new son.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
