“Pikoe Falls? Not that far from here. And Goldlock is it? I knew a Goldlock a while back. He was passing through too. He said he had family here. Come to think of it, he still has family here, a brother in fact. He hasn’t come through in a while, at least not that I know. I guess after that heartbreak and the trouble he caused it’s better that way. I don’t think too many people around here are keen on seeing him again.” Mr. Wyzart pulled his glasses down on his nose and looked over them at me, as if waiting for a response.

I stared back blankly. I’d never heard of any of those places or names. Even if I had, I wasn’t sure I should tell him.

“Anyway, if you like fruit you might meet him. He runs Pickens Produce in town.”

“Yes, I met him today. I bought an apple.”

“An apple, you say?”

He then mumbled something under his breath about young people not reading anymore and good thing I was awake.

He finished clacking on the keys and then pulled open a drawer to pull out a large faded brass key. An oval tag with the number 111 dangled from it as he handed it to me from across the counter.

“Head down this hall and out the first set of doors. You’ll see a building with a symbol of a moon on it. That is your building. You can walk right up to the front door of Room 111 and that key will let you in.”

I looked at the key and then the hallway.

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome. Checkout is eleven in the morning. That is, unless you plan to stay another night,” he suggested optimistically.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, before you go. I should warn you to be careful. New girl like you coming into town, I’m sure it’ll draw attention. Not sure attention is the thing you would be seeking. If it is, well, you’ll have no problem getting it.”

“Yes. Thank you, again,” I replied while staring at the light that seemed to glow just a little brighter at that moment. I turned and followed Sparrow down the hall. She pranced out of the lobby moving as if she knew the way, but perhaps she was just picking up on the scent of other animals.

We walked out the door and the silver crested moon glowed on the building. I walked to room 111 and slid the key in, opening the heavy door with a full-bodied push.

I threw my bag on the bed and heard the sound of crumpling. I picked it back up to find, folded in half and lying on the single pillow, a sheet of linen paper - a note. I couldn’t imagine it was for me. Perhaps the last person had left it.

I sat on the bed and picked it up. I let my fingers trace the linen fibers before opening it to read the message someone else likely left for the staff.

Birds that run along the ground

Flowers that flitter with a sound

Gold that grows from the crown

I’ve expected you to come around

Don’t believe all that’s been told

Trust yourself, truth will unfold

Embrace the magic from within

I have found you, once again

I read the note over and over again. Curious at what enraptured me as I sat frozen on that small bed, Rose lighted on my shoulder to read beside me. I dropped the note back on the bed and stood up. I pulled the heavy curtains closed and double checked the door.

Whoever left the note had left it for me. There was no mistake. I may not have ever been out of the enchanted forest before that day and may not have known much about this other world, but there was no mistake about this.

“What do you think this means, Rose?”

I grabbed the paper again, looking up at Rose. With the speed of a thought Sparrow was by my side and my arms wrapped around her. Rose fluttered by me, then turned back to face me, her eyes peering into mine.

“Amarilla, we need to talk.”

_______

Thanks for reading. Please subscribe for new parts released each week until the end!

www.BernetteSherman.com