Sorry, Razzy :( Doesn’t look like we’ll get back on time ;_; I miss you so much sweetie you can’t even udnerstand pls pls pls stay safe and good okay? Mom is gonna combust if something happenedasdasdasdsasd omg just stay good ok? We’ll be there ASAP!

Stay safe. I miss you.

That was from your dad he also misses you supermuch!

Love you forever, Mom and dad :)))

–A message from mom and dad to Razandra.

Whenever she felt scared or had had a nightmare, Raz liked to start her mornings by looking at the pink note where she had scribbled the last few text messages from mom and dad. It was her third most important treasure and helped her remember that they weren’t abandoned, just lost.

Someone was going to come find and get them any day now.

Raz folded the note up and tucked it into the secret pocket of the big red adult’s jacket, her favorite. It reached all the way to her toes and had fluffy fur inside the hood. She put her poodle mittens back on. They weren’t as warm anymore. The lining at fingertips had peeled off in big clumps. Allie had found a pair for bigger girls, but Raz felt like it would somehow be wrong to abandon them.

She patted one poodle with the other, and said,  “New day.”

The room stayed quiet and dark, lit only by a sliver coming through the broken blinds. Two bundles rustled softly in the sleeping corner beside her, breathing. Small cold hands hugged her arm underneath the blanket layers. On the other side, a weight lay on top of her legs. Only large exotic leaves with nubbly spikes on them peeked out from underneath the covers.

Raz tried rolling Avalia off of her. The large friend burrito resisted and grumbled, but flopped off to the side safely.

Avalia made a drowsy sound.

“Soon,” Raz promised. “First Faham.”

“I-I’m fine,” slurred the boy from deep within the covers. “Help Ava first.” He had begun buzzing and vibrating like a bee under the blankets.

“Avalia can wait a second,” said Raz. She stood and began picking up the sleeping blankets, stacking them on top of Faham for extra warmth.

“Bzzz…” Faham’s buzz quieted to a content drone. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” said Raz.

“When it gets warm, I will help,” he said. “I will.”

“I know. When they find us, you can help more.”

“Yes.” Faham went quiet again under his blanket pile, buzzing with quiet determination.

Avalia’s turn was next and helping her was a lot harder. First, Raz had to hope the weather was good and then find a spot with good light. 

She shuffled past piles of foodstuffs, clothes, water bottles, toys, and other important things. They kept everything useful here in the living room, including buckets for pee, so they didn’t have to go out if the day was scary. 

Leather creaked as Raz climbed on a sofa and peeked out through the blinds. The sky didn’t like being looked at. Doing so could be really dangerous. But Raz could tell that it was really beautiful today, because light made colorful glowy swirls on brownish grass, the bramble fence, and the neighbor’s house. Today wasn't super bright, but there were no strange sounds or scary things Raz could spot, which was good. She wasn’t sure if she had courage for two scary days in a row.

Raz hopped down and went to search for good light. The living room had three windows. A big one looking out at the front and one in the kitchen and one small one near the bedroom. All blinds were shut for the nights, because it would be scary if they woke up and saw something standing outside and looking at them. It hadn’t happened yet, but just the idea of it was so horrible that it was better not to risk it.

As for the light situation, the front was usually the best. But today, even after opening the blinds, it let in so little light that the wall of furniture blocking the front door was one big shadow. Kitchen was okay-ish, the floor tiles lit up by lazily shifting patterns of oranges and greens, but it wasn't very bright either. Okay-ish would have to do though. The last window was completely dark.

Raz returned to fetch Allie. She kept her inside the burrito for convenience and rolled her out into the kitchen. It was hard work and Raz was panting by the end. She rested a moment before unwrapping her.

A mass of red leaves with browning tips flopped free, burying the bigger girl’s face. One tufty brow of tiny red needles scrunched up. Groaning, Allie opened one dark yellow eye. She didn’t have a nose anymore, and her skin had turned white-white, except for the legs which were dark purple and sprouted frilly little roots. Raz would never say it again, because she didn’t want to make her upset, but she thought Allie still looked really pretty. 

Allie clicked her tongue. “Too dark.”

“No good light today,” Raz agreed carefully, setting the blanket better for her. 

Allie huffed and grabbed the cover. Her feeble grip tugged against Raz’s.

“I can do it!”

Raz let go. She hovered about awkwardly, watching Allie struggle to make herself comfortable. 

Allie growled and cast her a glare.

Raz turned around to wait, wiggling her mittens about to pass the time.

After much frustration and grunting, Raz heard Allie thump against the floor. She turned. The older girl was laying on her back, arm draped over her eyes. Her lips trembled. The blanket was still stuck under her.

Raz bent to gently wiggle the cover over Allie’s lap body. She didn’t resist this time, but continued to cover her eyes. 

Small sobs made her shiver and through them Raz heard her mutter, “...useless ugly stupid body…”

Raz squeezed her fists, frowning. She wanted to help, but not make it worse… perhaps?

“Yesterday was scary. Can I have a hug?” Raz asked.

Allie wiped her eyes and reached out, grabbing Raz, and pulling her down against her. Her arms were weak but big and wrapped Raz into a tight hug, which Raz returned. Slowly, Allie’s breathing calmed. Her grip loosened.

Raz found herself relaxing too. Maybe she really had needed a hug. They weren’t in a hurry to let go, but, eventually, Raz patted Allie’s shoulder. 

“Thanks,” she murmured into her leaf-hair and stood.

Or tried to, but Allie clung on fiercely!

Raz found her heart ached all of a sudden and she returned to hugging her back. Her eyes blurred too. She wished she was older and smarter and knew what to say, but could only repeat in whisper what mom had said to her, “It’s okay. I’m here.”

They were powerful words, however, and helped Allie calm down. When they let go, Allie’s eyes were puffy and dark green. 

“Lets eat,” said Raz, brushing dust off the red jacket. “Are you hungry?”

Allie nodded. “The light isn’t enough today.”

“Okay. I will bring something.”

Raz waddled over to the big pile of foodstuffs and inspected them. What did they have? Various boxes of kinda empty cereal, one special coke bottle for celebration, mom’s jams, boxed beans, and dry things for baking and stuff. They would soon have to figure out how to eat those, if Raz didn’t find new foods.

She scrubbed some plates mostly clean with the kitchen rag, then created two meals and delivered them. For Allie, she also brought a big glass of water with a straw. Faham didn’t like chewing anymore, so for him Raz mixed some jam and sugar into the water. She sat beside him to eat today, because Allie had already received a big hug, and Raz thought he might be lonely.

“Filet Mingopongpong,” Raz explained fancily when she offered Faham his drink.

Small hands covered in a shiny black shell reached out and took it inside the blankets. “I’ve never had it!” Faham said. “What is it?”

“It’s made up, duh,” Allie groaned, spooning up her Filet Mingopongpong.

“Every dish is made up,” said Raz. She continued speaking like a fancy chef, “This one is, ah, as you can see, freshly picked berries from last year smunched up with special rare edition risotto crisps.”

Allie snorted. 

“Mm! Very sweet,” said Faham.

“Special rare edition,” Raz explained.

After some quiet eating, Allie asked, “Do you think pizza still exists?”

“I believe,” Faham replied quickly. “They wouldn’t forget about pizza.”

“It must still exist,” Raz agreed.

“They’d need cows,” Allie said smugly.

Faham made a thoughtful humm. “You think there’s no cows?”

“Well, even if they don’t have them. You can make other kinds of cheese,” said Raz. “And… Oh! Maybe they have magical cows.”

“Magical cows?”

“Yes!”

Allie scoffed.

“What do you think they are like?” Faham asked.

“Hmm.” Raz tapped a finger to her chin and furrowed her brows, thinking hard. “Large and fluffy, but also good climbers to escape the mages when they don’t wanna be milked.”

“Ooh…”

Allie suppressed a chuckle.

“And their cheese?”

“Maybe Allie can figure it out,” Raz suggested.

She made a face. “Me?”

“Yeah. It’s your turn to think of food tomorrow. You can make us magic cow pizza.”

“Magic cow pizza!” Faham buzzed excitedly.

Allie groaned, rolling her eyes. “Sure. Whatever.”

They finished Filet Mingopongpong, and it was time for Raz to do more stuff. She made sure Faham had another bottle for stinky stuff and Allie had a blanket in case she got cold. Then she prepared for the exploration mission.

First, protection. The biggest dangers, according to the radio mister, were getting lost and looking at something you shouldn’t. For this, Raz had a baseball cap and a bundle of string tied to her belt. The radio mister said weapons were useless, but Raz still liked to carry the nice stick she had found some time ago. For courage, if nothing else. On top of these preparations, she also picked up an empty bucket to carry loot.

“All ready to go!” Raz patted herself for double checking.

“Bye.”

“Don’t get hurt!”

“I won’t!”

She slipped out the door and closed it softly behind her, making sure the string didn’t snap. Smallsparrow Street was empty as usual. The only sound was the distant crackling in the sky. Pavement had bumps. Gardens were either in a wild riot or withering. Small one storey homes of brick and wood stood abandoned, black windows facing the street, doors ajar. A few cars were parked on the street. Weird lights from above wobbled over everything. It was pretty and reminded Raz of underwater and disco balls. 

And there, in the corner of Raz’s vision, behind the houses and backyards of Smallsparrow Street, writhed the edge. Raz thought it looked sorta like a cartoon-bright jungle of writhy shapes, only darker and scarier than any cartoon. 

“Keep your eyes in the real world. Keep your feet in the real world. Always check the safety line,” Raz recited the radio man’s mantra. She took a deep breath. “It’s safe. We’re alone here. There’s nothing scary in the houses. Nothing scary. It’s just an adventure.”

“Just an adventure,” she repeated, trying to trick herself to be more excited like mom had sometimes done. “Mm-mm, today’s smelling great too. I think it’s Raz’s lucky day. Today I’ll find candy and maybe even video games!”

It would be amazing. Raz could only imagine the faces Allie and Faham would make if she brought back a working console.

She marched across the street, took a moment to ponder which houses to do today, and settled on the big white one. Its door opened silently, greeting Raz with musty old-people smell. Fishing gear and rubber wellies filled the cramped hallway. The home beyond was quiet and dim.

Raz snuck deeper, steps mose-quiet on the rag-ruts. Her eyes darted about between cabinets, where glass animals glistened in the faint light of outdoors, and the furniture that the light made look like it was moving even when it wasn’t.

“Nothing scary,” Raz whispered.

Her step made a floorboard moan.

Raz yelped!

She stepped on it again and realized it was just the floorboard. Still, her heart tried to beat itself out of her chest.

“Nothing scary.” Raz giggled, relieved. “Just a fun adventure.”

She made the floor groan a few more times to reassure herself, then searched for loot. Sadly, the place had no video games. Only an old laptop, which had no battery. Sadly, the bookshelf was also full of depressing old-people-books like military, history, and murder mystery stuff. However, by climbing on the shelves and rummaging everything thoroughly, Raz did find something in the kitchen. Behind pickled olives (yuck), was a gift bag with three whole bags of tyrkisk peber hard candy and a gift wrapped present. What a find!

Something tumbled out when Raz retrieved the gifts. A card with a cartoon scientist on it.

“Happy 16th birthday, little Roy,” it read.

Raz studied the card, her earlier cheer sliding into a frown. She wondered if little Roy had been luckier than them. She hoped so. He probably wouldn’t have minded if Raz took the gift and candy. Sixteen year olds were almost adults, too mature to be fussy over gifts.

She left with her loot. However, they also needed more water, so Raz made a quick trip to the fantasy house two homes further. It was a normal red brick house, not an actual wizard house or anything. But the person who had lived there had put a lot of huge pin-boards, which were full of pretty drawings of wondrous creatures and people and places with small notes on them like.

“Calitorn, the King of Forest. 2nd Love interest. Brooding. Scary ancient spirit. Driven by the tragic oath he swore to the Primordial Divinities. Thinks of MC as his cute misguided squirrel. Good Ending: Becomes mortal for the MC. Bad ending ???” 

This note hung beneath the drawing of a beautiful antlered man in a gown. The question marks were underscored thrice.

Besides the boards, the house also had a ton of very suspect romance magazines featuring anime boys, a fancy computer and consoles (which sadly didn’t work), and whole packages of fancy water bottles. They all had a big red-white bunny logo and ‘BunnyBlush Studios’ on them.

Raz took as many as she could carry in her bucket and pockets, which was seven, and scuttled back home. The lights hadn’t changed much while she had been inside. They were maybe a little faster than before, a little brighter too. Good for Allie.

She gathered the safety string in a hurry while glancing around, then slipped back and slammed the door.

Safe.

Chapter 1 continues...