Page 42 (2/2)
"Do you want to knohy your tale isn’t in my copy of the book? It’s because I finished your tale weeks ago But the Story needed you for one randh to create a Grandmother for my current quest It used you to satisfy the needs of a different tale, to create so o"
Mina stood up and walked over to Nan, as lying on the cold floor She held Nan close, hugging her "I just killed the wolf and saved randmother This tale is over I won Check and see, Mina pointed to the Grian to fill in a page thatscene Mina knew that so in the Fae Book She could al from beyond Claire dropped the notebook, and Mina saw the words ’The End’ appearing underneath the picture With it ca wind that rattled the s, and she felt herself being pulled forward toward the Grihtly onto Nan as the earth shook and shelves clanged The rooht burst from Nan’s body Mina screa best friend She too, was being pulled toward the Grimoire, and Mina wasn’t sure she could hold on
Suddenly strong hands grabbed her, and Mina recognized Brody as he e her with his body He must have noticed her disappearance and seen Jared take off running Like Jared he ot you! I won’t let you go I pro as she watched the book float off the ground and begin to absorb a scared Lonetree and a screaht as Claire reached toward Mina Whether she wanted Mina’s help or the last few years of her life, Mina didn’t know But Claire was sucked into the pages of the Grimoire
The book fell open the floor with a loud "plop" When the wind, the noise, and the ground quit , Mina tried to push herself off of Nan, but was held captive by Brody’s body
Brody moved off of Mina and looked her over for injuries Other than a cut on her face and a few bruises, she looked okay "You’re alright! Thank God!" He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her The kiss tasted salty and sweet "I’ain," he whispered, kissing her head Mina pulled away to check on Nan
Nan’s skin was still glowing and she was slowly turning back to her normal self Mina felt her skin start to prickle The same build-up of power she felt whenever the Story interacted on their plane She looked around in apprehension and couldn’t find a source Then she felt it co from the Grimoire Mina walked over to the book and could feel a buildup of power before it snapped closed with finality, knocking her and Brody off of their feet with its power
Mina looked over at Brody as now lying prostrate on the floor next to Nan; he looked to be out cold
"Brody!" Mina screaers over his tan skin and around his head looking for large bumps or bruises He see over him already and help me up," Nan mumbled sleepily as she tried to pull herself up She looked around the roo here?"
"Don’t you remember?" Mina asked "Claire froht us here"
"Babushka’s what? I have no idea what you’re talking about And wait – are wehere?"
Mina was du Was this a joke or a side effect of being healed too quickly? "Don’t you reht I distinctly re He was Savannah’s date, not yours" Nan stood up and began to limp around the room
"But I saved his life at this bakery, three weeks ago There was a big rally and we started dating and he even gave me a cell phone, see" Mina looked around on the floor for her phone, but couldn’t re a cell phone? Ha! That will be the day Are you sure you’re feeling okay? I don’t kno to tell you this, but no ent on a field trip here Look at this place; it hasn’t been open in years"
Nan was right Mina looked around and what once was a working factory hite washed walls and stainless steel equipment was now a dank, dirty broken-doarehouse Broken crates and spray paint littered the inside, and Mina could have sworn she saw a rat
It was like the Bakery had never existed The Story had created it all, set it all up Once the tale was co impact on the human world Mina started to feel her chest heave with pain Her hand went to her heart as she turned to look at Brody It wasn’t real, none of it Had the Story created his feelings for her? Maybe it hadn’t, but would he remember?