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Objects are rising out of the ground, like some kind of miracle Gravel and s push their way to the surface Thevenues It hurts my ears to listen to it I close my hands over the its way up in the centre of the island seeest of theround like an enorroundto life out of the depths of the earth

And then I can make out what it is, a house Vines and mud coat its exterior If it weren’t for this then I would almost describe it as stately Once it has finished its ascent I can see that it has about four levels and is almost as wide as a quarter of the whole island “That’s Theodore’s old mansion, the one that disappeared back in the sixties I’ loudly so as to be heard over the music Alvie lets out a curse that I won’t repeat

I turn to look over at Marcel and Gabriel Both of thenise the house also So this is definitely Theodore we’re dealing with, or perhaps just a really powerful iic would it take to pull off a stunt like this? Perhaps ic users present would hold combined

I juins to buzz, but then I remember it’s my phone Sometimes you need the mundane to snap you out of your fear of the fantastical I laugh involuntarily, but it is afraid rather than joyful I pull out the little black phone and lift it to my ear Ethan’s name is on the screen Oh crap Do I really want to deal with this right now?

Nonetheless I answer “Hello?” Although I doubt I can be heard over the h loud and clear I look over and see that he’s staring straight at me as he holds his phone to his ear

“What on earth are you doing over there with that slayer?” he demands, and I don’t like the accusatory tone of his voice As though I belong to him and should not even consider any notions of free will It’s also predictable that he would notice I’h Rita’s

“Is this really the ti about this Ethan? Because I think there are more important issues at hand Like say the house that seeesture frantically over to the island

“That is the slayer froue with hi what I’ve said

“He’s friends with Marcel and Gabriel” I tell hio into detail

He seeht, well you’d better get over here I can’t see any of this ending well and I need to be able to protect you”

All around people arenoises of shock and astonishment, and even a little bit of awe I turn back to the island and see that the other objects have now risen to the surface Carn

ival rides Dirt spills off thehts of various colours; red, blue, yellow, green The chair-o-planes spin around and around, twirling out of the ground like a huo-round horses do the sah to make a person dizzy

I return to o over to you All hell would break lose if I walked over the divide”

“Everybody is watching Theodore’s display,” he tells me “Run across now and nobody will notice I will catch you on the other side”

“It’s too risky”