Page 27 of May: Bloom & Bane

The little bird puffs out its chest.

I laugh.

“Well… thank you,” I murmur. “What a sweet little magpie.”

The sun warms my bare arms.

I run my fingers along the petals of a flower that leans into my touch.

I don’t realize how long I’ve been wandering until the birdsong begins to thin. I have no idea where I am… or how to get back.

The longer I walk, the colder it gets. I catch a shadow in the trees, but it disappears as soon as my eyes focus on it. It’s trying to lead me toward something. I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing over the goosebumps that refuse to leave. The dress I chose was definitely not warm enough for this part of the meadow.

“Okay, Eden,” I murmur to myself. “It’s time to focus and find your way home.”

I glance at my surroundings. Everything looks the same. I try my best not to panic, but it’s starting to build in my chest.

The shadow blooms at the edge of my vision.

“Hello?” My heart hammers in my chest. “Are you following me?”

The temperature plummets and frost creeping across the grass. My breath fogs in front of me, though the sun is still shining overhead.

A fox steps out from behind a cluster of walnut trees. His fur is almost translucent. His eyes are pale blue, and they’re fixed entirely on me.

Frost spreads beneath his paws with every step closer. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever been afraid of.

“Hi,” I whisper, crouching down slowly. “Are you the one who’s been following me?”

His ears flick forward.

I hold out my hand, palm up. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”

He takes a cautious step forward, his nose twitching in the air. The cold coming off him makes my fingers ache the closer he gets.

When his nose finally brushes my palm, something like recognition burns in my chest.

“You’re so cold,” I murmur, carefully scooping him into my arms. He’s heavier than I expected, solid despite his ghostly appearance.

I settle onto a fallen log and cradle him against my chest, running my fingers through his silvery fur.

He curls into me, his tail tucking around my wrist.

“There you go,” I whisper, stroking the spot between his ears. “You were trying to help me, weren’t you?”

He lets out a soft purr.

“Where did you come from?”

He tilts his head curiously, and then a roar fills the meadow.

“EDEN!”

CHAPTER 13

a world where you aren’t awake

—SAGE