Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One by Donna Wagner (books you have to read TXT) 📕

door, he saw Anna had returned as well. She was sitting at the computer chair, but she wasn’t looking at the computer screen. She was staring at something in her hand. “Hey, I just came to get the laptop. I forgot I left it in here.”

Her head shot up. “Tim! You need to read this. Right now.”

“What is it?”

She didn’t answer. She just handed him what she had been looking at, which was a piece of paper. As soon as he looked at it closer, he saw it was his mother’s handwriting. “Where’d you find this?”

“Just read it.”

“Dear Eimaj,

I just wanted to tell you the latest book has been a success. I called this one “Incognito”.  I hope you’re doing well. The young man you sent with your last letter reminds me so much of my son, I couldn’t believe it. I know what you told me all those years ago, that we’re all connected, but I wish we could meet in person, once more before Tim returns. I can’t believe his birthday is next week. I want more time with him. I want to prepare him as much as I can, but I still don’t understand it all. I’ve turned everything you’ve told me over the years, plus what I learned on my own, into these stories. I’ve told Tim these stories over and over. I hope when his time comes, he’ll understand the message, better than I do.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. Hopefully, at that point, Tim will have found you and you can tell me how he’s doing.

Love,

Nelle”

“What is this? Where did it come from? How did my mother talk to anyone from Snillotia? Is this even real? Wait, Eimaj? The character from her books? She’s real?”

Tim’s questions flew one after another. When he was finally quiet, Anna took a breath. “I know. I have the same questions. As to where it came from, it was in the messenger bag.”

“The only thing in there earlier was the laptop. Remember? I took it out to look for the power cable. Nothing else was in that bag.”

Anna nodded. “I remember, but it wasn’t in that main part. There’s a smaller compartment, here on the flap,” she explained, pointing to a zipper Tim hadn’t noticed.

He reached his hand in. There was nothing else there. “What does this mean?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know if she’s writing to someone she named the character after, or if the stories are actually true and she’s writing to the character, herself. I don’t think we can find out from here, either. I think we need to go back.”

“Back to Snillotia? We don’t even know where to begin looking, or what we’re even looking for.”

“Well, we can start by looking for Goldie.”

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

After a few minutes was spent debating whether or not they should contact Fey or trust one of the portals, they decided on a plan. Since they didn't know when they would arrive back in Snillotia, they decided to chance using the portal in the secret room. It was the closest portal and a way back they could use without alerting anyone else of what they were doing. They each went to their own bedrooms to pack a few things they thought might be useful. When Tim had finished filling his backpack, he found Anna in the kitchen also packing some snacks. "We don't know how long we'll be gone or if we'll be able to find food."

Tim nodded and grabbed some bottles of water from the pantry and added them to his bag. When he looked up, he saw Anna fold a piece of paper and leave it on the counter where someone would see it. "I'm not telling them where we're going or what we're doing, but just letting them know we left together and that it's important. I don't want them to worry."

Tim nodded again. "Ready?" he asked.

It was Anna's turn to nod as she walked towards the secret room, with Tim following close behind her. After unlatching the hidden door, they both paused before going through. “Are we doing the right thing?” Anna asked.

Tim started to answer, but before he could Peter appeared. “What are you two doing now? Why do I always find you together, locked in some secret conversation?” he asked, rather unhappily.

Tim looked at his cousin. “Why do you always appear when we are having a private conversation?” Tim asked, answering his question with a question.

Peter looked slightly offended, but recovered quickly, and laughed. “Geez, I was just making a joke. Lighten up, Tim!”

“Uh, Peter,” Anna cut in, “we really are having a private conversation here. I’d appreciate it if you could leave us alone, for now. I promise I’ll talk to you later. You can tell me all about your chapter for English class.”

Peter’s eyes lit up at the mention of the assignment, but then darkened slightly as he eyed the bags both Anna and Tim were carrying. “Why do I get the feeling you’re just trying to get rid of me? Don’t worry. I get it. I’ll leave you to whatever you’re doing,” he said abruptly and stalked down the hallway.

“How much do you want to bet he’s going to tell everyone we’re up to something the second he finds them?” Tim asked.

“I agree. We need to go. Now. Good idea or not.”

They both turned and walked into the hallway behind the hidden door. Tim pushed the door closed behind him. “Let’s leave the light off. If Peter tells anyone he saw us going in here, if they open the door and see the light is off, maybe they’ll think we changed our minds.” Anna suggested, as she made her hand glow.

Tim smiled slightly, as he responded. “Good idea.”

Anna started towards the secret room and Tim followed close behind so he could see. They stood in front of the corner of the room that was the portal. “You ready?” he asked, echoing his question