Magic Shop- Chapters 6 and 7

Chapter 6: We’re all healing

I dabbed 911 into my phone. “Hello? There is a fire at my house. I am in danger. I am in danger. Please send units now.” I said, and left the call on. It was something my mom had taught me. You never know if the house might crash in fires like this. I hurried inside, trying to salvage my father’s photo. I heard screaming behind me, to turn back, but I kept going. I couldn’t lose my hero’s face. The 911 dispatcher said in a hurry, “Get out of the building. Out. Out. “ I felt it in my hands, then I fell to the ground. After that, everything was a blur. I remember being carried out. A white car. A bed? No, a stretcher. I drifted in and out of consciousness. Everything went dark. 

Bling! The lights flashed in my eyes. I squinted, bothered by the brightness. I felt something on my face. I touched it. A bandage? I looked around, and saw my mom dozing in the chair next to me. She looked tired. Wait- “the photograph!” I muttered to myself. My mom snapped her head up. “Oh, my baby,” she said, touching my face. I swatted her hand away. “Mom, where’s the photo?” I asked urgently. She pointed to the desk. I saw it was slightly singed, but at least it was safe. Knock knock. I glanced at the door. David timidly walked in with flowers, and a get-well card. I blushed. Good thing it was covered by bandages. Well, at least half of it was. “Thanks.” I said. He muttered something and walked out. My mom was staring at me with a question mark on her face. I just smiled. Just then, Autumn aggressively knocked. She barged into the room, holding about two thousand letters. “What-” I asked. “Your classmates dropped all these off,” she said, dumping them on my bed. 

I, surprised at the people who cared fabout me, opened all of them. It took hours, but there was really nothing else to do. My phone was charging on the other side of the room, and I couldn’t get up. Message after message. Most were lazy unsigned cards, but there were a few heartfelt notes in there. I found David’s and tucked it in my pocket. While opening, one stuck with me. Not because it was cute or anything, but it felt important. It read, 

Meet me at the community library next week. I’ll be wearing a black hoodie with white sweatpants.

It didn’t have a signature or even a name.

The following week, I was discharged and free. As I got home, I remembered the note. “Hey mom,” I called. “Can we stop by the library? I just remembered a book I wanted.”

“Sure, Sweetie,” she answered. 

I glanced around the library. I pretended to be interested in some books, while my mom found a friend and talked her head off. The second she stepped away, I began my search. Nope. No. Not him. Nah. No. Black hoodie, white sweatpants! There they are!

I threw my blue hood on and crept over with my head down. I took out my sketchbook and tore a corner. Hi! Is this the person who told me to meet them?

I slid it over to them.

A few minutes later, they threw it back at me. 

Yeah. Come meet me outside.

I looked up, and the hoodie person was already halfway to the back door. I quietly picked up my sketchbook and tucked it under my arm. 

“Hey, so who-?” I asked.

The hoodie person took off their hood.

“Madison?!”

Chapter 7: branch

“Hey,” Madison said. “Thanks for helping me that day.”

“Huh-whaua?” 

“Yeah yeah, ‘it's you’ yada yada,” she said. “Listen up. I’m here to help.”

“Huh?” I questioned. I was genuinely confused.

“I know about the shops,” she said. “I think I found a way to bring your dad back. Madison dragged me to her house. 

“Wont my mom worry?” I asked while she fumbled with her keys. “Don’t stress about it.” She grabbed my hand and yanked me into her house. I followed her into her room. “Wow,” I chirped in awe. Her room was filled with bulletin boards and red string. Hundreds of photos and notes. Madison kicked her pillows around as we made our way in. “Why did you helping me?” I asked. She paused. “Some people just need a branch to hold onto during a storm,” she explained. “You were mine in that school bathroom. My turn to be yours.” She took me to one photo that was aggressively circled, answer!!! I squinted at the dark shadow. Oh I see! Someone tied onto a plank. Wait, is that…

“Blaze? What would you want from Blaze?”

Madison sighed. “You see, I did some research on dragons. I found out that one type of dragon could resurrect someone with a sacrifice. The breed was extinct- until now. A-”

“Shadow crested dragon,” I finished.

“Exactly.”