James Patterson - Witch and Wizard

I BLINKEDYOU KNOW, like, whoever blinks first loses.

I could see a total shadow world. It looked like a whole other dimension, another reality. Everything was black, or gray, or tinged with glowy green. I could make out fuzzy shapes moving and staticky snippets of distorted conversation.

It was kind of like watching a horror movie on an old TV with incredibly bad reception.

Wisty had started pulling on my shirt from the other side of the wall. I could barely hear her voice, which freaked me out in itself.

Some of the shadows were getting clearerbecause they were coming closer, which I didnt particularly appreciate so much.

Just stay where you are, I tried to say, but my voice was lost. Then one of the shadow people turned toward me anyway, like it could hear.

It sure looked like a human form. Then the mouth openednothing but a shapeless splotch in a dark shadow world. If the figure was saying something, I couldnt understand.

Slowly, it approachedcautiously. Then I distinctly heard the words Is someone there?

As I watched in awed silence, the shadows face became clearer, more detaileduntil I screamed.

It was Celia.

And this time it wasnt a dream.

MOM, I WHISPERED as her form started down the steps. Dad.

They came to us, and of course we wanted to hug them, but we couldnt, any more than Whit could hug Celia.

A horrible realization dawned on me. Are you Half-lights? I asked, my voice twisting hideously, on the verge of a bawl. Are you dead?

Were not dead, Wisty, Mom said. Were just someplace else. Youll see the real us soon enough. I hope so.

Mom, I said again, my jubilation at her words almost making me faint. Could my emotions possibly roller-coaster any worse than this? I threw my arms out and tried to hug her again.

Why cant we touch you, then?

My sweet darlings, Mom said, and it was pure her. Were alive, trust me. But were not really here right now. Magic has brought us to you today. Someone elses magic.

Dad chimed in. The important thing is that you know were so very proud of you. Your time in prison. How you rescued the children. How you dealt with that evil and unworthy judge. And The One Who Thinks He Is The One. Youve done amazingly well.

You two are the present, and the future, Mom said, smiling. And now we know you can do it. This has just been a warm-up.

A warm-up for what? I asked. I just want to be home again.

Mom smiled wistfully. Youll see. But first you have to believe, Wisty, that youre a very, very good witch. And one day, youll be a famous musician too.

And youre a very, very good wizard, Whit, Dad told him. And, believe it or not, youre going to be an important writer.

Whit looked aghast. I thought that the wizard thing was pretty out-there, Dad, but a writer? Youve got to be kidding.

Do you have your journal? Dad asked, still very serious, and then he looked at me. And your drumstick? You havent lost them, have you?

I nodded and held up my drumstick. Whit pulled his journal out from his waistband. Wed gone to ridiculous lengths to keep these things safe, but for what reason? Because I was destined to be a musician? Because WhitWhit?was going to be an important writer? Who had time for writers and musicians in these dark days?

Mom held out a hand toward my beat-up, dirty drumstick. Okay, Wisty, youve proven youre ready to do this. Transform that stick into its true form.

At this point, I was used to failing, but I really hated to fail in front of my parents. Mom, I stalled, you know Ive got, like, a C-minus track record in that department.

The difference is that now, Im right here. You can look into my eyes. All of the secrets are in there.

When is the last time you really, really looked deep into your parents eyes? I bet you dont even remember the last time. Like, maybe since you were a baby and making stupid googly eyes at each other. Well, youd be surprised at what happens when you go in there. Its kind of scary, actuallybut in a good way. Im not going to tell you any more. Just try it yourself someday.

Speak love, you may enter, Mom murmured. And I did.

And when I looked at the drumstick, it had turned into a dark, slender wand. You heard me. A witchs magic wand.

Like me, you probably thought a wand was just a fantastical figment of legends and fairy tales. Well, we were both wrong. For one of the few times in my life, I was speechless.

Now, you do it, Whit. Open the journal and look at me. Dad held his hands above Whits shoulders and, as Mom and I watched them speak wordlessly to each other, the journal filled in with lessons, explanations, magic spellseverything a witch and wizard would need to know.

Whit whispered to me, Im glad I didnt leave it in prison.

We adore you both, Mom told us. But we have to say good-bye for now.

We love you, called Dad. Good-bye. For a while anyway.

No! Stay! I cried, but Mom and Dad had already started to fade. Mom! I love you! Come back! Please dont leave us already. Please! I cried.

Then suddenly my parents were gone. Our house was gone too. Even the birdhouse.

I sank to my knees in the sun. Feffer licked my face. Dogs just know what to do, dont they?

Finally, I struggled to my feet, and Whit hugged me and hugged me.

This book is amazing, he said, obviously trying to cheer me up. Lookthis is what Im talking about.

He held the book open under my nose. I sniffled and looked at it. Actually, it was amazing.

How to De-weasel Someone, the page read in fancy letters. I frowned and read on: If youve accidentally turned someone into a weasel, and you dont wish them to remain a weasel, first you must

I looked at him. Shred that page, please, will you?

I dunno. The weasel might come in handy as a human at some point. You never know. Anyway, he said, tugging at my sleeve, weve got things to do, kids to save, a New Order to crush witch.

Okay, wizard. I sighed and followed Whit back through the cornfields to our battered blue van.

I was ready for whatever came our wayat least I thought so. After all, I was a bad, scary witch. And Whit was a supercool wizard.

Then the weirdness continuedemerging out of the corn from the same way we had come, Byron Swain appeared, de-weaseled.

Dont look at me like that, he said. Your mom did it. She said I should watch over you two.

And off we went to crush the New Order.

Except things didnt go exactly according to plan.

Just according to the prophecies.

VERY DICKENSIAN

THE TEAM LEADER for the break-in at the Overworld Prison was a girl, which I loved. Her name was Margo, and although she was about my size, she was as tough as razor blades. She had to beshed already escaped from Over-world, and lost a couple of fingers. She was also homicidal when it came to The One Who Is The One.

And I have to admit I was starting to be too. He intended to vaporize my parents tomorrow, after all. We wouldnt let that happen.

Margo led the way through an abandoned subway station that was dank and dark, but we had flashlights from the hardware section at Garfunkels.

Once we get inside, we should let the kids out first, since we know where they are. Then we can go looking for your parents, said Margo.

Lets wait and see, okay? recommended Whit. Once we get inside, well make a final plan. But that raises the big question, doesnt it: how do we break into Overworld?