SPEAKER_00 1:05

Chapter 4 As we step up our pace and cross the street, the hot city air rises up from the pavement and slaps me. A smell drifts my way, just a hint of something I've never smelled before, like sweat and baking dirt and scorched flowers. It makes me sad and a little nervous. It feels like I haven't been out in the world for the longest time. Even though it was only yesterday. Things are just changing so fast. Peev doesn't seem to notice, and he drags me along as usual. His jaunty steps bring my smile back, and I follow him happily, watching the blue black streaked fur at the top of his head glint in the sunlight. Weighing in at more than a hundred pounds, he is not always the easiest dog to walk with, and he's definitely not taking it easy on me today. When we get to the end of the second block, he pulls me to the left, toward his favorite Tinkle Target, a light pole plastered with multicolored flyers at the entrance of our neighborhood park. Not today, boy, I grunt as I tug his giant body the way we need to go. Fighting his momentum almost knocks me on my butt. But he lets up at the last second, so all we do is wobble. We'll go to that park soon, I promise. I know you have a dog friend to catch up with. Peev snorts, clearly a little miffed, but quickly takes the lead again. He pulls me along for a while, then stops and decides on a shady spot to make his jumbo size poop. I smack my head, realizing I've forgotten to bring the bag to pick it up. I make a mental note to come back to this spot again later today to clean it up and push ahead. Right now, I have a mission. Blocks later, as the skyscrapers start to shrink, I realize I don't know this part of the city as well. I check my phone to make sure I'm going in the right direction. Six more blocks and a right turn, then three blocks and a left. My nerves wake up as I calculate, making my steps a little less steady. I sure hope my dad's wrong about all that danger, and I sure hope this trip turns out to be worth the risk. Wrapping Peeves leash around my hand a couple more times, mostly because it makes me feel better to have him a little closer, I glance around us and try to get my bearings. I see a sign for 110th Street, which suddenly sounds familiar. Didn't Jasper say that the community garden is on that street? For a second I get all rebellious, thinking I might as well just do all the things I'm not supposed to do in one day. But then my spirits dip as I realize I have no idea how far I'd gone down on 110th or what I'd be walking through. I guess it's not really smart to push my luck. Peeves slows down, looking more than a bit ragged from the heat. My heart flutters a little, reminding me that I'm already way out of my comfort zone, and that I really don't know what I'm walking into. This probably wasn't my best ever idea. Following strange clues around New York City in the heat wave. But how could I even resist? And the box had my name on it. My name. No kid or adult even would be able to ignore something like that. The weight of the compass against my leg reassures me. I have to do this. Ten more blocks, Max. We can make it. Peave sniffs a centipede on the sidewalk, and I pull him along before that creepy thing slides right up his nose. That's a complication I do not need today. Plus, my protector has to be on his guard. My dad's voice slips back into my head, and I realize I sound like him, all nervous and paranoid. Whatever this is, I decide, it has to be a good thing. I mean, it's also mysterious and interesting. How can it be bad? Before I knew it, I've made the first turn. Three more blocks before the next. I slow peeved down a little, wanting to look around a little bit more before we get there. It's pretty nice around here, isn't it, boy? I say, patting his flank. He gives a soft bark of approval and tries to veer off into a little courtyard in front of the barnstone. I pull him back, but I don't blame him. It's really pretty here, like a real neighborhood full of real people, names belonging to familiar faces instead of labels on mailboxes. It's still a lot of cement, sure, but here and there trees and shrubs grow right out of the ground, instead of in planters. No doormen, no elevators, every door just a few feet from the street, instead of stacked high into the sky. I take a slow deep breath. It feels different, like the air feeds my lungs instead of just passing through. Peev nearly yanks the leash out of my hand, and I pull him back before he bounds off after a squirrel. I guess this place feels pretty good to him too. Come on, boy, we have to keep moving. He snorts his annoyance but keeps walking. I reach down to scratch his back, and when I straighten, I crash into what feels like a pillar, but turns out to be a person. Watch out! The girl, probably older than me, but not by much, backs up with a snarl and eyes me like I just tried to pick her pocket. Her dark grey eyes startled me. They're almost like metal, like robot eyes. I'm so sorry, I stammer, hoping my voice is louder than my beating hurt. You and that dog are gonna hurt someone, she said. He's really well behaved, I swear. I'm sorry. She crosses her skinny arms over her chest. It hits me now that she's wearing a hoodie. In this he That's so weird. You live around here? Her eyes dart around, reminding me of a hawk, which makes me feel like the field mouse. Not far. It's probably not safe for you to be walking around alone. I work hard to keep the shock from showing on my face. What's with all this danger stuff? Is there something in the water? I do have this giant dog to protect me, I say, and Flasha grin, hoping to lighten her up a little. She cocks an eyebrow. You still need to be careful. We all do. With that, she glances over one shoulder, then the other. Get on home now, she says, giving me a scowl that makes her look a little bit like a gargoyle. I gasp and step away. This girl's a little bit terrifying. Luckily, she just shakes her head and starts walking away like she's late for dinner. Stunned and a little weirded out, I watch her go. She glances back twice, frowning and shooing me away. What's her problem? Come on, Peefe, I say, we're almost there. We walk to the end of the block, and before we make the turn I look behind me, hoping the girl has disappeared. Instead, she stands at the middle of the next block, watching me. A jolt rocks my body, and at the last minute I turn right instead of left. I walk past a few houses, then duck behind a stairway, planning to lay low for a few minutes. Peave has other ideas, and they don't include hiding from weirdos in the street. While he sniffs and tugs and licks my face, I peek over the stairs, making bucketfuls of wishes that I'll never see that girl again. After way too many heart thumping minutes, I stand and lead Peeves back the right way. As we walk, it seems like the compass gets warmer in my pocket. You're just rattled, I tell myself, and keep walking. There's no sign of the girl by now, and I finally exhale. I reach into my pocket for the mysterious note, wanting to check the address, and I swear I feel the compass move. It's like it's jumping in my pocket. Breathe, Coral, you're just spooked. I give my cheek a little pat as Peev nudges my thigh with his head. Thanks, boy, I'm okay. I tell him and pull out the note. I stare at the number two hundred and thirty four, then glance up at the house in front of me. Two, three, four, huh. What are the odds? We're here, Peev, I say and take a good look at the brownstone. My breath catches. I've never seen so many crystals and prisms in my life. They're everywhere. Hanging in wind chimes, poking up from the flower beds and flower pots, decorating the handrail leading up the stairs. Even the doorknob looks like it's the top of a fairy queen's sceptre. Something in me warms as I look at it, and I feel certain I've seen it. Maybe even touched it before. Peave sets to sniffing, taking an inventory of every flower and leaf in his path. For a second he pulls me away from the brownstone, and as I tug him back my way, it again feels like something moves in my pocket. Trying to shake off the strangeness, I walk up the stairs and face the door. The doorknob prisms dance in the sunshine, like raindrops set free to celebrate the billions of colors of the rainbow. My heart pounds as I knock. The beats echoing each other, making this moment feel bigger and bigger. My fist stops, but my heart keeps going, filling my head and my ears, heating the bottoms of my feet. The rhythm inside grows stronger and faster while I wait, and I worry I'll explode before I find out if anyone's even home. Pef dances next to me, chuffing his impatience. Hang in there, boy. We can't leave yet, I tell him, disappointment, seeping in like a bank of thunderclouds as the waiting moments pile up. I lift my fist one more time, hoping like crazy that the adventure isn't going to end this way. This can't all come down to a useless walk across the city, especially since I'm probably going to be in so much trouble by the time I get home. I pull all of my breath into my chest and knock as hard as I can, hard enough to make Peev look up at me, ears pricked forward. I sigh and gather up his leash. Come on, boy, I guess it's not gonna happen. I turn his big body around and then watch his ears prick up again at a sound behind us. Glancing back, I see a small, smiling woman whose toffee colored skin glows like a dewdrop standing in the doorway. You're finally here, she says, and steps back to open the door. She presses a hand to her heart. Please come in, Coral. It is so lovely to see you. When she says my name, my body goes hot and cold at the same time. It's not exactly a surprise, but it sounds strange, but also familiar coming from her. I turn back and look at her, then step forward because well I mean who wouldn't? Next to me, Peave hesitates. I put out my hand to soothe him just as the woman bends down and looks him in the eye. You'll both be just fine with me, sweet Peave, this I promise you. With a satisfied sniff, Peev trots on ahead and pulls me through the doorway. I follow along, trying not to be shocked. It takes a lot to move this giant dog, but if he's okay, I am too. Now to find out what all this means and why I am sitting right here in the middle of it.

SPEAKER_01 16:44

Hi everyone, just Lucy checking back in at the end of this chapter. Some questions that I just had as I was reading was who this mysterious girl was that Coral found in the street, and what kind of part that she's gonna play throughout the rest of the story, because she was acting just very strange. Um, another question that I had was about this compass that she had in her pocket and why it was glowing and warming and vibrating as she got closer to this building. It just leads me to believe that there's some sort of um bigger part and magical powers that are going to unfold throughout the rest of the book, and I'm excited to dive in and get these answers. And yeah.