Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace by Jonathan Friesen Page A

Scout’s hard stare never left Nob, and he gestured with his hand.
    â€œPlease, Nob,” she mouthed.
    Nob took a deep breath. “Good-bye, lady.” He tapped the tree and his vine shot upward.
    Good-bye back
. She buried her face in her hands.
What should I do?
    â€œStay in the forest if you wish.” Scout hobbled around and limped away.
    Wonderful. Now I have a limping guide
.
    â€œWait for me!”
    They weaved forward through the trees, although forward is not quite the correct word. They walked sideways, backward — every direction. But after some hours Chloe noticed the forest changing. There was firmness beneath her feet. Fewer branches crackled, and winks of light pierced the canopy and lit up the forest floor.
    The tree line stopped abruptly and they stood, blinking in daylight. Scout glanced over his shoulder and stretched out his arms. “Welcome to Retinya.”
    It was beautiful. Lakes dotted rolling hills. It looked like Minnesota, but with more valleys.
    â€œIt doesn’t look right. It feels like Retinya — don’t get me wrong — and it is really pretty —”
    â€œYes.” Scout forced a smile. “On the outside.” He turned and grabbed Chloe’s shoulders. “If we meet anybody on the way, not one word.”
    â€œI’m not very good at that.”
    â€œWalk beside me. Most of the ground beneath us is on our side.”
    Chloe soon had passed him. She glanced back at Scout, whose gaze never left the path. In the light, his limp was far more pronounced.
    â€œYour leg …”
    Scout caught up and they moved on the wide road together. Beneath them, dirt changed to gravel and then to fitted rock. “You aren’t used to walking so slowly.”
    â€œActually, I am.” The thought of morning walks with Grandpa made her smile. She closed her eyes. She could see the tall grass, the cows in the distance.
    Take my arm, Chloe. We will make a good show
.
    â€œYou will want to hide that.”
    Chloe opened her eyes and stared at the stone in her hand, burning blue. She jammed it in her pocket, but the light fought its way out.
    â€œWait here. On the road.” Scout kept his eyes on her pocket. “I’ll gather some lunch.”
    Chloe watched Scout hobble off the cobblestones, work his way up a hill, and disappear. She sighed and plunked down on the lonely road. She traced her finger in the sand that filled the spaces between the paving stones.
    â€œWhy do I need a scout? I can follow a straight, abandoned road. I’ll hit Medahon, then it’s a lovelyjourney to the City of Reckoning. Nick can’t be that far ahead.”
    She wished her brothers were here, making jokes. She wished Mom were here, stroking her hair. She missed them all.
    â€œChloe.”
    Chloe jumped to her feet. A girl stood in the lovely meadow opposite the direction Scout had gone.
    A girl. Just a girl like me
. Chloe’s heartbeat slowed and she smiled.
Well, not quite like me
.
    Precious stones adorned the visitor’s dress and sparkled in the sunlight. She was a princess. Or an angel. Chloe peeked down at her own dingy clothes, the same clothes she’d been wearing since her arrival.
    Chloe swallowed and pulled her T-shirt to hide the bottom of her scar.
    â€œI bet you’re lonely,” the girl said.
    Don’t speak. Don’t speak
.
    â€œWalk with me.” The girl smiled and backed off the road. She was so beautiful — more so than any movie star who’d ever appeared on Aldo’s screen. Chloe stepped forward, and then again.
    â€œStay on the road!”
    The voice was urgent, distant, and Chloe ignored it. Another step, and her toe brushed the grass.
    â€œA little farther.” The beautiful one stared at Chloe’s feet.
    â€œShe’s not a girl!” Scout screamed.
    Chloe blinked hard and staggered back. The girl’s face snarled, darkened, shrunk. A beak grew and wings spread,