“Yeah,” Paul said. “Out with it.”
Master George nodded uncomfortably. “Yes, yes, we’re all very concerned about Master Atticus and what has become of him.” His voice squeaked on the last three words; a tear spilled down his cheek. “I’m afraid we have quite troubling—and confusing—news.”
Sofia’s heart froze; her breath stopped.
“I can’t say I understand it,” he continued, fidgeting with his papers. “His nanolocator started working again once his business with the Haunce was complete. But then . . . it just . . . well, it reported back something we’ve never seen before. Rutger, you tell them. I can’t bear to say another bloody word.” He threw the papers on the floor and stomped out of the room.
Rutger took a moment before finally speaking.
“According to our system, Atticus Higginbottom has ceased to exist.”
~
Lisa had just fallen asleep—after a long time of trying to do so—when she felt someone shaking her by the shoulders, gently. She opened her eyes, ready to scream out in panic, when the sight of her mom silenced it. The glow of the moon shining through the window lit up Lorena Higginbottom’s face, making it look somehow kind and fiercely determined at the same time.
Lisa knew she was up to something. “What’s going on?”
“Keep quiet and follow me,” her mom whispered. “Don’t make a peep—you know your dad will wake up at the sneeze of a mouse.”
Confused but intrigued, Lisa shook her grogginess away and got up from bed. Then the two of them tiptoed out of her room, down the hall, then down the stairs, both keeping to the silent spots as best they could. Before long, Lisa’s mom had led her all the way down to the basement.
After flicking on the light, Lisa repeated her earlier question. “What’s going on?”
Her mom walked over to a dusty corner of the large room and dragged a couple of boxes away from the wall, then crouched down. “I know both you and I have been feeling like we want to help. To finally do our part in this whole mess. Especially now that my son”—she faltered, choked back the usual cry that had come so often since Master George had sent word that Tick was missing—“is nowhere to be found. I think it’s time we took a little of our own action.”
Lisa nodded, feeling the same swell of emotion, knowing she couldn’t speak without cracking. But she agreed. Agreed wholeheartedly. She wanted to do something. She wanted to act.
Her mom gripped a panel of the unpainted wall, and to Lisa’s surprise it came loose. She lifted out a large square and placed it on the ground. Swirls of dust puffed through the air. In the dark recess behind her, an object glinted.
“You’ve been hiding something down here?” Lisa asked.
“Yes. Though I never, never, never thought I’d have to use it again.” She leaned over and reached into the secret compartment.
“What?” Lisa asked, moving closer to get a better look. “What is it?”
Her mom pulled out a long, golden tube with dials and switches running down its sides, then held it up. “It’s a Barrier Wand, sweetie. It’s gonna help us find my boy.”
~
A Glossary of People, Places, and All Things
Important
Atticus Higginbottom—A Realitant from the state of Washington in Reality Prime.
Alterant—Different versions of the same person existing in different Realities. It is extremely dangerous for Alterants to meet one another.
Annika—A spy for the Realitants who was killed by a pack of fangen.
Barf Scarf—The red-and-black scarf that Tick used to wear at all times to hide the ugly birthmark on his neck.
Barrier Wand—The device used to wink people and things between Realities and between heavily concentrated places of Chi’karda within the same Reality. Works very easily with inanimate objects, and can place them almost anywhere. To transport humans, they must be in a place concentrated with Chi’karda (like a cemetery) and have a nanolocator that transmits their location to the Wand. The wand is useless without the Chi’karda Drive, which channels and magnifies the mysterious power.
Barrier Staff—A special Barrier Wand created by Mistress Jane.
Benson—A servant of Reginald Chu in the Fourth Reality.
Bermuda Triangle—The most concentrated area of Chi’karda in each Reality. Still unknown as to why.
Billy “The Goat” Cooper—Tick’s biggest nemesis at Jackson Middle School.
Blade of Shattered Hope—A weapon created by Mistress Jane that allows her to harness the power of dark matter and utilize the linking of her Alterants to sever a Reality from existence.
Bryan Cannon—A fisherman in Reality Prime.
Bugaboo Soldiers—The nemeses of the Fifth Reality, these assassins are bent on taking over their world. Often dressed as clowns, they are very unstable.