Dream Tunnel (4 page)

12

C
rane opened his eyes, and when he realized they were back in the barn, safe and sound, he yelled, “That was awesome!”

Conroe released his hand and pushed it away.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I told you to be careful.”

“I was having fun,” he said.

“But you could have gotten yourself—”

“What? Killed? It was a dream.”

“Right—I know.”

“We’d better get back before—” He heard children outside playing. “Hey, you were right. Recess isn’t over yet. But it seemed like we were dreaming for an hour.”

13

A
t ten minutes after Lights Out, Tonya sat up in her bed. “Okay, let’s do this thing.”

Kelsey didn’t answer.

“Kelsey? Don’t tell me you fell asleep. Kelsey!”

“What? Yeah, okay. Are you sure all the orderlies will be back in the office by now?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Tonya answered.

“Okay.” Kelsey sat up in her bed.

“You got the duct tape?”

“Yep.”

“Emily and Libby should be ready to go.” Tonya opened the door, peeked out, and she and Kelsey tiptoed down the hallway to Emily and Libby’s room. Tonya tapped on the door.

Emily opened it.

“Let’s go,” Tonya ordered.

The three girls followed Tonya to Conroe’s room. She opened the door, and all four girls rushed inside and shut the door.

Libby shined a flashlight at the bed.

Conroe was wide awake, lying on top of the covers, fully dressed. “What is this?”

“Just wanted to have a little chat with you,” Tonya replied.

“You have no right to be in my room,” Conroe said. “Get out.”

“Why aren’t you under the covers?” Tonya asked.

“This is how I like to sleep.”

“In your shoes? Liar,” Tonya spat. “You were about to go down to Crane’s room—just like last night.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re trying to seduce him,” Tonya said.

Conroe grinned.

“Or maybe you already have,” Tonya seethed, clinching her teeth. “But it stops now.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Conroe said. “I don’t take orders from anyone.”

“Oh, really? Now, girls!”

All four girls pounced on Conroe, each taking an arm or a leg.

“Get off of me!” Conroe yelled.

Tonya held out her hand to Kelsey. “Tape?”

Kelsey handed her the duct tape.

Tonya ripped off a piece. “We wouldn’t want to disturb the neighbors.”

“Don’t you dare—”

Tonya pulled the tape tightly across her mouth. She held out her hand to Emily. “Scissors?”

Emily handed her a large pair of scissors. “Are you sure about this, Tonya?”

“Of course I’m sure. Crane won’t think she’s so beautiful when I get through with her.” She took a lock of Conroe’s hair in her hand and opened the scissors.

Just as Tonya was about to make the cut, Conroe began to kick and wiggle wildly. She knocked the flashlight out of Libby’s hand. It fell on the floor and the bulb went out.

The four attackers lost their grip on Conroe and fell in toward each other. Tonya nearly stabbed herself in the eye with the scissors.

“Turn on the lights!” Tonya ordered.

Libby ran to the wall switch and flipped it.

Conroe was gone.

“Where did she go?” Libby asked.

Tonya said, “Check under the bed.”

“She’s not under here,” Kelsey reported.

Tonya grimaced.

Nurse Olive opened the door. “What’s going on in here?”

14

C
onroe pulled the duct tape off her mouth. “Geneva, why did you bring me back?” She was standing in her own bedroom in the castle—in the Kingdom of Ampla.

Her best friend, Geneva, was sitting at Conroe’s dresser, looking at a device labeled
Time Travel Computer
. She turned around to face Conroe. “She was about to cut off all of your hair.”

“No, I was about to get away from them.”

“Maybe. But it was too dangerous. Tonya could have done anything with those scissors. What if she had stabbed you? You could be dead right now.”

Conroe shrugged. “I guess you’re right, but now I’m gonna have to explain how I disappeared.”

“You’ll think of something, I’m sure.”

“Send me back,” Conroe said.

Geneva turned around to look at the computer screen and saw Nurse Olive scolding the four girls for being out of their rooms after Lights Out. “Okay, I’ll send you back, but I’m concerned about this.” She pointed to the glowing indicator in the top right corner of the computer screen. “The battery level is at twenty percent. If it drops to zero while you’re in Crane’s world, you’ll be left there forever.”

“It was at twenty-five percent when I first unpacked this thing and started using it three months ago. It will be fine.”

“But maybe this whole idea of matchmaking across centuries is insanity. I know you think you love this boy, but how does he feel about you?”

“He likes me a lot—I can tell.”

“But does he
love
you?”

“I can’t expect him to love me this soon, Geneva.” Conroe listened to the girls lying to Nurse Olive about why they were in her bedroom. “I’ve got to go back.”

“Where do you want me to send you?”

“To the closet.”

Geneva typed a few keystrokes.

Conroe evaporated.

15

N
urse Olive glared at Tonya, Kelsey, Libby, and Emily. “You still haven’t given me a straight answer. Why are you in Conroe’s room after Lights Out?…Anybody?…Tonya?”

“We just came down to talk to her and all of a sudden she disappeared into thin air,” Tonya explained. “Maybe Conroe’s a witch or something. She shouldn’t be here with us normal kids, Nurse Olive. I think you should send her to a mental hospital before she hurts somebody.”

Nurse Olive replied, “That’s ridiculous, Tonya.”

The closet door swung open and Conroe stepped out. “I’ll tell you why they’re in my room, Nurse Olive. They came in here to beat me up.”

Tonya and her buddies stared at Conroe, dumbfounded.

Conroe wondered what the girls had done with the scissors and the flashlight. She would probably find them under her bed.

“Get back to your rooms,” Nurse Olive ordered. “And you
will
be losing privileges.”

Tonya protested, “That’s not fair!”

“Would you prefer to go to Solitary?”

“No, ma’am,” Tonya answered.

“Then you’d better be in your rooms in the next fifteen seconds.” Nurse Olive watched them run down the hallway and then turned back to Conroe. “Goodnight, Conroe. Sorry for the disturbance.” She started to walk out, and then she turned around. “Why aren’t you in your pajamas?”

“I…don’t know. I was reading in bed. I must have dozed off.”

“Hmm.” Nurse Olive did not seem to be convinced.

Conroe maintained her innocent expression.

“Goodnight.” Nurse Olive turned off the lights, walked out, and closed the door.

Conroe lay on her bed and winked at her ceiling, knowing Geneva was watching.

16

G
eneva watched Conroe on the screen and shook her head. “Oh, sweetie, I hope you know what you are doing.”

There was a knock at the door.

She closed the lid of the time travel computer and covered it with a scarf. Then she went to the door and opened it just enough to peek out. It was Conroe’s father, the husband of the queen, Wally Williamson.

“Where’s Conroe?” he asked.

“She’s, uh, in the bath, sire.”

Wally checked the hallway in both directions. “Let me in, please.”

She opened the door, and he walked in. At six foot eight, he had to duck under the doorway. Geneva wondered how he stayed so thin, considering the daily feasts that were prepared by the royal servants. Perhaps worrying about Conroe kept his appetite in check.

Geneva closed the door behind him.

He studied her eyes. “Where is she—really?”

“Well, I…”

“She went to see that boy, didn’t she?” Wally asked. “She’s using the time travel computer.”

“You know about that?”

“Yes, but don’t mention it to anyone else. I can’t have this getting back to the queen.”

“Certainly not, sire. But the queen is your wife. Do you not tell her everything?”

“As a general rule, yes. But this was a very special secret between Conroe and me. I knew her mother would not approve. I hope you’re keeping her safe. What’s happening?”

“Not much right now.”

He followed her over to the dresser, and she uncovered the time travel computer and opened the lid. They saw Conroe lying in her bed at Philly.

“Good,” Wally said. “Now maybe I can get some sleep too. But what about you?”

“I can take a nap on Conroe’s bed. I am using the motion sensor functionality to monitor activity in her room. So, any major movement will set off the alarm and wake me up.”

He smiled. “Thanks, Geneva. You are a wonderful friend to Conroe.”

“She would do the same for me.”

“I’m certain that she would.” He started to walk toward the door. “But
you’re
not planning to resort to time travel to find yourself a—”

“No, no. I have sufficient time to find a suitor for myself, and I plan to find him right here in the kingdom. I have no worries of becoming an old maid.”

Wally breathed a sigh of relief, nodding his head. “Goodnight, Geneva.”

“Goodnight, sire.”

17

A
t the edge of the Kingdom of Ampla, atop a small hill, stood the unobtrusive OutCastle—the home of Opal Edelsburg, the twin sister of the queen. As was her habit late in the evening, Opal sat in her bedroom drinking hot tea in her leather wingback chair in front of the fireplace.

Her chambermaid, Ellie, added more logs to the fire. “Are you feeling well this evening, ma’am?”

“Yes, thank you, Ellie. I am indeed.”

“No concerns about the wedding?”

“Frederick has told me not to worry, and I have the highest confidence in my son.”

“I know, ma’am. I know that you do. Forgive me—I did not mean to imply otherwise.”

Ellie moved the fireplace screen back into position. “The entire staff is rooting for you and Master Frederick. You can be assured of that.”

“I am quite certain that you are,” Opal said.

“Is there anything else I can do for you this evening, ma’am?”

“No, thank you, Ellie. That will be all.”

Ellie curtsied and started to leave but then stopped.

“What is it, Ellie?”

“If I may be so bold, ma’am—how does Master Frederick plan to stop the wedding?”

Opal’s raised eyebrows caused Ellie to recoil. “I apologize for my insolence, ma’am. Please forgive me.” She curtsied to Opal and scurried to the door.

“Come back, Ellie.”

Ellie walked timidly around Opal’s chair and stood in front of her with head bowed.

“It’s okay, Ellie. You’re not in trouble,” Opal said. “You are a faithful servant, and the closest thing I have to an actual friend. So, I will share this with you—but it is to go no further. And if I find that you’ve told anyone else, you will be fired on the spot. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am, of course. I understand.”

“Very well, then.” Opal set her teacup down on the lamp table and cleared her throat. “Frederick is a very bright young man.”

“That he is, ma’am.”

“And as you know, Conroe Williamson cannot become queen until she is married, and she must assume her mother’s throne on her eighteenth birthday. So, every time Conroe has become enchanted with some young man, Frederick has sabotaged the relationship before it could get started—secretly, of course—behind the scenes with a payoff or a threat. Conroe was never aware of Frederick’s cleverness. But some time ago he discovered that she had begun looking
outside
the kingdom for a prospective husband.”

“She’s become desperate.”

“Apparently so.” Opal smiled. “But Frederick continues to track her every move. The wedding would have to occur by this Friday evening since Conroe turns eighteen on Saturday. Yet, there has been no announcement of a wedding.”

“Frederick has succeeded,” Ellie said. “Congratulations, ma’am. Frederick will soon be crowned king.”

“I am not yet counting my chickens, Ellie. Conroe is a very determined young woman.”

“She does have a reputation for being rather…unstoppable.”

Opal threw her teacup at Ellie, but it missed and hit the hearth, shattering. “She will
not
be victorious this time! I tell you she will
not
get her way!”

Ellie shielded her face from the flying shards of glass. “Conroe?”

“No! My wretched sister—the queen!”