Ichabod led them to a bedroom, full of books and toys. There were six beds so even Caleb got his own space.

Echo was still sleeping, but now Miriam could see the steady rise and fall of her chest. Davis picked up one of the toys and sat on the bed across from her.

"I can't believe we actually got here," he said.

Miriam hit him.

"Ow. What?"

"Your mother?"

"Well...yeah."

"Couldn't have told me that."

"You didn't ask."

She threw a pillow at his head. He laughed.

"I can't believe we actually got here."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"I'm sorry about your friend," said Miriam.

"He was one mean bastard in the end."

"Yeah, but you beat him."

"Yeah. We did."

They shared a smile.

"Think we can do this?"

"Just try and stop us."

__________________________________________

When she was five, Miriam got lost for the first time in a shopping centre. She was with her mother, a tall woman with her hair dyed three colours and paint stains on her pants. Then Miriam got distracted. It wasn't a toy that distracted her, but an ornament.

It was a carousel made of glass and playing the loveliest music. Behind the horses there were mirrors and Miriam could see her own small face in them. Her reflection smiled at her, and she smiled back.

Then she turned around and her mother was gone. Miriam was so scared, and wouldn't stop crying. She wailed so much three people stopped to see what was wrong.

All she had to do was tell them, and then her mum would come get her. But she couldn't stop crying. Jackie found Miriam unable to speak in the center of a small, concerned crowd.

Davis woke up with a start. It had been so strange and felt so real. He had been so scared. He looked at Miriam, still asleep. It had been so bright, so full of noise and people. Was that what her home was like?

Even though the dream was gone, the memory remained, as did all the other memories he had stolen from her.

He lay in what now seemed like an unnatural dark and wondered how much she had relied on those memories to get them to the palace. He wondered how she was going to do this without them.