Hillary had fallen into a light sleep upon the sumptuous bed. The calming dream-state overtook her fitful mind. She saw herself from afar walking into her house and noticing her mother lying down on the sofa. Hillary’s lucid mind merged with her dream-self at that point. She walked over and put her hand gently on her mother’s forehead. The woman’s eyes immediately flashed open. For a moment she stared at the young girl without recognizing her. With great difficulty, she spoke.
“Hillary…thank God you’re still alive. I’ve missed you so much! I had the most terrible dream that you were kidnapped by this horrible little boy.” Hillary scowled at the remark. “What are you talking about Mom? This is the dream...we’re in it right now. Digby didn’t kidnap me, I wanted to go with him. Look, he’ll tell you himself. Digby, come here!” Hillary’s mother heard a sound in the kitchen. She watched as the kitchen cupboard door opened and a small red-haired boy crawled out. He trotted happily over to them. “Hello, Mrs. Penrose.” There was no immediate answer, just a blank stare. Finally she spoke. “Who are you, and what did you do with my daughter?” Digby laughed loudly. “What are you talking 81
about? She’s right here in front of you!” Hillary chuckled also as she addressed her friend. “She doesn’t understand. Are you okay now? I was worried about you Digby. I thought for a while that you might never come back.” Digby shrugged his shoulders. “I was sick from the candy, but I feel better now. Before we go back, we need to get the book.” Hillary’s expression was quizzical. “You mean Nana’s book? Did she give it to my Mom?” Digby nodded. Hillary continued, “you better get the book back, if it falls into the wrong hands, it could become enchanted…especially if an evil Nibiru creature gets it. You can’t imagine the trouble it could cause...that's what Nana told me. Maybe I should talk to Nana. She shouldn’t be helping them...or maybe she doesn't know what's happening.” Her mother stared in disbelief and began to cry. “Hillary why won’t you just come home?”
“I still have some things I want to do. I’m not sure if I’ll come back or not.
It is dangerous there, but I get to do whatever I want.” With that, she grabbed hold of Digby’s hand and walked towards the kitchen. Hillary opened the kitchen cupboard and crawled inside. Digby closed the door behind her. He looked over at the distraught mother. “Bye, bye Mrs. Penrose. Stay away from the storybook, it’s mine! Now wake up!” With that, he ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs. At the same moment, Carolyn awoke with a gasp. She looked around her and yelled out,
“Charles! Where are you?” His husband came running down the stairs. “I’m here, 82
I’m here, it’s okay. You fell asleep, so I thought I’d let you rest. Did you have a nightmare?” Carolyn reached up and grabbed her husband by the collar. “I saw Hillary. She spoke to me.” He nodded appreciatively and held her hand. “Of course you did, it’s perfectly normal to dream about somebody when you’re thinking about them constantly.” Carolyn shook her head violently as she raised herself up. “No, you don’t understand...this wasn't a dream, it really happened. It was really her…and she was with that friend of hers-Digby.”
“Now honey…you had a dream, that’s all, don’t make something out of nothing. We’re both under a lot of stress. If this Digby was in the dream, then obviously it wasn’t real.” Carolyn stood up and began to walk around the room. “It was real. I don’t care what you say. At least I know that Hillary is okay. All I have to do is convince her to come back. If I can just get hold of Digby, and that book of his.” Charles was now merely humoring his wife. “This is Annie’s magical book that walks away on it’s own?”
“If you don’t believe me, that’s not my fault. I’m going to get that boy-or whatever he is…I saw him run upstairs.” She bolted up the stairs to the second floor. Her husband dejectedly accepted Carolyn’s increasingly bizarre state of mind. He called up the stairs to her. “Honey, I’m going to go out for awhile.” He did not await a response and left the house quickly. He drove off to confront his enigmatic mother-in-law.
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Hillary awoke slowly in her luxurious bed. Samantha stared down at her smiling broadly. “Did you have a good sleep? You really were only sleeping for a few minutes.” Hillary got up and stepped out onto the gravel path. “No…I had a bad dream about my mother. She was very sad. I did see Digby though. He looks better. The dream seemed very real, as if I were really there back in my house.” Samantha began to walk along the path. “In a way you were there…and not here…you can be two places at once though…when you’re asleep. That’s why I had to watch you…so you wouldn’t go away. If you stay too long in the other world, you begin to disappear in this place-sometimes forever. Come on, we have to get going. Digby better stay there in the regular world, he has to guard all the entrances. I wouldn’t want grown-ups learning how to get in. They would ruin everything.” Hillary seemed confused. “What about my Nana? She would probably like it here.” Samantha laughed. “Of course she would! Who do you think helped make this place?” Hillary was incredulous. “My Nana? How come she never told me? Why isn’t she here anymore?” Samantha face was downcast. “She was happy here when she was little, but then she had to grow up… magic is only for kids I guess. Too much sadness can destroy the magical power to believe in this place.
It’s very difficult for grown-ups to believe…but not impossible…” The two young 84
girls walked along in silence. In time the leafy labyrinth began to curve to the right in a spiraling pattern. Hillary noticed the change and commented to Samantha. “It looks like we’re heading to the centre of this maze.” There was no acknowledgement of her observation . Samantha began to walk faster and faster until Hillary could barely keep up. The curvature of the path increased with their pace. Eventually Samantha was so far ahead that she disappeared. Hillary called after her. “Samantha, slow down! I can’t keep up. Where are you?” She stopped as she noticed that the path continued no farther. It abruptly terminated with a round oak door, identical to the one that had previously provided an escape from the troll.
Hillary reached for the iron door knob to open the door. It was locked. She was thoroughly confused and upset. “Samantha, why did you run away? I need you! I don’t know what to do.” Hillary thought to herself about how Digby would know exactly what to do in this situation. She rolled on the ground and stamped her arms and legs. Her tantrum lasted for several minutes. She reached over and picked up the small princess doll that had fallen from her pocket. She picked it up and examined it closely. It was a beautiful woman with long straight blond hair and an anatomically impossible perfect figure. The doll wore a long, flowing lavender ball-gown. One of her sparkling silver shoes was missing. Hillary thought back to an earlier experience within the maze. She wondered if Samantha’s trick with the toy knight would work on her doll also. She decided to give it a try. She set the 85
princess down carefully in front of her on the gravel. She knelt before it and began to say a prayer. “God, would you please help me and make my princess real? I need her help. Thank you and Amen…and also, please take care of Mommy, Daddy, Nana and Digby.” Her eyes remained shut as she continued her silent imprecation.
A flash of blinding light opened her eyes. Hillary was amazed to see the sight before her. Standing almost six feet tall was a real, live princess. She was the most beautiful woman that Hillary had ever seen. The princess looked down and smiled beneficently upon her creator. “Hello, my name is Rapunzel. What is your name?” Hillary stood up and stared in awe at her creation. “I’m Hillary. Are you sure that you’re Rapunzel? I thought that Rapunzel had very long braided hair, and lived in a tower.” The happily vacant smile of the princess did not wane in the least. Her voice was a lyrical, soft whisper. “I could braid my hair if you like. Where are we, Hillary?”
“You mean that you don’t know?” The beaming bright princess shook her head. Hillary continued. “Well, I’m kind of stuck here…and lost. The path ends and this door is locked. I don’t have the key. The princess looked down at the lock and then at the golden necklace that adorned her porcelain white neck. “What about this key?” Rapunzel undid her necklace from behind and showed Hillary the gold key attached to it. “I never realized what this key was for, but I’ve always had it, why don’t you try it in the lock?” Hillary grasped the large shining key and walked 86
over to the door. She slid it inside the lock and turned it. There was an audible click as Hillary turned the knob. The door suddenly swelled to three times its original size. She swung the door open and thanked Rapunzel. “Your key worked! Come on this way.” Hillary walked through the large circular door as the tall princess ducked slightly to make her way through. Hillary stared around in wonder at the bewildering sight that confronted her.
Charles drove determinedly through the city borough. It had grown dark as he gazed ahead through traffic. Everywhere around him sparkling multi-coloured Christmas lights twinkled in the dusk. He had nearly reached the end of his emotional tether. His wife’s apparent break with reality was difficult for his steady mind to accept. He was fully prepared to force Carol to seriously consider some kind of formal psychological examination. Charles sincerely hoped that such a dramatic step would not be necessary. He also wondered to what extent his wife’s mental state was due to the influence of her oddly compelling mother. The history between the two women had been less than peaceful. Initially she had been a Godsend, when Hillary was young. Later on, as Hillary became progressively withdrawn, she had proven to be a detrimental influence, at least to his pragmatic 87
way of thinking. He carefully weighed in his mind the best way to broach the subject of Carolyn’s neurosis, without alienating his mother-in-law entirely. It would be a very tricky proposal, he calculated. Charles fully realized that the woman was anything but unintelligent. He finally reached her house and shut off the car. The door to Annie’s house opened before he had even exited the vehicle.
He was momentarily caught off guard by her sudden appearance in the doorway.
He projected his most friendly nonchalant demeanor. “Annie, how are you doing?
You must have heard me drive up.” Annie welcomed him warmly and ushered him inside. She accepted his overcoat and scarf and placed them on a chair. “Right.
Listen Annie, I won’t stay long, I’m just very worried about Hillary, obviously…but also Carolyn. She’s started to act…a little crazy, frankly. I realize any mother with a missing daughter would be upset…but she’s actually begun hallucinating.” They both sat down in separate chairs across from each other.
Annie leaned forward and replied in very measured tones. “You’re talking about Digby of course…and the book?”
Charles barely nodded and continued. “She has this crazy idea that this imaginary friend of Hillary’s has stolen some book that you lent her. Now she can’t find it.
I’m really considering getting her professional help.” The elderly woman stood up in objection. “No Charles, I don’t want you or anybody else filling my daughter full 88
of drugs. That’s the last thing she needs! What you need to do is help your wife, by supporting her, not telling her she’s crazy!”
“I am supporting her! I realize that we’re both under a great deal of stress.
Our daughter is missing and nobody has any clue how to find her!” Annie moved over to him and placed her hand gently upon his forehead. “Find the book Charles, and read it. Then you will understand how to get Hillary back. I can’t interfere any further at this point. Watch out for Digby though, he’s a mischievous boy.” Charles was hardly placated by the remarks. “Well now I know where Carolyn gets it! I don’t know who’s crazier…you or her.” He got up to grab his coat and scarf.
Annie stopped him on the way out. “Charles, I know this won’t mean anything to you now, but make sure that you keep that idol with you at all times.” Charles shook his head in confusion. “What in God’s name are you talking about?”
“The small wooden tribesman that you brought back with you on your trip to Cambodia. Make sure you keep it with you. You’ll need it. Trust me.” Charles disregarded the suggestion and left the house with one final question. “By the way Annie, not that it matters…but how did you know about that little souvenir I bought?” The wise woman merely offered a cryptic smile in response. Feeling down in his pocket, he realized that the small figure was still there. He last recalled tossing it in the trash at his office. He left Annie and drove off in a state of great agitation.
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Charles had left Carolyn alone in the house, or so he imagined. Carolyn was not so certain. She walked along the upstairs hallway calling out the name of Hillary’s friend. “Digby! Where are you? I just want to talk with you. Come out, come out, wherever you are! Do you want me to find you? Are we playing hide-and-seek? Fine.” Carolyn was strangely emboldened. Her fear and sadness were transformed into a passionate anger. No longer could she accept her normally controlled and serene nature. She grabbed a set of large scissors from inside her nightstand in order to defend herself, if need be. She stealthily began to stalk the small red-haired wraith, one room at a time. After searching her own bedroom and the bathroom, only two rooms remained unchecked. She walked first into the computer office, with its array of equipment and electrical cords. Swinging open the closet, she pulled the contents out to ensure its emptiness. Carolyn finally walked into Hillary’s room. It was not huge, but was lavishly decorated. The walls were painted a pale pink, with expertly illustrated small fluffy clouds in an azure sky covering the ceiling. Shelves that spanned each wall were heavy laden with plush teddy bears, porcelain princesses and various other mythical creatures.
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Realistic models of Peter Pan, Wendy, Micheal, John and Tinkerbell hung down from the ceiling, directly over her bed. Suspended on wires, the fictional figures would gently glide back and forth in the summer wind. Hillary’s bed was an opulent four-post design. Long flowing pink drapery hung down from each side, with the top left unadorned. It was a valuable antique passed down from her grandmother. The room was silent, save for Carolyn’s soft steps in the thick carpet.
She walked carefully to the closet full of still more toys. The apparition she had noticed earlier had previously manifested itself inside, she recalled. Throwing the door open with one hand, she held tight onto the scissors with the other. Dropping to her knees, she began to fling the expensive toys across the room, searching for the elusive imaginary boy. The exercise proved fruitless. Only the bed remained unchecked. Carolyn stepped over the plethora of plush beasts strewn across the floor. She pulled the drapes to the side and stared at an empty bed. She had nearly given up hope, and began to question the accuracy of her own recollection of past events. Turning to leave, she brushed the scissors in her hand against the bed’s wooden post. They fell to the ground. Carolyn reached down to retrieve them and leave the room. A small hand suddenly darted out from under the bed and grabbed the scissors. Carolyn gasped in shock. She very cautiously stepped backwards and slowly got down on the ground. Peering out from beneath the bed was a small red-haired boy wearing blue jean overalls. The little creature whispered slowly. “Mrs.
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Penrose, you leave me alone! I don’t want to hurt you. Just give me the book, and I’ll leave.” Carolyn was at once terrified and perplexed. Not wishing to appear rude, she was very cognizant of the surreal nature of the drama that was unfolding before her. With great difficulty she began to speak, whilst part of her rejected the entire scenario. “I…I don’t have your book…I thought you had it…I just want my Hillary back. You can live here too, I don’t care…I just want her back.” The boy crawled out from under the bed. He held onto the sharp scissors with both his tiny hands. “It’s not up to me. Hillary does what she wants to…and she doesn’t belong to you either. I just do what she says. I don’t control her like you do.” Carolyn gave up trying to doubt the reality of the situation. A small part of her still believed that she was merely dreaming. Either that or she had gone completely mad, she thought. “Why do you want this book so badly?” The small boy shook his head. “I can’t tell you that. Nana should not have given it to you. It’s too dangerous in the hands of somebody that doesn’t understand it. I have to go. Now you leave me alone.” Carolyn was at a loss. “Will you at least tell Hillary that I love her…and that I miss her?”
“Why don’t you tell her yourself?” Carolyn was confused by the remark.
“How can I tell her when she’s not even here?” Digby nodded and smiled. “Well if she won’t come to you, why don’t you go to her?” With that he bolted past the dumbfounded woman and left the room. Carolyn was beyond caring about the 92
crushing sadness that weighed upon her. She had become rather numb to the emotional pain. She laid down on the soft carpet and stared at the fluffy painted clouds above.
Hillary stared in awe at the wondrous majesty of the panorama before her.
She and the princess were standing in the entrance to a grand ballroom of epic proportions. The elaborate mural ceiling towered forty feet above her. The walls were covered in gilded mirrors, which greatly added to the sense of overwhelming space. The floor was a tessellated black, gray and white geometric pattern which gave the impression of three dimensionality. A small musical ensemble assembled at the back of the hall was playing a stately waltz. Hillary watched as a dazzling assortment of creatures and noble-folk danced gracefully across the dance floor.
Imposing unicorns danced with furry bears, dashing princes danced with graceful swans and fearsome pirates with beautiful princesses. The room was filled with a dizzying panoply of odd pairings. It was one of the strangest and most interesting scenes that Hillary had ever witnessed. She looked up at her clearly unimpressed companion. “Do you know any of these people?” Rapunzel shook her head. “No…I don’t think so. It looks like a lovely dance though. I wish we could join in!” 93
Hillary concurred and watched as the lovely waltz ended. The participants bowed and curtsied respectively to each other. The incongruous presence of Hillary and Rapunzel was finally noticed by all those in attendance. A large roan coloured stallion came trotting over to Hillary and gently reached out a leg in greeting. It spoke in a deep, warm and generous voice. “Hello Hillary. My name is Dante.
We’ve been waiting for you. Who is your friend?” Hillary was pleased to realize that her arrival had obviously been anticipated. She became more sure of herself.
“Hello Dante. This is Rapunzel, she’s a princess. Do you know if Samantha anywhere in here?” The stallion answered, “not as far as I know. We were just about to continue our waltz. Would you care to dance young lady?” Hillary was quite flattered and giggled aloud in responding. “Of course…but you must find a partner for Rapunzel also.” Dante trotted away and returned with a finely feathered gryphon beside him. “This is Godel. He would be honored to dance with the princess.” With that, the band started up again. Hillary held onto the legs of the stallion as Dante led her expertly across the floor. Rapunzel and Godel danced effortlessly nearby. Hillary was very pleased with her own prowess, having never before taken any formal dance lessons. Her face beamed with pride as onlookers noticed her great proficiency and grace. The dancing extended through several different scores of chamber music. Suddenly the lyrical music stopped abruptly.
The huge gilded doors to the ballroom on the opposite end of the room flung open.
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A terrifying foursome of riders swarmed in. The four were all dressed identically in long crimson flowing robes. Each rode mighty loudly huffing stallions, each as black as coal. They began to ride concentrically around the walls of the ballroom.
They all howled with a horrible shriek as they glared at the startled gathering. After three full revolutions, the apparent leader of the group spoke out loudly. “There is a person that does not belong here…a real girl. We have come to take her back where she belongs! Where is the girl named Hillary?” Hillary immediately hid behind her defiant dance partner Dante. He whispered very softly to her. “Be very quiet, and get ready, we’re going to have to make a run for it, okay?” Hillary gazed up ruefully into the brave dark equine eyes. As the terrible ghoulish riders began searching through the crowd, Dante suddenly lunged down towards the floor.
Hillary saw that as her cue and leapt aboard the bold stallion. Dante exploded forward in a flash and made for the doors. The leader of the foul foursome noticed the attempted escape and shrieked loudly. “There she is…she does not belong here….stop her at once!” The headlong pursuit had begun. Dante galloped at full speed out of the ballroom and onto the now familiar gravel pathway. The ghostly pursuers lagged forty feet behind. Hillary was at once terrified and exhilarated by the exciting chase. “How are we ever going to get out of here?” Dante snorted loudly. “Don’t you worry. I know this maze better than anyone…I grew up here, I’ll soon lose them.” With that, he took a sudden turn down one path and then 95
another. After several such turns, it seemed that they had evaded their pursuers.
Hillary looked back and slowly began to relax. “I think you’ve done it! Are they gone for good now?” Dante replied with genuine lamentation. “No…they will always keep looking, we’ve just lost them temporarily. They’re always looking for lost children…children that really shouldn’t be in this place.” He cast a quick glance at the young girl. Hillary was somewhat confused by the genuinely off-putting remark. She had no ready response. “I’m worried about Rapunzel though. I hope she’ll be okay back there. The Riders won’t come after her will they?” I seem to keep losing track of my friends in this strange place.” Dante attempted to ease her concerns. “Don’t you worry. She’ll adapt herself. Hillary…I must ask you something. Do you intend to stay here forever?” Hillary pondered the question for a moment before answering. “I haven’t decided yet. I do like it here…but it does seem a little frightening sometimes.” Dante listened carefully to her and then continued. “You see, if you stay here for too long, the portals that lead back to your world will eventually disappear, and in time you will forget that another world even exists…you must understand this.” Hillary rode high atop the beautiful creature as she considered the significance of his words. The electric azure sky above remained filled with fluffy, statue-still white clouds.
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Carolyn spent several minutes lying on the soft pink carpet in Hillary’s room. She was a little dizzy as she slowly stood up. Her thoughts were incoherent and unfocused. She felt as though a misty veil was obscuring her vision. The lights in the room appeared to her much brighter than usual. She wandered through the empty house aimlessly, trying to find Hillary’s elusive storybook. She began to descend the stairs, when she saw a bright flash of green dart past the front door.
The image was so fleeting she wondered if it were merely a product of her imagination. Carolyn felt as though she had begun to gradually lose touch with her rational mind. At the bottom of the stairs she gazed curiously around the hallway.
Suddenly the same flash of green ran into the kitchen. This time she followed the thing’s progress. The creature of legend stood smiling at her from the open refrigerator. The diminutive rascal appeared very confident and pleased.
“You don’t mind if I grab a bite to eat, do you?” Carolyn stared gape-mouthed at what appeared to her to be a real, live Leprechaun. In its every aspect it conformed to her expectations of how such an imaginary creature would appear. He wore a velvet emerald green coat with vest, small green pants, shiny black shoes with brass buckles and a green bowler hat upon his red-haired head. She uttered in a low whisper, “no…go ahead, help yourself…there’s some left over steak in that Tupperware.” The mercurial Irish creature accepted the kind offer. He proceeded to 97
open the container and rip away a large chunk of charred flesh. He chewed away loudly upon the tasty steak. “I thank you kindly. I don’t suppose you’ve seen the book, have you?” Carolyn shook her head. “You mean Hillary’s storybook? No, can’t say that I have.” The Leprechaun was visibly peeved. “I’m going to be in big trouble. Digby sent me here to retrieve it. He’s going to be angry as a troll. Well, if that’s really the case, I must be going! Thank you kindly for the snack.” The tiny visitor walked over to the cabinet under the kitchen sink and opened the door. It shut behind him as he crawled into the space underneath. Carolyn was both fascinated and terrified. She decided to investigate the heretofore seemingly unremarkable kitchen cabinet for herself. Opening the small wooden door, she tried to crawl into the very cramped space. By stretching out her legs in a jackknife fashion, she was able to jam most of her body under the sink. Her face was pressed against the cold hard steel of the drainpipe. Almost shutting the cabinet door, she found herself nearly engulfed in utter blackness, and feeling entirely ridiculous. She shuddered to think what her sensible husband would say, seeing her in such a bizarre state. Nevertheless, she pushed forward with the investigation. She called out loudly. “Hillary, are…are you in there?” She began to cautiously feel along the outer wall inside the cabinet. She pushed as hard as she could and found nothing resembling any sort of entryway. Carolyn was at a complete loss as to how to proceed. A flash of bright light suddenly illuminated the cramped cabinet interior 98
space. Digby was suddenly standing directly before her, holding a small lantern in his left hand. He looked at her gravely. “I can take you to see Hillary, but it may be dangerous for you. You are very old.” Carolyn was stunned and momentarily was unable to speak. She struggled to regain her composure. “Digby…you’re back…either that or I’ve finally snapped for good. Quite frankly, I don’t care what happens to me anymore, I just need to see Hillary, okay? Take me to her.” Digby nodded sagely. “Very well. You can’t enter through this portal. This is only for Nibiru creatures, and special people like Hillary. You’re a grown-up, so we have to take the magic elevator.” Carolyn listened intently to the baffling remarks.
“Sure…whatever you say, let’s just go.” Digby proceeded to explain to her the plan of action. They would drive over to the downtown mall, and from there follow Hillary’s path to the other side. Carolyn proceeded to pack Digby away in an over-sized canvas tote-bag and drove quickly towards their destination.
Charles returned home at ten in the morning. He had completely lost track of time since Hillary’s disappearance. He could not recall what day it was, only that Christmas day was not far away. The conversation with Annie had only served to aggravate a nagging headache. “Carolyn? Are you home?” He continuously called 99
out her name throughout the house but received no answer. He climbed the stairs to the bathroom vanity in search of medicine. After uncharacteristically quaffing down several strong painkillers, he walked toward his bedroom. On the way, he glanced into Hillary’s room. “Carol!” Charles rushed over to the motionless prostrate figure of his wife. Kneeling down he immediately reached for her neck to feel for a pulse. He was overjoyed to realize that she was still alive. He began to gently roll her back and forth, attempting to rouse her. His efforts were unsuccessful as she stared vacantly upward. He noticed an open container of her anti-anxiety medication on the floor. He quickly stood up and flipped open his phone. “This is Cha