Chapter 5

"Great," said Rachelle. "Why couldn't he have told us how to get to the platform? That would have been a LOT of help."

"Yeah," said Bita, leaning on the barrier between platforms nine and ten.

"I could try to read his mind, but I doubt he'll be thinking about how to get onto the platform," Tiffany said.

"Yeah, you're right, but you could try anyways," said Rachelle.

"Ok," Tiffany decided, concentrating on Mr. Vilner.

After a while she said, "Well, I see a cloak…and fire…huh, that's weird…maybe he's watching a horror movie or something."

"Why did we just accept everything Mr. Vilner told us as the truth?" said Rachelle, bringing all three girls' fears into the light.

"Because…we've always hoped there was a magical realm…now's our chance to be a part of one. We wanted everything he said to be true," Tiffany said.

"Yeah, you're right…ugh. What do you think we should do, Bita?" Rachelle asked, turning to the spot where her friend should have been, but she was nowhere in sight.

"Bita?" Rachelle asked with more urgency, becoming worried.

"Oh no. Maybe she wandered off somewhere…" Tiffany said.

"She was standing right here," said Rachelle, putting her hand on the barrier.

Both girls gasped as Rachelle's hand disappeared into the barrier.

"It's like it's made of air!" Rachelle exclaimed after she quickly snatched her hand back.

"Should we go through and see what's on the other side?" Tiffany asked, growing excited.

"Yeah…we don't have a choice if we want to find Bita," Rachelle replied slowly, not sharing Tiffany's excitement.

"Here…I'll go first," said Tiffany, stepping forward eagerly.

She walked toward the barrier and right when it looked as if she'd walk smack into it, she disappeared, just as Rachelle's hand had.

Rachelle's stomach lurched unpleasantly, and gathering all of her courage, she picked up the long ago forgotten luggage, trying to prepare herself for walking through the barrier. Taking a deep breath, she dilatorily trudged to the barrier, with her eyes closed, and walked straight through.