14
The wood was quiet this far ahead of the others, a cold chill rustling through the trees. Pausing for breath, Toby wiped his fringe off his slick forehead and thought through his options.
‘It’s impossible,’ he said aloud, lungs burning. ‘They’re too fast.’
Or are they? Already, his chest had begun to settle, and with it, so did his thoughts. Just seconds had passed and yet his ability to think clearly without the mania of the chase distracting him was greatly improved.
It’s now or never, he realised. The kidnappers had disappeared out of view, but they couldn’t be too far ahead. If he concentrated now, perhaps he still had time to catch up with the help of this magic. Worth a try.
Toby focused on the smells and sounds of his first meeting with his parents. The twins were behind the
