pushing them hard, due to the emergency.â
âEmergency?â Birdie asked.
Lucinda shook her head. âI canât say for sure whatâs going on. But I know that the Core is changing, and not for the better.â
âThe Path Hider gave us a warning, too,â Leroy said, sitting back on the gondola bench. âSo whatâs really the problem?â
âThereâs an Imbalance, isnât there?â Albert asked.
âYou can tell us,â Birdie chided.
Lucindaâs voice lowered to a whisper, and her eyes grew as large as two moons. What she said next chilled Albert all the way down to his toes.
âIt would be in your best interest to stick together. Train hard, and be prepared for the worst. Darkness is coming, children. And I fear that the Core may not be ready to face it.â
She stared into the distance, a faraway look in her eyes. Kimber coiled tighter around her neck. Before Albert could say another word, Lucinda waved her arm. âBe safe,â she said. âAnd be careful who you turn towhen times get hard. Now move along, you three. The Core needs all the help it can get.â
The gondola carted them away.
The three friends sat back in their seats, and not another word was spoken until they reached the final platform, where massive double doors stood before themâthe entrance to the Main Chamber of the Core.
âThatâs two sets of warnings in one day,â Leroyâs voice cracked.
Birdie looked back and forth at the two boys, then pointed at the doors to their right. âWhat do you think weâre going to find when we get inside?â
It was Albert who stood up first. âI donât know,â he said. He straightened his shirt, tightened the laces on his boots, and smiled back at his friends. âBut thereâs only one way to find out.â
He leaped from the gondola, and the others followed behind.
The doors to the Core seemed to notice their presence, because as soon as Albertâs hand touched the old, ancient wood, there was a creak and a groan as they unlocked.
âHere we go,â Albert said.
Birdie cracked her knuckles. Leroy swallowed, hard. Farnsworth pawed at the ground like a racehorse ready to run.
Together, the three friends pressed hard, putting all their strength into it, and the doors to Albertâs favoriteplace in the entire world (really, inside the world) opened wide. Farnsworth raced between Albertâs legs, disappearing into the chaos of the Core.
Albert was home.
Even though Albert had been here before, the Main Chamber still felt like walking into a dream.
Three glittering streams flowed across the floor, leading to ancient doors that were the gateways to the three Realms. Overhead, a wolf with eagleâs wings perched on the giant copper chandelier that lit the cave. The room was warm and open, and as Albert took a step farther inside, he felt lightness in his heart that could only come from a place as magical and wonderful as this.
âWe made it,â Albert breathed.
An older girl ran past, with a flaming orange and red bird perched atop her head. Its feathers left a trail of sparks in their wake.
âHey, thatâs a phoenix!â Leroy said. âShe didnât have that last time!â
âI love your bird!â Birdie yelled after the girl. Her voice echoed in the cavernous space.
Throngs of people were scurrying past, both young Balance Keepers and adults alike. The last time Albert had set foot in here, there was laughter. People playing games, boys and girls diving into the rivers and riding on the CoreFish.
All of that was missing now.
âSomethingâs different,â Birdie said. âLucinda was right.â
âItâs so quiet,â Leroy added. âRemember how it felt last time?â
Birdie nodded. âIt was like walking into a storybook. Where are all of our friends? Why does everyone look so serious?â
Albert looked
Pierre V. Comtois, Charlie Krank, Nick Nacario