Lost Places by Carla Jablonski

had many places in my time. And took on many different shapes.”
    â€œReally,” Tim said, studying the little creature. “No wonder you know more about this Opener business than I do.”
    â€œBut that’s neither here nor there,” Tanger said. “We have other fish to fry now, or so it seems.”
    Tim thought about the image the stone had shown them. “It was so…pink.” Tim shuddered. “Molly must feel so out of place in a puffy pink world.”
    â€œI’ll reckon Crimple is feeling his out of placeness too,” Tanger said. “So shall we go find them, while I’m still more or less alive? I would like to spend a little more time with Crimple before I die.”
    Tim was about to tell Tanger that he wasn’t going to die but stopped himself. For all Tim knew, the narl was right, and leaving his place was going to be fatal to him.
    â€œI suspect you feel the same way about Molly, don’t you?” Tanger added.
    â€œYes, I do,” Tim agreed. “So let’s go.”
    â€œDo you know how to get there, Opener?”
    Tim could feel all of Tanger’s hopes resting on him. “I don’t know for sure, but I have an idea.”
    â€œYour last idea worked exceedingly well,” Tanger said. “You made a way to find out where they are.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Tanger’s compliment gave Tim some more confidence.
    He pulled the Opening Stone from his pocket. He shut his eyes and held it in his right hand, feeling it grow warm. His fingers tingled as the stone vibrated with energy.
    â€œEr, excuse my interruption,” Tanger said, breaking Tim’s concentration. Tim opened his eyes. “I’d like to point out something. We’re entering a demon world.”
    â€œYes, I’m aware of that,” Tim said.
    â€œWell, it’s just a suggestion, but don’t you think we should arm ourselves?”
    â€œWith what?” Tim asked.
    â€œSwords of sharpness, sandals of swiftness, invisibility cloaks—that kind of thing.”
    â€œDid your other Openers have things like that?”
    Tanger nodded. “Some of them.”
    â€œWell, I don’t,” Tim admitted. “Besides, I don’t think we want to waste any time in packing.”
    â€œQuite right, quite right,” Tanger said, wringing his hands. “Time is of grave importance whendealing with demons. Never good to be around them for too long, don’t you know.”
    Tim took a deep breath and closed his eyes again. Focus , he told himself. “Open the pathway to the world we just saw,” Tim commanded the stone. “Open the way to the Demon Playland.”
    Tim felt a breeze rustle his hair and heard a faint roaring sound like the ocean in a seashell. He kept his eyes squeezed shut, pouring all of his concentration into the stone.
    A moment later, Tim was aware that the temperature had changed. So had the smell in the air and the sounds. He was somewhere else—he knew that without even opening his eyes. The stone grew cold again, though it hummed as if a faint current still ran through it.
    Then he remembered that he had opened a door to a demon world, and standing in it with his eyes closed was a seriously stupid move. His eyes popped open.
    The first thing he noticed was what wasn’t there—Tanger.
    â€œGreat,” Tim muttered. “I would have liked to have had the feisty little narl along on this adventure. I guess I should have held his hand or something while I made the trip.”
    Magic is always so complicated , he reminded himself. So many variables to keep track of. Thenhis heart thudded as a new thought entered his brain. “What if he did make the trip with me, but somehow we got separated?” he worried. “He could be here somewhere, lost, alone, afraid….”
    Okay, if you think about rescuing too many people at once, smoke’s going to steam out of your