UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)(59)

Mina stood up and walked over to Nan who was lying on the cold floor. She held Nan close hugging her. “I just killed the wolf and saved my dear grandmother. This tale is over. I won. See.” Mina pointed to the Grimoire as it began to glow. Slowly etched pencil sketches began to fill in a page that mirrored the surrounding scene. Mina knew that somewhere on the Fae plane a similar picture was appearing in the Fae Book. She could almost hear an audible sigh, coming from beyond. Looking back toward the notebook, the words 'The End' appeared underneath the picture. And with it a loud rushing wind that rattled the windows.

Mina gripped tightly onto Nan as the earth shook and shelves clanged. The room seemed to spin and bright light burst from Nan's body. Mina screamed in fear that she was losing her best friend out of her grasp. Nan was being pulled toward the Grimoire and Mina was losing hold of her.

Strong hands grabbed her. Mina recognized Brody as he embraced her and pushed her to the floor covering her with his body.

“I got you! I won't let you go. I promise!” Brody anchored Mina, similar to how Nan anchored her when she was about to fall off of the catwalk.

Mina's eyes stung as she watched the book float off the ground and began absorb a scared Lonetree and a screaming Claire. Mina's teeth chattered in fright as Claire reached toward Mina. Whether she wanted Mina's help or the last few years of her life she didn't know. But Claire was sucked into the pages of the Grimoire.

When the wind, the noise, and the ground quit moving Mina tried to push herself off of Nan, but was held captive by a Brody's body.

Brody moved off of Mina and looked her over for injuries. Other than a cut on her face and a few bruises, she looked okay. “You are alright! Thank God!” He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. The kiss tasted salty and sweet. “I'll never let you go again,” he whispered, kissing her head. Mina pulled away to check on Nan.

Nan's skin was still glowing and she was slowly turning back to her younger normal self. Mina felt her skin start to prickle and could feel the build up of power that happened whenever the Story seemed to get involved. Mina looked around in apprehension and couldn't find a source. Then she felt it coming from the Grimoire. Mina walked over to the book and could feel a buildup of power before it snapped closed with finality, knocking her and Brody off of their feet with its power.

Mina looked over at Brody who was now lying prostrate on the floor next to Nan, he looked to be out cold.

“Brody!” Mina screamed, running to him. Mina ran her fingers over his tan skin and around his head looking for any large bumps or bruises. He seemed to be fine.

“Gosh! Stop pawing over him already and help me up,” Nan mumbled sleepily as she tried to pull herself up. She looked around the room. “What are we doing here?”

“Don't you remember?” Mina asked. “Claire from Babushka's showed up at the dance and brought us here.

“Babushka's what? I have no idea what you are talking about. We are missing out on the dance! And what is he doing here?”

Mina was dumbfounded. Nan didn't remember anything. Was this a joke or a side effect of being healed too quickly? “Don't you remember? He was my date.”

“No Mina. He's not. I distinctly remember we both had decided to go stag. He was Savannah's date not yours.” Nan stood up and began to limp around the room.

“But I saved his life at this bakery three weeks ago during the tour. There was a big rally and we started dating and he even gave me a cell phone, see.” Mina looked around on the floor for the phone but couldn't remember where she had lost it.

“You! Own a cell phone. Ha, that will be the day. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? I don't know how to tell you this, but we didn't go on a field trip here. Look at this place; it hasn't been open in years.”

Nan was right. Mina looked around and what once was a working baking factory with white washed walls and stainless steel equipment, was now a dank, dirty broken-down factory. Broken crates and spray paint littered the inside, and Mina could have sworn she saw a rat.

It was like it never existed. The Story had created it all, set it all up, and once the tale was completed, it erased everything, so there was no lasting impact on the human world. Mina started to feel her chest heave with pain. Her hand went to her heart as she turned to look at Brody lying on the ground. It wasn't real. Had the Story created his feelings for her? Maybe it hadn’t, but would he remember?

Nan was still talking, “If something that cool had happened, don't you think I would be the first to know about it? I would have a million followers on Twitter!” She had moved over to the red notebook and nudged it with her foot, before picking it up.

“Don't touch that!” Mina cried. Rushing over she snatched it from her best friend’s hands. Nan backed away, hurt by Mina's harsh tone. “Sorry. But don't you think we should get out of here before we get in trouble?”

“And, we better get Brody. I don't want to be the one to explain to Savannah White that we took off with her date and left him abandoned in an old run down cookie factory.” Nan was right. Brody began to stir.

Mina took two steps back from Brody as he leaned forward and looked around at his surroundings. He looked dazed and confused. Mina held her breath as his gaze finally came to rest on her. She was waiting for a spark, a glimmer of recognition, and his eyes to crinkle up in happiness when he saw her. There was nothing. He looked at her like a stranger before resting his warm brown eyes on Nan.