Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 The next morning, Lily didn't feel so confident about asking the others if they wanted to look at the map with her. Maybe I should go on my own first, she decided at breakfast as she ate her cereal. That way, if nothing is showing on the map, I won't feel silly. She hung back as Zara, Aisha, and Phoebe went to the dorm to get ready for Geography with Ms. Rivers, and then she headed for the hall. As she walked through the entrance hall she saw Skye, Amber, and Lorna, another girl from Opal dorm, huddled around a statue of a rearing unicorn. "Go on, I dare you to do it!" hissed Skye. Lorna giggled as she quickly scrambled onto the unicorn's back. She pulled a frilly pink scarf from her pocket and hooked it over the unicorn's head, pulling it until it sat over one ear. "What do you think?" she called down to Skye and Amber.

Rocking with laughter, Skye and Amber gave Lorna a thumbs-up. Lily stared in shock. How could they look so happy, and play silly dares, when there were tornadoes around the island and the school itself might be in danger? "Squeak, squeak! Look, it's little Lily Mouse!" said Skye, noticing her. "Is that your scarf on that statue, Lily Mouse?" She hooted with laughter. Amber and Lorna joined in. "Squeak, squeak, squeak!" They giggled. Lily ran past them and didn't stop running until she reached the main hall. The big double doors

were slightly open. She glanced around. She wasn't planning to use the map— she just wanted to look at it. But what if a teacher found her near it and she got in trouble just for being there without permission? She made up her mind. It was worth the risk. Slipping through the doors, she hurried toward the map. The magical force field buzzed softly as if to warn her away. Lily took a deep breath, and the butterflies behind her rib cage slowed down. Would the force field let her get close enough for a good look? She walked toward the map, and as she approached, there was a soft pop and the humming stopped. A grin spread across Lily's face.

"Thanks," she whispered to the map. It was as though it was happy she was there— maybe it even wanted her to help. The map was even more incredible close up. The glass-and-marble model of the school looked so real that, peering through a tiny window, Lily almost expected to see herself inside the building! She looked to the east, to her village. She could see the ruined houses, and for a moment, it took her breath away. How awful for everyone! Her eyes searched the map, following the path of the purple tornadoes— the fallen trees and damaged buildings. The tornadoes seemed to have zigzagged across the

island from the east coast to the west and back again. She traced the pattern with her eyes. If it continued in the same way, then the tornadoes would definitely reach the school! Lily jumped as she heard voices outside the doors. Someone was coming! If she was discovered, she could get in trouble. She had to hide! She ran across the hall, scrambled onto the stage, and ducked behind the stage curtains just as Ms. Mallow, the new school nurse, came in with Ms. Rivers, the teacher who taught both Geography and Culture. Ms. Mallow walked toward the map. Lily held her breath, letting it out quietly when she heard the soft hum of the force field again. Ms. Mallow shook her head. "Strange, I was sure the force field had stopped working for a moment, but it seems all right. I must have imagined it." "It was smart to check, with everything that's happening," said Ms. Rivers. "Now, where's that book I said I'd lend you?" She walked up the steps onto the stage and went to the piano. Lily froze, hardly daring to breathe as Ms. Rivers came within touching distance of her. "Here it is." Lily heard Ms. Rivers walk back to

the floor. She peeked out from behind the curtain. "Are you sure that I can't persuade you to come to the meeting Ms. Nettles is holding at lunchtime, Ms. Mallow?" "No. She has given me special permission to get on with my work," said Ms. Mallow. "I'm making a large batch of cough syrup. You know how it is at the start of winter semester. The students spread their germs with the speed of a forest fire. And if these tornadoes are being caused by bad magic, we're going to need the students to stay strong and healthy." Ms. Rivers nodded, worry lines creasing her face. "It does seem like these tornadoes might be part of an evil plan. No one has ever heard of a purple tornado on the island before, let alone lots of them." "But who would create such terrible things?" asked Ms. Mallow. Ms. Rivers sounded grave. "Someone who uses dark magic. Someone who wants to harm our island, and the people and unicorns who live on it." Ms. Rivers and Ms. Mallow left the hall. Lily's heart was thumping hard. Still trembling,