Sylvie stopped, her mind running through the implications. “You’rethe one running the secret resistance?”
Guy grinned. “If I answered that, it wouldn’t be much of a secret anymore, would it?”
Gideon’s comment back in the greenhouse suddenly made sense.There‘s more to Guy Fabre than meets the eye.This made Sylvie want to ask more questions, likeWhere’s August Strange?Unfortunately, they were now standing at the end of the tunnel.
“Entrance is on the other side of this platform,” said Guy.
Sylvie eyed the burned-out compartment in front of them. Graffiti was splashed across the train’s scorched façade. Inside, the paint was peeling, and the seats had been worn down to metal stubs. “What happened to that thing?”
Georgia crinkled her nose. “It looks almost as bad as my mom’s meatloaf.”
“It’s not that bad once you give it a chance,” said Guy, pulling out his Blade and slicing off a burnt wedge.
Sylvie gaped at him.
Guy smiled slyly. “Remember. Anything can become an edible illusion.” He popped the shard into his mouth. The door in front of them slid open. “Tempered chocolate mixed with dry ice for the train’s body, sugar glass for the broken windows, modeling chocolate for the rough insides. Ladies first,” said Guy, ushering them inside.
“I can’t believe this thing is really chocolate,” said Georgia.
“Down to the nuts and bolts,” said Guy.
The girls piled into the compartment.
“It’s brilliant,” said Flora, eyeing the dilapidated structure.
Sylvie ran her fingers through the fine layer of dust on the seats. It looked like dirt, but she suspected it was actually …cocoa powder?
Guy shuffled in behind them.
Sylvie stepped over an empty FizzleFott’s shipping crate.
“Fernand should be waiting for us on the other side.” Guy waved his Blade in front of the door on the opposite end. “Hopefully, his team is already scouring the arena for Josephine.”
A groan echoed out. The door gave a weak tremble.
Guy shook his head. “I told him he needed to grease the hinges. It’s been sticking all week.” He waved his Blade again, but the door didn’t budge.
“Now what?” asked Sylvie.
“I’ll have to put some muscle into it,” said Guy, wedging his Blade into the gap. “But the enchanted chocolate may not take kindly to this. So, when the doors open, get ready to run. Understood?”
The girls nodded.
Guy worked his knife back and forth. Sylvie squinted into the small crack. On the other side was a glistening room, bustling with activity. An enormous sign floated past:WELCOME TO THEGOLDENWHISK.
“There it is!” said Flora breathlessly.
Georgia squeezed in close and gave the air a sniff. “What is that smell?”
The scent of neglect in the compartment was suddenly replaced with something delicious.Cinnamon. Cherries.There was something else too. Sylvie tried to place it.Dried orange peel? Anise?
“It’s the beignets,” said Guy. His face turned red as he pressed his weight into the trembling door.
Snap! Crack!
The door finally broke open.
Sylvie and Georgia tumbled backward as the compartment gave a violent shudder. The Fire Wands dug into Sylvie’s wrist as she and Georgia slid apart.
