“Were you expecting a green portal?” Leo asks as he walks up behind Victor.
Victor jumps and gives Leo a pointed look. “I’m going to have to put a bell on you.”
Leo laughs as he takes Victor’s arm in his hand. “This way.” They stop in front of the fourth mirror. Leo places his palm against the mirror. The mirror turns hazy. “Ready?” Victor nods, and Leo walks through. Victor takes a deep breath and walks through himself.
Chapter Twelve
Victor emerges from the mirror and into a hallway that resembles the one in the hotel in New York. He looks around and doesn’t see Leo right away. He looks back at the mirror, hoping he didn’t mess this up. A couple of whistles came from down the hall. Victor spins and sees Leo peeking around the corner. Victor walks over to Leo and notices that the hotel looks exactly like one in New York. When they approach the elevator, the doors open, and the bellman seems like the one in New York.
“What in Pokémon hell is going on?” Victor remarks in confusion.
Leo gives Victor a puzzled look. “Huh?”
“You know, Nurse Joy from Pokémon? She was all over the place. They even joke about it as every nurse is Nurse Joy,” Victor explains.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Leo states.
“Then why does it feel like we’re still in New York?” Victor questions.
Leo scrunches his face with more confusion from Victor’s reaction. “We’re not. We’re in Chicago. Why would you think we’re still in New York?”
Victor pinches the bridge of his nose. “How can you tell we’re in Chicago?”
“Because our rooms face the water,” Leo responds. “I don’t understand the problem.”
Victor looks over to Leo, slightly aggravated. “Really? Everything looks the same, down to the bellman.”
“But this is Jerry. You saw Jerry in . . . “ Leo finally realizes Victor’s comments. “ . . . Ooh, I see what you’re saying now.”
“If our rooms are the same number, I think I’m going to scream,” Victor says, looking up at the floor counter.
Leo is silent as he looks forward and doesn’t make eye contact. “Leo?”
Leo doesn’t answer or notice Victor glaring at him. “Leeeooo . . . “ Victor snarls.
Leo finally answers, “Here’s our floor!”
Victor looks up and sees 14. “You got off lucky.”
Leo jokingly whispers under his breath, “That’s what she said.” Victor narrows his eyes, causing Leo to snicker. Leo takes out a couple of key cards and hands Victor one of them.
They exit the elevator and walk toward the corner rooms at the end of the hall. When Victor opens the door, his living room window wraps around, giving him a panoramic view of the river and most of downtown Chicago. The decor in the room is different from New York. He barely has time to check out the rest of the room when he hears knocking at the connecting door. He opens the door, and there’s Leo.
“What, no drink?” Victor jokes.
Leo walks in with two more books. “Not right now. I need you focused before we attend your first lesson later.” He hands Victor the two books, “I need you to read the first five chapters in both these books before we meet up with Karl Landring tonight. In the meantime, I’m going to go get some items we’ll need.”
Victor examines the books. “Well, can’t I go with you?”
Leo shakes his head and taps his index finger on top of one of the books. “No, because the first five chapters in this book are 50 pages alone. And I need you to be reading.”
Victor slumps his shoulders and moans like a disgruntled teenager, “Why does this feel like I’m not getting time to do anything else?”
“What can I say? He was able to see you right away before he had to leave for his own lessons next week. But don’t worry; you’ll do fine.” Leo walks out the front door and turns to finish talking to Victor. “I already programmed my number into your phone. Just call or text me if you need anything. Preferably call; I hate text.”
Victor watches the door close behind Leo. “Who prefers call over text nowadays?” he says. He takes a deep breath, plops down on the couch, and looks at the books he was given.
The first book is titled:“Air Bending: Not Your Ordinary Kids Show.”
