“Great name,” Nico said in a shaky voice. “Did you also have a dog named Dog?”
Emma didn’t seem to hear. “Thatwashim. I don’t know how he became real.”
“Notreal,” Tyler insisted. “Disappearing childhood bears are not real.”
Opal swallowed, staring at where the creature had been. “It was, though. We all saw it.”
“Not possible,” Tyler said stubbornly.
Opal arched a brow at him. “A spinning whirlpool swallowed Emma and spit her out in this pond.Noneof this seemspossible. The boat, the basement, this island. So why not a purple bear?”
“One that came from inside Emma’s head?” Nico said softly.
“Maybe we’re dreaming,” Tyler said. “Or it’s just me. I’m having some kind of weird nightmare.”
“This isn’t a dream,” Opal said. “I’m awake and I’m here, too. Want me to pinch you?”
“Emma needs to dry off and get warm,” Nico said. “The real-or-not bear didn’t change that. Do you have anything else to wear?”
“I left my sweater in the display room,” Emma said. “And my other shoe is downstairs.”
“Let’s get them.” Nico started toward the stepping-stones.
“Wait!” Tyler spread his arms. “Back to the boat? What if the bear’s in there?”
“Tyler, it’s gone,” Opal said. “It didn’t run off. We saw it vanish.”
“It couldreappear,” Tyler said doggedly. “It showed up with no warning just now.”
Nico stopped. “What do you think happened?”
“The Darkdeep happened.” Emma’s eyes flashed, daring anyone to challenge her. “The pool must’ve read my mind and made Bear appear somehow. That’s the only answer that makes sense.”
“Stop freaking me out,” Tyler grumbled, scratching theside of his head. “Pond water doesn’t read people’s minds.” He laughed nervously, glancing around at the others. “Otherwise, we’d run away this second and never come back, right?”
Never come back.Opal didn’t know if she could do that. The island was eerie and dangerous, but also fascinating. She’d never been so creeped outorfelt so alive.And if what Emma said is true … “Were you thinking about Bear when you fell into the pool?” Opal asked.
“No.” Emma shuddered. “I was just afraid.And also … maybe a little excited.”
“Excited?”
A shaky smile crept onto Emma’s face. “Because I was going to know. One way or the other, I’d learn what the Darkdeep is.” She shrugged, as if surprised by her own feelings. “I think itisregular water, for the record. It felt and tasted like it, only a little more … slippery.”
“Regular water?” Tyler reared back with a scowl. “Emma, itpulled you in. And please, wash out your mouth if you drank any. Who knows what could happen?”
“Lights, colors, and something inside your head.” Nico spoke slowly, as if considering every word. “Is that what you remember, Emma?”
She nodded. Opal had to admit the last part didn’t sound great.
Nico rubbed his chin. “That seems scary.”
“Itwas.” Emma’s hands fluttered as she tried to explain. “You know how when you’re reading a book, your eyes goback and forth across the page? Well, it felt like something was reading me. LikeIwas the book.”
They were silent after that. Opal caught Nico and Tyler sharing a worried look.
“Okay, real talk.” Tyler squeezed his nose. “We’re definitely not going back in that boat right now. We should evacuate the island until we get a better handle on things.”
“Leave?” Opal realized she didn’t want to. “Why?”
