Chapter 4

I’m ready to make a dash for it, but the safe way out is behind the byeolamander. Behind me, only sharp, dagger like grass glares at me with an intimidating authority. The pure white egg glows bright, and for the for the first time, I see a small shadow inside it. I close my eyes, preparing to die. Then I hear Violet’s voice, softer and calmer than I have ever heard her speak before. ”Don’t worry. We’re not here to hurt you.”

The byeolamander dims a little. It blinks at us questioningly, then lies down. I gulp. A path has now been made to the safest way out, but my feet are glued to the ground. ”We’re leaving now.” Violet says. She tugs at my jumper, but I still can’t move. I think of hot chocolate, imagining it pouring inside my body. It warms me up. ”Okay?” I say, and I find my feet moving.

As soon as we are outside, I breath a sigh of relief, and my shoulders relax. We walk across the beach; I am so tired my feet sink in the saturated sand. George talks nineteen-to-a-dozen, suggesting how we keep the byeolamander hidden. ”We could pretend there is quicksand, but what if a dog wonders there? Then the owner might climb in after the dog. Maybe we could build a cage around the hole and take it out when the byeolamander and its baby come out? Wait, no, that would just make people suspicious…” she rattles on, wringing her hands. I realise I am munching the jumbo pack of marshmallows I brought and suddenly have a brilliant idea. I stretch a couple of marshmallows, then lick it. They stick together. Then I drop it on the sand and watch as it comes back into shape. Will it work?

By the time we have entered the town, the sun has risen. Only a small slither is hidden in the horizon. Old Molly hums to herself, too busy organising bathing suits to notice us.​ The doors of Maria’s Café swings open, and Maria comes striding out with two, ice cold sundaes.​ ”Want some?” she asks, laughing at our faces. ”You pair look pale today, especially you, Miss Lottie Drops!” We ate the sundaes, thanked Maria, and kept walking towards the hotel. Ellie ran towards us, and shook our hands so hard she could have sent us flying.​ We smiled and kept going. Eventually we reach the hotel. I feel like rushing in and kissing every single wall. Will we manage our mission?

The rest of the day is spent looking at books, on hiding places and marshmallows. My plan had been to melt the marshmallows, stick them together, place it over the hole and cover it in sand. When the marshmallow hardens, the the hole will be covered until the byeolamanders eat their way out. However, this proved to be a little unrealistic, so we decided to search for other ways of hiding animals. Then as we walk out for fresh air, we see a bright, eye-catching poster outside the hotel. It says: New discovery! Sea glass found to be part of the byeolamander egg! Can give you great power and wealth. I look at George, she looks at me. Then George tells me a completely unnecessary thing. ”Should I tell you my name is Georgina? Just in case we die trying to look after the byeolamander and its egg?”

As I sink down to the floor, I have a feeling that it’s going to be a long time before I will experience peace again.