End of Chapter 3:

Minutes later,they heard tapping on the door. 

“Hello?” questioned Ava.

“It’s me, Shadow, I’m here to help you,” he answered.

Snatching a key out of his pocket, the lock clicked. 

In a split second they were out, safe and sound, for now.

Chapter 4:

Ava dreamed. She was stroking a polar bear, their fur the shade of snow. She was diving underwater, exploring colourful corals. She was in the desert, searching for a camel to ride on forever.

She woke up and got startled.The morning light came through the panelled windows. Luke slept but Shadow was too busy looking for nuts.Shadow paused.With his sea clear blue eyes almost shut,Ava crept over and began to turn the rusty key.After a bit of time,he was back but not looking all over the place ! “ That’s better,all back to how we like it. It’s time we get back that item that belongs in your hands. Wake up lazybones,”he added, prodding Luke in the back.

“Oi, I was having a good dream,” grumbled Luke, but he sat up with a straight back anyway.

A few minutes later,the gang of  5 musketeers hauled themselves up and over the wall towards the bounded sky ship. The fiery flame flickered in the breeze. There was a bang like gun fire.They peered as they noticed the professor carrying a small wooden box into the skyship. The box, they noticed was labelled, but they couldn’t see its writing.

“Let’s go,” squeaked the squirrel.

They ran up the walkway and to their relief the macguffin with Carl’s design in, was still there.They snatched it up and Ava stuffed it into her pocket.

Steering the wheel,Ava launched the ship into the sky.

She knew what to do. Her dad had taught her years before she had had to go to the stupidly posh academy. They saw the professor, but they were too high up to hear what he was saying. 

Hurrying down below decks,she saw her father, her heart was full of sadness and happiness,the most important thing that mattered to Lily was being with someone that she knows she can love and trust. “Come on,” he said, “Let’s teach those big bullies a lesson.”

And off they soared off seeing the last of the tiny houses, falling snow and beautiful scenery.

They flew away…

End of chapter 1

“He’s right” squeaked Shadow. “We need to get back to Thorn house and save it before the bad people get it.”

Chapter 2

Thorn House stood silent. Ava peered up to her once-welcome bedroom. But the usual brightness from a flickering candle was gone. Outside, the brisk coldness of winter snow brushed across the cobbled pathway of doom. Outside,a gnarled tree dropped rough bark. Ava snatched the keys and the lock clicked but the warmth of the house was now cold like the sea in the winter. Inside, the thick dust hung in patches like seaweed scrabbling to cling onto a jagged rock.

Ava and Luke staggered up the not-so velvety stairs and went directly to her bedroom. Shadow,sniffled for ideas.The lilac marble wallpaper was peeling off in damp places. The frame of her bed was crooked and the splinters were zooming round the room like a rocket.Fragments of her favourite candles were still on her shelf neatly above the books she had collected. Thankfully, her chromebook, with stickers of her adventures plastered on the cover, was still hidden at the back of her rustic wardrobe. 

Curious, Luke picked up the chromebook and accidentally pulled back a secret slot. It revealed a note bearing that her Father had invented a new bun with glazed icing.

“No wonder people are chasing him. If you can create a food then that would be GREAT. Worth a fortune.” muttered Luke, full of amazement. 

“ So that’s why he’s disappeared! “Exclaimed Ava.

“ Exactly,” came a frosty voice. Out of the darkness,professor fire swished into the room. His hair was burning orange and his teeth caramelised with rot. “I have been waiting for you to appear. I need that recipe plan,” he snarled and with that he snatched it off her, cackling to himself.

Minutes later,the children were locked in a garage with tools,bikes and lots more surrounding them!

“We’ll never get out of here,” he muttered with pain.

“Yes we will. We’ll fight back,” she demanded…

Prologue:

Shadow peered out of the glass-tinted window and noticed as the cole-black sky-ship drew nearer. He saw the chequered balloon full of air. He heard the zooming of the engine, revving up like a racing car about to zoom a lap of the track. He smelt the burning fire smell like a grate crackling in the darkness. A clunk! The little body of Shadow disappeared! For a split second he was gone. 

Then, he appeared again gripping a hazelnut in one paw, digging down to ensure it was safe. Its silky surface was glossy like newly bought lip balm.

“Take this to my girl,” boomed his master, Carl Linglethorn.

“Yes commander,”he replied, flakes of hazelnut scattering round the room, “I will go.”

Shadow dived into the icy blackness.

Chapter 1

Ava Linglethorn clambered over the rustic wall of the courtyard of Carla’s Extremely Expensive Academy For Rising Ladies, grazing her knees badly. Solemnly, she trudged through the autumnal day, determined to find her Shadow. Through brambles like a prickly needle, over stones that twisted her ankles and into the clearing of the forest.

For many days, she studied the note, it said “ find the time and you shall keep it!” 

After a few moments, she heard the familiar drop of nuts and Shadow appeared from the corner. “I’ve experienced torture,” he began,”those paths in the sky and skyship. Oh my! Please give me a wind up Ava.” 

Ava laughed a strange one “ ok” she said. She bent down and started winding it up. 

His dusty fur was battered and bruised from that dive and he was tired. 

That afternoon,Luke from the shoe shop down the road was shocked to see Ava and Shadow in Redford alley. “Of course, you’re thinking about your mother’s fancy golden watch.” spoke Luke solemnly. The strap, comforting like the duvet on one’s bed. The steady beats of time was like a heart pulsing. “Sorry,” muttered Luke, “We are here to support you,” he finished.

“He’s right” squeaked Shadow. “We need to get back to Thorn house and save it before the bad people get it.”