The next day

Leah's POV

I wake up at three am the next morning and can't go back to sleep, so I take this opportunity to go downstairs and search the house like Hailey told me to. I do remember seeing sand around the house before, but I just figured that it was from previous beach trips. I'm halfway down the stairs when I remember the book. I should probably go get it.

I tiptoe back into my room to grab the book and find it thicker than yesterday. I flip it open and find a glove waiting for me in the middle of the book, along with another note on the page behind it.

Miss you Leah. It will be over soon. I can't say much but remember to always wear the glove while touching . See you soon, I hope. Xoxo, Hays.

Another word is blotted out. Strange.

"I miss you too," I whisper. "I will do anything I can to end this, whatever it is." And then I flip the page. I don't know why, because it's not like I expect anything to be on the next page. It's more like my hand automatically does it, without my permission. It's another note. With a blotted out word. I groan.

Beware of frauds, you're too naive. If you always trust, you'll never find . -Hailey

Right, like that's any help. An idea jumps into my head and I pick up a pencil and scrawl a message under Hailey's super vague note.

What the heck are you talking about?

No response. Figures. I slip the glove on, hold onto the book with my other hand, and hurry down the stairs. I see it immediately. A trail of sand, much clearer than before. And a few seconds later, I'm heading back upstairs and into Hailey's room.

If you look carefully, you'll find sand that came off me when I came home from the beach. If you look extra carefully, you'll find...

How am I supposed to find something without knowing what I'm trying to find. Defeated, I stare out the window. Considering it's three am, I'm not surprised that it's dark enough for me to see my reflection. However, I am surprised when my reflection ripples and I see Hailey staring back at me, hands pressed against the glass. I pinch myself.

"Ow!" I yelp. I'm definitely not dreaming. In the window I see Hailey roll her eyes. Slowly, I reach my hand out to touch the glass. It feels like a normal window as far as I can tell.

Search, Hailey mouths. Right. I'm supposed to search for the blotted out object. It occurs to me as I examine the room that I'm supposed to be shocked that Hailey's alive. But I feel like I knew the whole time. I'm more shocked by the fact that she appeared in my window, to be honest.

I turn back to Hailey and glare at her, annoyed.

What am I supposed to find? I mouth. No response. Figures. That's when I spot a long strip of ribbon against the wall. It's not too strange, since Hailey is known for her huge bookmark collection, many of them made with ribbon, and considering it's leading to her crafts drawer, under normal circumstances I wouldn't have given it a second glance, but nevertheless I open the drawer. Resting inside is a small ruby ring. I pick it up and am about to slide it on when I remember the gloves. I look up at Hailey. She shakes her head. I slide it on my bare hand.

As soon as it's on, the glass shimmers again. Nothing happens, but my instincts, which I've learned to trust, tell me to touch it again. Book in hand, I do so, and to my surprise, my hand goes straight through.

"Hailey?" I whisper, but her reflection has disappeared. I gulp. I have to do this. I need to be brave. For Hailey. Without a second thought, I shove myself through the window.

Hailey's POV

"Would you like some tea darling?" Poppy asks me.

"Um, no thank you," I say, putting on a fake smile. "May I be excused?"

"You may." Poppy sets the pot of tea down and I hurry through the house and to the large room Poppy has given me.

"Welcome. Welcome back," the parrot sitting on a perch hanging from the ceiling squawks.

"Shut up," I mutter, hurrying over to my brown book. I flip it open and see a short message that I didn't write. It seems to be in Leah's handwriting. I gasp, then read it, eyes starting to water as I do so.

What the heck are you talking about?

It's short but it makes me want to cry nonetheless, seeing Leah's slanted writing, hearing her blunt, sarcastic voice echoing through my head. I pick up my own pen, then set it down. I can't say anything, not when she's so close. What if I ruin it?

Instead, I go over to my window and pull open the curtains. I am suddenly staring back in my own room, where Leah is sitting on the bed, staring straight ahead. Slowly, I press my hands against the window. It ripples, and suddenly Leah is looking at me and pinching herself. I roll my eyes when she yelps, even though I can't hear it. She comes over to the window and tries to push her way through. It doesn't work, of course.

Search, I mouth to her. Leah glances around the room, clearly focused on other things. She turns back to me.

What am I supposed to find? She mouths. I want to respond, I really do, but I know I can't. I watch her search around the room before spotting my clue left on the ground. I smile to myself when she finds the ring and motion for her to keep it on her bare hand.

"Hailey?" I hear. In one swift move I pull the curtains back over the window, dive onto my bed, shove my book under a pillow and turn on my phone. By the time Poppy comes in, it looks like I've been wasting time on my phone ever since I left the table.

"Did I just feel a gust of magic blow through here?" Poppy growls.

"No Aunt Poppy," I say nervously. Poppy's gaze searches the room.

"Are you lying to me?"

"I would never lie to you Aunt Poppy. I love it here!"

Poppy stomps over to the window and pulls open the curtains. I hold my breath. Luckily, the connection has broken, and all she sees is the shining moon over our yard. Her glare turns into a smile.

"Good darling. I'll let you be now." And with that she leaves the room. I let out a sigh of relief. That was a close one.