Read Online R.E.M.: The Hidden World by Corrie Fischer - Free Book Online Page B

boulder behind her rocked wildly.  Her entire body shifted with the motion.  Danger filled the air.  Renee’s instinct screamed she should run.  Finally, her feet switched into auto pilot as she rushed away from the boulder towards safety.  As she approached the tree where her feathered friend rested, she was in shock at his composed state.  The bird was not flapping wildly or even moving from his branch at all.  Instead, he remained perched there, ever calm and silent. 
    What’s happening?   Before the thought transformed into a verbal question, the boulder began cracking and suddenly crumbled to dust.  Renee was suddenly surrounded by a dusty fog.  Coughing heavily, she tried to beat the unpleasant particles from her face.  She could see nothing.  The cloud of dirt entirely blocked her view.  It was like a thick, intangible blanket was falling down over her.  She blinked rapidly, rubbing her eyes as she did so, hoping for some version of clarity.  Then, gradually, the fog cleared.  The sight slowly revealed in front of her was one she could have never anticipated.  It was truly incredible. 
    Where the boulder once rested, there was now a cave-like entrance, only this was unlike any ordinary cavern.  The walls and ceiling consisted of a brown, stony surface.  However, the rest of the interior was more like a home than anything else.  Several red and white floral rugs lined the floor, one of them crossed into a hallway to the right of the grotto’s mouth.  Another went straight back into the cave and on its left side lay a lovely wooden staircase.  Its path, where the top of the massive boulder previously rested, now led to a freshly revealed balcony.  Black metal railing delicately lined each of its ledges, demonstrating a comforting security there.  At the end of the balcony, barely visible from her current position, she saw a solid, white door with an almost illuminated silver handle.
    “Wow!”  Renee was in shock. The sight before her was so incredibly strange and marvelous, it seemed surreal. 
    As though to confirm the solidity of the structure, the cardinal flew to the balcony’s railing.  He then perched there, cocked his head and let out a brief whistle in an almost I told you so manner.
    “Yea, yea, little guy, you were right, staying here was a good choice.”  I wonder why he didn’t just show me this last night?   The question left Renee completely befuddled.  Nevertheless, she was here now and this could be her ticket to finding Sam. 
    Wait, Sam would’ve never known this was here.   After all, the entrance was completely blocked by that boulder.  On the other hand, this was her only possible lead to finding civilization.  Hopefully, she could find some adult help to discover Sam’s location and to get them both back home.  Do I actually want to go home…hm…either way I must try to find Sam…that much I know without a doubt.  
    Without another moment of hesitation, Renee approached the cave’s entra nce.  Leaves crunched beneath her feet with an almost drum roll effect.  Stepping into the cave, her attention was immediately drawn to the hallway down the right.  The red and white rug that ran down it faded into complete blackness.  The appearance of the hallway itself was terrifying.  Yet somehow, it was drawing Renee closer.  She made a ninety degree turn to her right, completely facing the dark hall. Her curiosity ignited and, for a moment, she completely forgot about the doorway above.  Her feet seemed to be guiding themselves as she stepped towards the darkness.  Above, the cardinal chirped frantically, drawing Renee out of her trance-like state.  Looking up, she saw genuine concern in the eyes of her feathered friend.  What was I thinking?
    Without another glance down the seemingly forbidden hall, Renee rushed up the stairs towards t he balcony.  In an instant, she was standing in front of the doorway.  Renee paused here as two feelings