“What are you—“

“SHHH SHHH!” The blond kid placed a finger on his lips. Don’t. say. a. Word.”

Milo gulped. He inched back in his chair.

“Okay…” whispered the short-haired brunette, who had carefully drawn the curtains. “I think it’s safe to talk.”

“TALK? WHO _ARE_ YOU KIDS? WHERE AM I?”

“_Dude! Take a chill pill. _Do you want her looking for you?” Kid number 3 near the door hissed.

“Who? You there, curtain girl! Mind telling me what’s going on?” Milo did not like being bossed around by kids. What were they? Fifteen? Sixteen?

“First, it’s _Avery.” _She got off the bed, “Second, call me by that name again and I won’t hesitate to carve your pretty face with my kni—“

“Alright folks!” The blond kid clapped his hands, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m Will. Short for William. And that’s my friend, Alex.” He motioned towards the door kid, “and _this_ hothead over here is my lil’ cousin, Avery.” He flashed a big grin, “and you are?”

“Milo… Milo Pierce…”

“Nice to meet y’a!” He shook his hand.

Milo had to admit. This kid had a strong presence. “But that doesn’t answer my question. Where am I?”

“You’re in headspace.” Alex came over and propped his elbow over Will’s shoulder, shaping his hands like he was holding an invisible box, “Inside the author’s mind.”

Milo stared at him as if he just spoke gibberish. “what?”

“In simple words, _My room._” said Avery. “And you’re probably here because the Author has imagined you.”

“_Oookay_?”

“And she’ll be looking for you if she gets an…idea.” Her expression went grim. She silently plopped over the bed.

“Hearing that _The Author_ is looking for you is enough to make grown adults cry.” Alex shared her darkness, “You never know who or _what’ll _come_ _next_ _in the headspace.

Milo shuffled in his chair. He wanted to get out of the headspace.

“_Buut_ it can go either way.” Will added. “As for you though…” Will sized him up with his stormy grey eyes. “Can’t say… you look different.”

“He doesn’t look like he’s from our story.” Alex scratched his head, “…could be a crossover scene…Hey, Milo. What’s your genre?”

“My what now?” He really wished he could whip out a dictionary to understand Alex. Avery looked like she’d gladly hit him with it.

“What’s your specialty?” She translated, “Do you have any… _powers_?”

“Or fighting skills,perhaps?” Will rubbed his chin, “Your fancy dagger there seems to know somethin’.”

Milo looked at the curvy dagger at his belt. It’s edge shone, as if waiting to be showed-off.

“Yeah I can fight…” Milo said, letting everything settle in. “Oh! I can do this too!”

He snapped his fingers and a swirl of purple vortex tore open behind them.

Avery’s jaw hit the mattress “_No. Way…_”

“This is _cuh-ray-zee!_” Her cousin ran his hand through his hair.

“WOAHHH!” Alex held is head, “Where does this lead to? Is it dangerous? Can humans go through that?”

He looked like he’d explode any minute

“Actually—“

“CAN _I_ GO THROUGH THAT?” He jumped into his face so close, Milo could see his own reflection in his eyes.

“No!”

He waved his hand and just like that, the portal closed, sealing away any hope Alex had to explore it.

“_Aww_, man!”