Hidden Deep Read Free Page B

the top. It resembled a large nest, resting on the thick branches. I glanced back at Lad. And then I understood.
    I backed away with my hands in front of me, shaking my head violently. “Oh no. No. You don’t think—I can’t climb up there.”
    Laughing at me again, he said, “You’ll be perfectly safe. I’ll be right behind you the whole time. There’s no reason to be afraid. I promise it’ll be worth it.”
    I wanted to be brave. I really did. I wanted to keep talking with Lad, get some answers, get my book back. But my limbs were frozen, just thinking of climbing the enormous tree. It had always been like that—I couldn’t even handle the top bunk at camp.
    Lad’s large, solid hands settled on my hips. He steered me toward the tree. At his murmured encouragement, I forced myself to lift one foot and place it on the bottom limb, only a couple feet off the ground. I reached up and grabbed a branch above my head. Trembling but trying, I climbed, the heat of Lad’s body close behind me. I couldn’t decide if it made me want to keep moving or slow down. With him shadowing my every painstaking move, I eventually managed to reach the bottom of the structure.
    “Good job. Go ahead and climb in.”
    He didn’t have to tell me twice. I got both my hands on the lip of the thing and pulled as Lad boosted me from below. I rolled into it. Lad followed. For a few minutes I rested, letting my wild heartbeat slow and my shaky arms recover.
    Finally I took a look around. It was like a bird’s nest, only for a terrifyingly large bird. Woven from strong vines and small, flexible branches and lined with an incredibly soft greenish-brown fabric, it was roomy and quite comfortable, actually.
    Lad smiled at me triumphantly. “Well?”
    “It’s amazing. What is this?”
    “It’s sort of a hideaway—my special place. I built it when I was young. I still come here when I want to think or have some time alone. No one knows about it. Well, except for you. And… it’s where I keep things I care about.”
    He pointed toward a wooden chest on the other side of the nest, weather-worn and old, with strange carvings covering its surface. “Go look inside.”
    I crawled over to the box, running my hands over its aged smoothness before opening it. The lid was surprisingly heavy. Inside, a haphazard collection of small objects surrounded a stack of books. A ragged hardcover picture book lay on top.
    “Book of Virtues…” I spoke the title aloud, tracing the faded letters with one finger and swallowing back a lump in my throat. “I cried so much over this stupid book. I used to sleep with it every night before I lost it. They got me a new copy, but it wasn’t the same. My dad came out here a couple days later and searched for this one, but he never could find it. I guess now I know why.”
    Lad gave me a sheepish look. “I was obsessed with it when I was younger… studying the words and pictures. I assigned magical powers to that book. I thought if I could read it and learn it by heart… it would someday bring you back to me.”
    “Really?” I wasn’t breathing well anymore. “Looks like it worked,” I said, hugging the book to my chest. “I’m taking this home with me, you know.”
    Lad’s mouth relaxed into a lazy grin. “Well now… I might find it harder to let go of than I anticipated.”
    The look on his face made me unsure if he was still talking about the book or about me. He reclined against the side of the nest, watching me, his eyes glowing a bright green unrivaled by the backdrop of leaves framing his head.
    Self-consciousness spread over me, raising gooseflesh everywhere his gaze touched. I knew I wasn’t hideous or anything—I’d had dates. But I’d never been the girl in the room who everyone looked at, much less stared at for long uninterrupted minutes. I felt like I should say something but couldn’t think of a thing. Tearing my eyes away, I reached back into the chest and pulled out another book.