Pages and Co 2: Tilly and the Lost Fairytales

by Anna James

  ‘This is it!’ Jack said, as if there hadn’t been any doubt that he knew where he was going. He led them round the trunk to a small red door almost entirely hidden among the tree roots. Jack crouched down and knocked on it three times.

  ‘Hello?’ he called. ‘Snow? Graham? Geoff? Is anyone home?’ His optimism waned far faster than it had at the Three Bears’ cottage, and with a grim look on his face, he pushed the door firmly. It swung open to reveal the same dark void that had been inside the Bears’ cottage.

  Tilly swallowed nervously, and tried to summon her earlier determination. Jack picked up a stone from the ground and tossed it into the blackness where it was immediately swallowed up. There was no sound of it hitting the inside of the tree, or water, or anything at all.

  ‘This can’t be good,’ Jack said. ‘I think we should catch up with the prince and your friend. Maybe we can ask Prince Charming if the King or Queen know anything about what’s happening. And then I must get back to my mam, if she’s still there.’

  ‘I’m sure everyone is okay,’ Tilly said, trying to comfort Jack, although she was not at all sure. ‘I think they’ve just got lost temporarily.’

  Jack nodded, and put on a brave smile. ‘Let’s go, then,’ he said. ‘To the crack in the sky.’

  They closed the little red door carefully and walked back out of the forest, and before they knew it, they were back in beautiful, sun-drenched fields. Tilly followed Jack across a wooden stile and into a field of golden wheat, rustling in the gentle breeze.

  ‘There it is,’ Jack said pointing just ahead of them.

  And what Tilly saw really could only be described as a crack in the sky. It was about two metres high, and looked like a rip in the fabric of the universe. On one side, the edge of the blue sky was flapping, like ripped wallpaper, and the other side looked like broken pottery with sharp edges. The crack was just wide enough for a fully grown person to squeeze through sideways, but the air was shimmery and translucent, as though there was a veil covering the gap so it was impossible to see what was on the other side. Prince Charming’s horse was standing next to it, tied to a fencepost.

  ‘What …?’ Tilly started. ‘Has … has that always been here?’

  ‘Do you know, it’s funny, when I try and think about when it arrived, I can’t quite pinpoint it,’ Jack said. ‘It wasn’t there, and then one day – it was. To start with, everyone was terrified, but some people have gone through it and most of them have come back.’

  ‘Most of them?’

  ‘Yep,’ Jack said cheerfully. ‘But I guess some people might have just preferred what they found on the other side and stayed there. So what’s the plan? I’ll come through with you if you want.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Tilly asked, relieved. ‘I’d be very grateful.’

  ‘Of course,’ Jack said nobly, looking a little pale. ‘I can’t just shove you through and hope you’re okay. Do you want me to lead the way?’

  ‘No, I’ll go first,’ Tilly said, taking a deep breath.

  It was a tight squeeze, and the sharp edge of the crack snagged on Tilly’s jumper as she crouched down and edged through the gap.

  ‘Oh,’ Jack said, as he came through behind her. ‘It’s just the same as home.’

  ‘You sound disappointed,’ Tilly said.

  ‘Well, I am a little,’ he admitted. ‘You sort-of hope for something a bit more magical if there’s a giant crack in the sky, don’t you?’

  ‘I’m just happy it’s not more of that black emptiness,’ Tilly said, and Jack shuddered at the thought of what had happened to his friends’ houses.

  Where they stood was a great deal like where they had come from – green fields doused in sunlight stretched out in front of them under a vivid blue sky. Ahead of them was a hill with a very tall, thin tower on top.

  ‘I guess that’s where we’re headed,’ Jack said, and Tilly nodded and set off.

  As they climbed, it became clear that there was quite a commotion going on around the base of the tower. The sound of angry shouting and crying drifted down the hill towards them. Soon they could see that the ruckus was being caused by a gaggle of around fifty men, some of whom were teenagers – all gangly limbs and fresh faces – and some who were at least sixty; one struggling in the long grass with a walking frame made of wood. All of them were at least moderately handsome, even the older ones, and dressed very expensively, and all of them looked extremely cross. As Tilly and Jack made their way up the last few metres towards the tower, one of the men stormed past in the opposite direction, trying to hide the tears streaming down his face.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Tilly asked him gently. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘Daddy said all I had to do was come to this tower and call a certain phrase, and a pretty lady would throw her hair down for me to climb, and then I could marry her. And not only will she not let her hair down but there are all these other princes here trying to marry her too!’ He wiped his nose. ‘Are you trying to marry her?’

  ‘Us?’ Tilly said, confused. ‘Er, no.’

  ‘So, what, your dad just told you to come here?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘He met my mum after locking her in a room and making her spin gold, and he heard on the grapevine about this tower/princess situation and thought it might be worth a try. But word has got out, and even though I was here first, all of the others are threatening to fight each other, and she won’t even talk to us! She has to choose! And give us her hair ladder!’

  ‘Does she have to choose?’ Tilly asked.

  ‘Why, of course she does,’ the man said, like Tilly had asked a particularly stupid question. ‘How else will she get rescued and married?’

  ‘Well, actually …’ Tilly started, but Jack pulled her away.

  ‘I think we should go and see for ourselves,’ he said, and they left the prince snivelling in the field. They walked up to the base of the tower where small, ineffectual scuffles were breaking out among the gathered princes. No one wanted to risk injury to themselves or their clothing. Some princes were still trying to call up to the window in the tower.

  ‘Go on! Let down your hair! You promised!’

  ‘I’ve got such a big castle! If you just come down, I can show you!’

  ‘Don’t listen to him! His castle has only got three stables!’

  ‘My mother has a magic mirror you can borrow!’

  And so it went on, and amid the chaos, Tilly and Jack searched in vain for Prince Charming and Oskar, as the shouting got louder and more desperate, until finally a head popped out of the window.

  ‘ENoUGH!’ it yelled.

  ilence immediately fell among the princes, who stared up at the young woman glaring angrily down at the crowds.

  ‘Will you all just please leave me alone?’ she shouted. There was a further beat of silence, and then all at once the men started caterwauling again.

  ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!’ they shouted.

  ‘No!’ she yelled. ‘I don’t even know any of you! Why would I let you climb up my hair?’

  ‘So we can rescue you!’ one prince shouted.

  ‘And marry you!’ another called.

  ‘I don’t know you!’ she repeated. ‘I do not want to marry any of you! Also, I’m seventeen! I don’t want to get married at all, let alone to someone older than my dad!’

  ‘But princesses have to marry princes!’ one more shouted. ‘It’s how the story always goes!’

  ‘Well, it’s not how this story is going, I can assure you! I am making an executive decision to change my happily-ever-after. Now please go away!’

  ‘Fine!’ one prince said. ‘I’m leaving!’ He started walking away very slowly. ‘This is your last chance! I’m really going! I’m very rich! And I won’t be able to hear you change your mind if you leave it any longer!’ The only answer was a banana skin that came hurtling out of the window and hit an entirely different prince in the face. The one who had been trying to call her bluff stamped his feet.


  ‘I didn’t want to marry her anyway,’ he said loudly, so the other princes could hear. ‘I’ll get Daddy to find me a better one.’ And he turned on his heel and left.

  ‘One down!’ a voice echoed from the window. ‘I’ve got all the time in the world, and a lot of bananas.’

  It didn’t take long for the princes to get bored once they realised Rapunzel was being entirely serious, and they started to disperse. Tilly scanned the crowd again but there was still no sign of the original Prince Charming, or Oskar. And before long, there was only one prince left, sleeping curled up on the ground, sucking his thumb, everything having got a bit too much for him.

  ‘Where on earth are they?’ Tilly was stuck somewhere between exasperation and panic.

  ‘We could ask her,’ Jack suggested, pointing upwards. Rapunzel was tentatively sticking her head back out of the window to assess the scene below, and spotted Jack and Tilly.

  ‘Oh, you’re still here,’ she said, sounding annoyed.

  ‘We’re not with them!’ Jack called up. ‘We don’t want to marry you! I swear! We’re just looking for our friend. One of the princes kidnapped him.’

  ‘Ugh, they really are the most entitled, useless collection of people I’ve ever encountered,’ Rapunzel said. ‘Is there just one left?’ She pointed to the sleeping prince.

  ‘Yes. I’ll get rid of him,’ Jack offered and poked the prince with his toe.

  ‘What? It wasn’t me!’ said the prince, spluttering awake. ‘Where’s everyone gone?’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s all over, pal,’ Jack said firmly but kindly. ‘She’s picked a prince and galloped off into the sunset with him, and everyone else has gone home. You’ll have to go and find another damsel in distress.’

  ‘Ugh,’ the prince repeated, standing up and brushing down his over-the-top arrangement of lace ruffles. ‘Do you know,’ he said, ‘I’m not sure my heart’s really in this catching-a-princess malarkey. I’ve always been ever so fond of Eliza who works in the bakery in the village; she makes the most delicious bread, and we do make each other giggle. I might forget this princess thing and just see if she wants to grab a glass of mead some time.’

  ‘I think that sounds like a really solid plan,’ Jack said, clapping him on the back. ‘Maybe lose some of the ruffles before you ask her, though?’ The prince smiled, and ambled off into the distance, talking about Eliza and her excellent cupcakes as he went.

  ‘Coast is clear!’ Tilly shouted up to Rapunzel and she stuck her head out again.

  ‘Cheers,’ she called. ‘I’ll be right down!’ All of a sudden, a great torrent of tangled blonde hair was shoved out of the window and fell to the floor in an extremely matted heap, with twigs and moss and what even looked like a bird’s nest caught in it. As Rapunzel hoicked herself out of the window and started climbing down the mess of hair, it became clear that none of it was actually attached to her head, and her real hair was cut into a sharp bob with an angular fringe. She kicked out her feet and slid down the final few metres with a confidence that showed it wasn’t the first time she’d exited that way.

  ‘How do you do?’ she said, smoothing down her dress. ‘I’m Rapunzel, nice to meet you. Thanks for helping clear out those princes. I owe you.’

  ‘You’re welcome,’ Jack said, dipping into an awkward half-bow and coming over all bashful.

  ‘So you can come and go as you please?’ Tilly asked, gesturing at the matted pile of hair.

  ‘Of course,’ Rapunzel said. ‘I like to put word around that there’s a wicked witch keeping me trapped to try and put all the princes off. I obviously misjudged, though – it actually seems to be yanking all the particularly annoying ones out of the woodwork. I need to come up with a better story. Or acquire an actual witch …’ she said thoughtfully. ‘That’d put them off, thin out the crowd, you know. Anyway – you said you’d lost a friend? I get a pretty good view from up there. What do they look like?’

  ‘Well, he’s called Oskar and he’s about the same height as me with brown skin and black curly hair,’ Tilly said. ‘And he’d be with a prince who looked a lot like all of the rest of them, but without the horse. The prince stole Oskar and took him to come and find you … which is why we’re here. But they obviously didn’t make it.’

  ‘Which direction did they come from?’ Rapunzel asked.

  ‘That way,’ Jack gestured. ‘Through the crack in the sky.’

  ‘The crack in the sky?’ Rapunzel repeated, sounding confused. ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘It’s kind of hard to miss,’ Jack said. ‘It’s a big old … well, crack in the sky, down at the bottom of the hill. You must be able to see it from the top of your tower. In fact, I’m kind of surprised we can’t see it from here …’ He tailed off as he looked down the hill, where there was no sign at all of anything unusual.

  ‘Will you show me?’ Rapunzel asked, curious.

  ‘Of course,’ Jack said eagerly.

  ‘What about Oskar?’ Tilly reminded him.

  ‘We’re looking for clues!’ Jack said. ‘Something obviously went wrong between the crack and the tower, because we saw Prince Charming’s horse left there.’

  ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘But we have to find him before that blackness swallows anything else up.’

  ‘Sorry, what is swallowing what?’ Rapunzel said. ‘I’ve obviously been in my tower for too long, I’m very out of date.’

  ‘I’ll fill you in as we walk,’ Jack said as they set off, and began chatting animatedly to Rapunzel, with Tilly following a few paces behind. As they walked back down the hill, Rapunzel called nonchalantly to Tilly.

  ‘Do watch out for the puddles,’ she said.

  ‘What puddles?’ Tilly said, confused both by the lack of any surface water, or indeed the danger of puddles, should any exist. Rapunzel gestured to her left and Tilly looked and saw that there was indeed a puddle, not of water, but of … nothing. The same nothing that was behind the Three Bears’ door, and in the Seven Dwarves’ house in the tree. It was more of the same negative substance, like a black hole: just a gap in the grass that was sucking light into itself and not giving anything back. You couldn’t see the bottom of it, or any perceivable edges either. It was just blank space.

  ‘Do you know what that is?’ Tilly said.

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ Rapunzel said cheerfully. ‘It just appeared. A prince fell into it the other week and vanished. I was watching him leave from my window and he wasn’t looking where he was going and then, zap, he was gone! So, I’d avoid touching it if I were you.’

  ‘Are there more of them?’ Tilly asked.

  ‘Not that I’ve seen,’ Rapunzel said. ‘Although I think that one is getting bigger.’

  ‘Totally normal thing to happen,’ Tilly said under her breath, moving away from the edge of the non-puddle. ‘Just a huge puddle of nothingness in the middle of a field, sucking princes into it.’

  The further they got down the hill, the clearer it became that the crack in the sky was not where they had left it. There were just fields, trees and sun, nothing out of the ordinary and nothing covered in sticky black liquid. Rapunzel eyed them as if she were beginning to regret following them.

  ‘I swear it was just here,’ Jack said, looking around in a panic. ‘How am I going to get home?’

  ‘Maybe it’s just got smaller?’ Tilly suggested, feeling a little sick again. ‘Let’s walk a bit further in case we’re in the wrong place?’

  ‘No, it was definitely here,’ Jack said, pointing at the fence. ‘Look.’ They followed where he was gesturing and there, flapping in the breeze, was a scrap of grey fluff caught on the fencepost. It exactly matched the colour of Tilly’s jumper.

  ‘I promise there was something here,’ Tilly said to Rapunzel. ‘It looked like a rip in the fabric of the world. Maybe it’s sealed itself over or something?’

  ‘I’m not saying you’re making things up,’ Rapunzel said, backing up the hill again. ‘I’m just saying—’ But before she could fini
sh her sentence she was interrupted by a hoarse scream from somewhere nearby.

  s there someone there?’ a voice shouted.

  ‘Help! Please, help!’

  ‘Where are you?’ Tilly shouted back. ‘We can’t see you!’

  ‘Tilly! Is that you, Tilly?’ a different, even more desperate voice called. ‘It’s Oskar! I have never been so glad to hear your voice!’

  ‘Thank goodness!’ Tilly said, a sense of relief washing over her. At least he was here, and alive.

  ‘Where are you, mate?’ Jack shouted again.

  ‘I don’t know!’ Oskar called. ‘We can’t see anything!’

  The three of them turned round slowly but there were no other living souls in sight, just fields and trees stretching out around them.

  ‘Keep talking!’ Rapunzel shouted into the emptiness. ‘So we can follow the sound of your voice!’

  Oskar started shouting ‘Tilly! Tilly! Tilly!’ on repeat, and the first voice, which they assumed to be Charming, set up a steady wail of woe. They followed the shouts to the edge of the field, until it sounded as though they were right on top of the noise.

  ‘Down here!’ Oskar shouted.

  ‘Pay attention!’ Charming huffed, and they all looked down to see a hole in the middle of the grass, just a few metres ahead. In the bottom of the pit almost four metres down, were Prince Charming and Oskar, both looking incredibly cross and sticky. The edges of the hole were dripping with the same black substance that kept turning up all over the fairy tales.

  Tilly’s brain started working overtime. She felt like she had a box of jigsaw pieces but no time to lay them out neatly and put them together properly. And that was assuming they were all for the same puzzle in the first place.

  ‘Tilly,’ Oskar said, ‘I thought I was going to have to spend the rest of my life stuck in this hole with this … this …’ And Tilly could see him searching for and failing to find a suitable word to describe the prince. Oskar threw his hands up in frustration, and just glared at Charming, who stuck his tongue out in response. Oskar looked up at Tilly in desperation.