The Wizard of OZ: A Steampunk Adventure by S.D. Stuart

Author:S.D. Stuart
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: FICTION
Publisher: Ramblin' Prose Publishing
Published: 2013-06-06T16:00:00+00:00

Later that night, when the house was completely still and Uncle Henry’s snoring lulled the last of the children to sleep, Dorothy stuffed the last of her things into the tiny pack and slung it on her back. She glanced once more at her room to make sure she had not forgotten anything. There wasn’t much for a 15-year-old girl to own, so her pack was rather light.

Aunt Em would never let her leave the farm to search for her father if she asked. She practically forced her to sneak out. There were plenty of other kids, other orphans, staying at the farm. She would barely be missed. She tried to keep her promise to William and only ran off a few times during the past five years when she thought she saw her emerald heart glowing. But she hadn’t heard from him in over a year and had no other choice but to go out looking again. Every day she spent at the farm, her father’s trail grew colder.

So here she was, sneaking out in the middle of the night.

Only this time she knew she was ready.

She had finally bested her teacher that afternoon in the barn and was ready to face whatever obstacles stood between her and her father.

She gritted her teeth with each creak of her bedroom door as it opened slowly. When the door was open just enough for her to slip out, she peeked out into the hallway.

All clear.

She backed out slowly as the door creaked shut.

As soon as she heard the lock click, she spun around and a face emerged from the darkness. Dorothy’s heart fluttered and she clamped a hand over her own mouth to keep from yelling out.

The shadows formed into Eloise, another orphaned girl who had been sent to the farm. She was only a couple years older than Dorothy was and would be leaving when she turned eighteen next year.

“What are you doing Dorothy?” Eloise whispered.

“I’m just going to the bathroom.” Dorothy whispered back.

Eloise frowned. “With your backpack?”

Dorothy raised her hands, pleading. “Don’t tell anyone, Eloise. Please.”

“They’ll find you again. They always do.”

“That’s because you always tell them when I leave.”

Eloise crossed her arms. “It’s not safe out there alone.”

“I can take care of myself. Please don’t tell anyone this time.”

“You know I can’t promise that.”

“Then at least give me a few hours head start.”

Eloise seemed to be waging a battle of her own inside her head. Finally, she let out a big sigh.

“When they notice you don’t come down for breakfast I’ll say I thought you were going to the bathroom.”

Dorothy ran to the window and, with half her body already outside, leaned back. “Thank you Eloise. I won’t forget you.”

Eloise shrugged. “See you soon.”

Dorothy smiled. “Not this time.

Dorothy stood at the front gate by the main road. She looked up one way and then the next.

It would be several hours before the sun came up, but the full moon cast a pallid glow over the long and straight road.

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