“Wait, Prince!” I call.

We follow Prince and pass an open window. I peek inside.

It’s a big dining room. The table is set with fancy plates and all kinds of food.

I hear a growl next to me, but it’s not Prince. It’s Jonah’s stomach.

“I’m hungry,” he says.

“Me too,” I say. The food smells amazing. Like fried onions and garlic and cheese.

Jonah licks his lips again. “Do you think it’s for us?”

“Why would it be for us?” I ask. “They’re not expecting us.”

“I don’t know how fairy tale land works.” He sticks his nose inside. “Maybe they’re serving French fries and ketchup.”

“Let’s keep looking,” I say. We wind our way around another bend and suddenly we’re in a garden. A rose garden. Great. Just what I want to be reminded of. Roses. Big, blooming, gorgeous red roses.

Prince dashes across the garden.

“Prince! Careful!” I don’t want him digging everything up.

“Flowers!” I hear Jonah say behind me. “Perfect!”

Prince lowers his nose and starts sniffing around. He’d better not touch anything.

“This one smells good,” Jonah says. “And this one. And this one. Ouch! I just cut my thumb on a thorn!” He sticks his finger in his mouth and sucks on it.

I hear a booming voice behind me. “Where did you come from?”

I spin around.

Standing in front of the garden is …

Well …

He’s …

He’s at least seven feet tall and hulking. His hands and face are covered in brown fur. He reminds me of a dog. But a human dog. His face is wrinkly, like a pug. He has big, shiny black eyes.

This — creature — is looming ominously over Prince. Oh! He was talking to Prince! He hasn’t seen Jonah or me yet!

I motion for Jonah to kneel down next to me and hide behind a rosebush.

“Wh-what is that?” Jonah whispers, his face pale.

“I don’t know,” I admit. Is it an animal? No. It talked. Animals don’t talk. Well, sometimes they do in fairy tale land.

I notice that the thing is wearing black pants. And a buttoned-up white shirt and a black jacket and a purple bow tie. But no shoes. Just furry feet.

Huh?

It comes to me.

It’s not a thing.

It’s not an animal.

It’s half animal, half man.

It’s a beast. It’s the beast.

We’re in the story of Beauty and the Beast!

Chapter Five: Here’s the Story

We have to save Prince,” Jonah whispers. “It’s going to eat him!”

“Shhhhh! Stay hidden,” I say. “It won’t eat him.”

“How do you know?” Jonah asks.

“It’s not an it,” I whisper. “It’s a he. We’re in the story of Beauty and the Beast.”

Jonah looks confused for a second, but then he nods. “Is he Beauty or the beast?”