“Rose is right,” I say. “Think about it, Win. Mitch is still missing, which means this picture—this map—is the only thing that can lead Crowky to the Box. We should get rid of it right now . . . burn it or tear it into tiny pieces!”

“You’re not doing anything to it!” says Rose, and with great care, she closes the book and puts it back in the box with the inks. “And if we go looking for anything this holiday, we should go looking for Mitch!” And with that she jumps up and stomps out onto the balcony.

There’s a moment of silence, and then Win says, “I guess she misses Mitch.”

Stella shakes her head. “I don’t know why. That merwitch was always trouble.”

A bang followed by a scream echoes from somewhere below us. “FIGHT!” yells one of the Lost Girls. And while Stella goes to sort out the fight (and Win goes to watch), I join Rose on the balcony.

Chapter 20

It’s cold outside and very windy. I edge my way along the balcony until I reach Rose, then I sit next to her. Our backs are pressed against the tower and in front of us is a low wall. It’s all that separates us from a dizzying drop. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we’re surrounded by crow gargoyles. They’re tucked inside alcoves, their beaks hanging open in silent cries.

Suddenly Rose says, “Mitch swam all the way to the End to hide the Box. She did that for me, Arthur, and how did I repay her? I forgot all about her and let her disappear!”

“The unicorns have come back,” I say. “That means Mitch will come back too.”

Rose turns to look at me. “You really think so?”

“Definitely! Remember how Roar began to mend once we started believing in it again? Now the holes have all gone, the unicorns are back, and there are fuzzies everywhere. You’ll see Mitch soon.”

“You’re right,” says Rose. “She’s out there somewhere. I’m sure she is.”

The door slams open and Win runs out onto the balcony. “It’s kicking off in there,” he says cheerfully. “It began as a pillow fight, then turned into a fistfight, now it’s a whole-body fight!” He plonks himself down on the wall, totally ignoring the drop behind him.

“I wish you wouldn’t sit there, Win,” I say.

But he’s not listening to me. His eyes are wide and he’s grinning. At first I think he’s excited about the fight, but then he says, “Guys, I’ve had the most imaginary idea!”

“What is it?” says Rose, suspiciously.

“This!” From his cloak Win pulls out a piece of paper.

“Win,” I say, “is that—”