The smell of freshly popped kettle corn wafted through the open air. The sun was just beginning to creep behind the distant mountain range as the sky lit up with colors of pink and orange. A light breeze rustled the golden grass, the cheers of the crowd lit up the quiet night. The massive tent waved in the breeze like a striped flag. More cheering erupted from the crowd. “We are going to miss it!” my little sister reminded me. “Hurry up Jeremy!” she called. I scooped little Lily up with a roar and ran towards the tent entrance, her laughter lighting up the night. The circus had begun.

I ran by the kettle corn stand, the enticing scent drifting up my nostrils. “Popcorn!” Lily cried happily. I pulled my wallet from my back pocket and paid the man a crisp $5 bill in exchange for a wonderfully smelling bag of popcorn: Lily’s favorite food. She quickly ripped the top of the bag open and began inhaling the popcorn. “Save some for the circus.” I chided her. As we walked in through the tent doors our jaws dropped. This would be a night we would remember for the rest of our lives.

Trapeze artist swung madly through the air, looking like they were born to do this. “Oohs” and “Ahhs” were heard as they pulled of seemingly impossible stunts making it look as if they were flying across the circus tent. Just when you thought you had seen everything something else spectacular would appear and blow their minds. Lions, Tigers leaping through hoops, jugglers with knives and flaming objects, and the performers kept coming. Lily shrieked with delight at each trick; her face frozen in a permanent smile. Jeremy laughed along with her. At last the circus came to an end, slowly people filed out of the tent as children ran rampart giggling and screaming more laughter. “What did you think Lily?”

There was no reply. “Lily?” he called as he whirled around. “LILY!!” He screamed frantically as the people around him stared in wonder.

“LILY!!!!” he cried helplessly as he scanned the crowd as if his life depended on it. She was gone. A black sedan with windows tinted darker than the shadows of the night screeched out of the parking lot onto the highway, rocks spitting out behind. The tires complained against the pavement as they left black marks in the highway. Burnt rubber seared Jeremy’s nostrils as if insulting him about losing track of his precious little sister. Lily had been kidnapped.

The only evidence that had been left by the mysterious kidnappers was the long, black tire marks burnt into the road like the runway for an airplane. They would be no use in finding sweet Lily.

“Lily” a soft voice cooed; gently pulling Lily awake. “Wake up Lily” it called again, as soft as snow falling on a winter morning. The only problem is that Lily did not recognize the voice calling her name. She jolted awake and took in her surroundings. She was in a bedroom not unlike her own. Flowers were painted on the walls of soft pinks and purples. A wonderful scent floated through her nostrils. The bed she was in was warm and inviting; she almost wanted to drift off to sleep again. No. She needed to discover where she was. Jeremy. Where was he? Was he here too or was he at home investigating where she had disappeared to. She hoped that her loving brother was safe. She looked to the right of the bed. There was a small white nightstand with a small pink lamp. She looked to her left and discovered the source of the wonderful scent; homemade chocolate chip cookies, a whole plate of them. There was cold milk too. They sat on a small table near the head of the bed. She slowly crawled out of the warm bed. Her feet touched the soft carpet that was in the room. She was skeptical of the cookies so she passed them up. She continued to the other side of the room. There was a tub full of stuffed animals next to a purple and white dresser. She opened the drawer and discovered beautiful clothes; just the right size for her. She went up to the door and turned the shining silver handle. It was locked. She sat down on the bed again and thought about what to do. Her thoughts went back to Jeremy.

She was startled as a tapping noise came from the other side of the flowery purple wall. She tapped the wall too and an urgent tapping came back. Lily quickly looked around at the wall and realized that there was a hole in the center of one of the flowers. She peered through the wall and found a room identical to hers. There was a girl on the other side of the wall, about the same age as her. “Hello” Lily said. The girl whimpered in fear, and after a moment replied in a soft, quivering, voice, “What’s your name?”