The Path That Shouldn't Exist

Lena Brekke knows every shortcut in Rattlecross. In seven weeks, she’s moving away, and none of them will matter anymore.

Then she finds a gate where no gate has ever been. On this side, the air is cold and the grass is waking up. Beyond it, golden leaves fall on a trail that shouldn’t exist.

The old playground is there. So are things the park has lost. With her best friend, Wes, and the annoyingly prepared Ruby Haddad, Lena follows the markers deeper into the woods. The farther they walk, the longer the mile becomes.

But the trail has rules, and it’s nearly closing time. What looks like a way to keep everything Lena loves may be a place that won’t let anybody leave.

Some things can be found again. Some things have to be let go.