When Lena found the note under her pillow, she tucked it in her pocket so no one could see.

As the day passed, all Lena could think about were the unforgettable things she had discovered in the treehouse city. And later that night,

she looked up into the sky and she saw it. It was a full moon. That's when she knew it was her time to return. And when Lena saw her

chance, she slipped away from the other campers singing songs around the campfire and snuck back out

to the forest. And there, in the same place she had seen it before, was the rope ladder swaying in the gentle breeze of the night.

Her heart pounded as she climbed, the forest below fading into the shadows.

And this time, when she got back to the top, she saw the same boy waiting for her.

You came back, Johnny said with a smile,

though his eyes carried something deeper, almost serious.

Everyone else thought I was crazy for putting that rope ladder out there.

I almost started to believe them because nobody ever came up at,

but then you showed up here, he said.

You mean, that was your idea to put that rope ladder there?

Lena asked.

Well, sure it was, he said.

He led her to the tallest platform where dozens of kids had gathered in the lantern light.

The air buzzed with energy as the city itself was holding its breath

for something.

Not every kid can see the latter, Johnny said.

Only the ones who are searching for something.

Lena swallowed hard.

But why me?

...