Guardians of the Bookshelf Dimension: The Guardian Warrior

By Ridhwaana Jarmal

As Molly is left at home on the first day of Christmas, she makes her way back to the Dimension, which is packed with exciting journeys and thrilling adventures. She confronts a whole bag of new characters and visits amazing new places, which makes Mollys stay there the greatest time ever! But then she has other things to think about, like Glorias strange sickness, the secret of the mysterious ladies who serve Remus, and the so-called new king of Horror planet. To solve all her problems, she goes on a mission with her five Storian friends to find the long-lost Guardian Warrior.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491895214

Ridhwaana Jarmal

Ridhwaana Jarmal’s first book, ‘Guardians of the Bookshelf Dimension- The Founder’s First Mission’, was published in March 2013. This encouraged her to write the next part of Molly’s great adventures in the Dimension, producing new dilemmas and bringing up new people to meet in her wondrous journey into the unknown. Sometimes she portrays her stories in the context of a poem. Recently, she entered one of her poems, “Murder in the Madhouse” into Poetry Rivals, a yearly creative writing contest held across the UK. The poem is now being published in the Poetry Rivals Collection – Rhyme or Reason 2013. Ridhwaana enjoys writing imaginative stories for teens her own age to read and recommend to others.

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© 2014 by Ridhwaana Jarmal. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/12/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-9520-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-9521-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1    Christmas

Chapter 2    Gloria’s Problem

Chapter 3    A Banshee on the Run

Chapter 4    The Dimension Hospital

Chapter 5    The Previous Owner

Chapter 6    The Parchment’s Riddle

Chapter 7    The Hualing Fish Ladies

Chapter 8    Remus’s Library

Chapter 9    Another Incident

Chapter 10    The Need for Gloria’s Power

Chapter 11    Scorpion Mountain

Chapter 12    Chased out of Leprechaun Lodge

Chapter 13    The Guardian Warrior

Chapter 14    The Furry Antidote

Chapter 15    The Gloop Shop

Chapter 16    Finally Captured

Without my parent’s help and my family and friend’s support, this book would have never been possible.

CHAPTER 1

Christmas

Christmas Day was the most joyful day of the year. The high street was crowded with excited Christmas shoppers; children tugged the arms of their stressed-out parents whilst gleefully pointing at an amazing toy behind the shop window; restaurants gave out extraordinary aromas of roasted turkey, cinnamon sticks, and mouth-watering chocolate pudding; homes were fully decorated with bright shining lights and waving Santa Clauses in their front yards bellowing Ho, ho, ho to fellow passers-by; industrious men lifted large Christmas trees onto their shoulders whilst trying to push them into their warm firelit living rooms.

Molly sat at her desk, reading a book. She waited, patiently, for someone, but he wouldn’t come. Often, her eyes changed direction and she looked towards the small mouse hole beside her large bookshelf or even the red book that lay carelessly on the floor to see if the person she was waiting for would step out and call her. Only last year she had met a small elf-fairy who had taken her to a world that had existed ever since she’d bought that unusual bookshelf of hers. She and the elf-fairy had gone on a crazy adventure, made loads of friends, saved the Bookshelf Dimension from extinction, and merely escaped the most powerful Queen of Horrors.

She couldn’t wait any longer. Instead, she threw her book on her rather messy bed and hurried off towards the living room. As she swung the door open, she suddenly realised that she had missed one of the family meetings that her family usually had. Her parents were a bit cuckoo sometimes; they would normally pretend that Molly wasn’t an only child, and when she was little, they used to invite her little stuffed toys to the family meetings and even discussed important plans with Molly’s once-favourite stuffed elephant, Mr Snuffle Bee.

Of course, Molly had grown out of her little stuffed friends, but Mrs Munro had always used to leave Mr Snuffle Bee lying in her dirty laundry, just in case her daughter would take interest in their special guest.

But surprisingly, it didn’t look at all like her parents were expecting Molly to be there; instead, they looked at her as if she were a piece of spare tinsel that had just fallen off the Christmas tree.

Her mum had decorated the living room for Christmas. The walls were webbed with iridescent tinsel; colourful stockings were hung above the warm fireplace, where the fire glowed in different shades of red; the Christmas tree simply stood in the edge of the room with its magnificent lights; and golden baubles hung on the tip of the branches like dewdrops about to drip off a leaf.

Mrs Munro shuffled uncomfortably in her armchair while Molly came to sit on a nearby sofa that was placed near the glowing Christmas tree.

So, Molly said, breaking the silence, what did I miss?

Mr Munro and Mrs Munro both eyed each other worriedly and tried to say something; however, whatever was on the tip of their tongues never came out of their mouths.

What? Is something wrong? Molly asked, observing her parent’s suspicious behaviour.

Um, Mr Munro started, we need to tell you something.

What? Molly replied.

Mrs Munro looked down towards the chocolate brown carpet and twirled her hair nervously while placing a warming hand on Mr Munro’s lap.

Your grandma is feeling terribly sick, and she just came back from hospital last night, Mr Munro explained.

Molly glared at her dad in shock. She didn’t notice that she’d absent-mindedly slid a bauble off the Christmas tree until she realised it was in her hand.

We can’t tell you the full story, but we need to go and stay a few nights with your grandma until she feels better, her mother said, tears trickling down her cheek.

So, Molly interrupted, I would have to stay at home?

Yes, Mr Munro replied, looking down in disappointment.

Molly’s heart sunk. She would have to live without her parents for the first time. She had never been home alone before, and she really didn’t know how she would cope without her mother’s delicious home-made lasagne and her father’s usual rants on young hooligans and their silly little motorbikes.

Well, you’re up to the age when you have responsibilities, and you would have to look after yourself, Mr Munro said, looking confidently into Molly’s eyes.

Oh, my little girl is growing up! Mrs Munro gasped, beaming at Molly and tearfully blowing her nose in her husband’s brand-new sweater.

She suddenly jumped from her chair and gave her daughter a huge hug. Molly was overwhelmed. The fact that her parents were leaving Molly and not treating her like a little princess anymore was quite hard to believe.

We’re leaving tomorrow, Mr Munro informed, patting her on the shoulder.

Despite her nervousness, Molly couldn’t have been happier.

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The next morning, the birds tweeted happily, and the sun beamed its light all over the city. Today was the day that Molly was going to live home alone with only herself and her books. She smiled in satisfaction and rushed downstairs.

Mrs Munro was in the kitchen, joyfully humming a tune while washing the remaining dishes in the sink. Molly sat at the breakfast table and waited, patiently, for her usual egg and ham. Her mother was nicely dressed for the journey ahead with her pretty purple checked shirt and her short knee-length pink skirt. As Molly munched up the last of her ham, she hurried off towards the door, where Mr Munro stood in his casual clothing, waiting beside two fully packed suitcases.

Melissa! We have to go! he bawled, looking for Mrs Munro in the kitchen.

Suddenly, she appeared with a large picnic basket and a handbag. All right! All right, I was just getting lunch, she snapped, hurrying off to the car with her suitcase.

Mr and Mrs Munro came back to the door and gave a last goodbye to their daughter.

Be good, said her mother sternly. Oh yeah, and I’ve left a whole dish for you to eat during the week, so make sure you heat it up before eating!

Molly grunted. The last time she’d heated something up she’d nearly burnt the neighbour’s cat.

So you’re going for a week, then? she replied, following them to the car.

As long as your grandma is feeling well by then, then yes, Mr Munro said, sitting, ready to drive, in his car seat.

Molly waved them goodbye, and soon the car disappeared behind the hedges. She gave a sigh and walked back to the door. It felt like a huge burden had just lifted from her head; she could do whatever she wanted!

She shut the door behind her and ran up the stairs towards the bedroom. If she could do anything in the world, it would still be reading.

Molly grabbed her two ribbons, tied her hair into ponytails, and sat on her desk chair. She took out a book from her large bookshelf and suddenly realised something very important. Someone was supposed to meet her today, so she resumed waiting for that person.

But how? She didn’t know how to minimize herself and go through the mouse hole without that parchment thingy with the password on it!

Molly ignored the book and looked beside the bookshelf, where the mouse hole was on the wall. She bent down and stared hopefully at it, waiting for at least a glimpse of the little patched bag or some very silly pants.

Suddenly, a small ruffling sound shattered the silence. It seemed to be coming from Molly’s left, where the bookshelf stood, but it looked impossible to have come from there!

Molly sat in front of her bookshelf and listened carefully; she was scared, what if it was a mouse? She hated rodents. Molly, finally, figured out where the noise was coming from. The red book on the bottom shelf had started to shake vigorously, so much so that it knocked away all the other books. With one last shake, it slowly formed an arched door on the binding. A wave of relief splashed over Molly. Somebody had finally come to call her. Even if it wasn’t the person she’d been looking for, the man who stepped out of the arched door was close enough.

Sir Davies! she cried.

An ancient miniature man wearing a bright orange jumper, some mouldy brown trousers, and a pair of glasses that rested on his nose stepped out of the shadows. He held his usual brown walking stick, and his hair was a sickly grey.

Molly! I’ve been trying to get to you, but I couldn’t find my way through all the pages in my book-house, he shouted, so Molly could hear.

Book-house? You didn’t mention any book-house last time, Molly replied.

Sir Davies looked as if Molly had shouted very loudly in his ear and stumbled back a few inches until he found his hearing again.

A Book-house is when commoners, like me, who live outside the Dimension live inside these books, he shouted, his voice cracking every now and then.

Oh.

Molly suddenly remembered that she had to tell him something. You know Remus? He said to visit him at Christmas in the Dimension, she explained. Do you have any idea how I can minimize myself and try and find him?

Molly had glanced back at the mouse hole as she said this, and when she looked back, she found Sir Davies lying on the floor; his face looked like something had blown up on it.

Sorry! Molly said, more quietly this time. Didn’t know my voice was that loud.

Sir Davies fixed himself up and walked towards Molly on his brown walking stick. No worries, my dear, he squawked, sounding like an inflated balloon.

He finally caught his breath and explained thoroughly how to minimize by just the click of the fingers.

Yes, it may work on you, Molly said reasonably, but that doesn’t really mean it will work on me. I mean, I’m not exactly a Storian, am I?

Yes, but you’re the founder. You can do whatever we can do, Sir Davies replied, ruffling his messed-up hair.

Molly could not help feeling pleased with herself. But of course being a founder wasn’t exactly on the top of her list. Molly got up and tried clicking her fingers. She hesitated. If it didn’t work, then what was the point getting to Remus? If it didn’t work, how in the world was she going to get to Remus? She placed her two sweaty fingers together. Click!

Flash!

Molly pulled herself up, looking around to see if it had worked. The good news was she was now the size of a peanut; the bad news was she had caused Sir Davies to lie helplessly on the cold floor again.

Oh, Sir Davies! I am so sorry; here let me help you.

She helped Sir Davies up and walked him towards the empty mouse hole. It was much darker and gloomier than it had been during her last visit, and the tunnel leading off to nowhere had disappeared, leaving only a trace of shiny wiggly marks on the wet floor.

How are we going to enter? Molly asked. We don’t have that parchment thing.

Sir Davies, apparently, wasn’t listening; instead, he wore a worried frown on his old wrinkly face and simply stared at Molly, his eyes twinkling with sorrow.

What’s the matter?