The Torchbearer's Quest

By Christine Callahan-Oke

Cate McConnell's life is a mess.

All she wants is to belong. But when her best friend betrays and bullies her, she becomes the laughingstock of her middle school. To make matters worse, she discovers a mysterious crystal that catapults her from science class into an enchanted rainforest—and back—without warning.        

Desperate to figure out what's going on, Cate asks Davis, a grade-eight geology geek, for help. He delivers shocking news: the crystal is a sign she's a torchbearer, someone with a mission to change the world.        

She refuses to believe it, but the crystal has other plans and plunges her into a magical quest affecting the future of the planet.        

Through one wild adventure after another, as she faces peril and stumbles upon new friends, will Cate step up and fulfill her quest, or risk a horrible, unthinkable fate?

 

An adventure story about courage, friendship, and the power of self-belief.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inner Expedition Press
• Release date: Dec 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781738004010

Book preview

Chapter 1

R un as fast as you want, Freckles, we’re still gonna catch you!

The words echoed in Cate’s ears as she tore down the sidewalk after school, her eyes darting nervously. She listened closely for sounds coming from behind, trying to ignore the frantic pulse of her heart in her ears. All was quiet except for the sound of her quick, shallow breaths and a sprinkler firing shots nearby. Her backpack thudded heavily against her. It slipped to one side, and she impatiently hoisted it onto her shoulder.

She picked up the pace.

Her favourite blue hoodie, which was tied around her waist, came loose and fell to the ground. She let it go. She had to get away. Fast.

Feeling a sharp pain in her side, Cate slowed to catch her breath. She heard them laughing as they rounded the corner behind her. Her heart sank. Their footsteps pounded furiously as they gained ground.

She felt a fresh surge of energy and turned to run down a side street. Her toe caught a crack in the old sidewalk, and she fell face-first, hard, on the cement.

They caught up to her.

One of the boys laughed, a smirk evident in his voice. What, you’re twelve, but you can’t even walk?

Cate’s face flamed, and her palms stung from the fall. She didn’t need to look up, she knew that voice well. It was Tyler.

Her thoughts reeled. So, now he’s actually one of them. What’s wrong with him? He used to talk about how ridiculous these jerks were.

She looked up as Owen, the thirteen-year-old, pimply-faced ringleader, smacked Tyler’s shoulder. So, think you can actually do it?

The three other boys egged Tyler on, chanting, Do it! Do it! Do it!

C’mon, you want to be one of us, don’t you? Owen said. Another kid, a boy Cate didn’t know, reached a hand into his pocket. He pulled out his phone and pointed the camera at her.

Cate felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. She looked up at Tyler, her eyes pleading to get the kids to back off.

Tyler shuffled uncomfortably for a moment, then stiffened. He reached into the bag slung over his shoulder and pulled out a large mason jar filled with murky brownish-green liquid.

I got a present for you, Tyler said. A little swamp water. It’s been sittin’ in my locker for a couple weeks now, so the smell is extra… special.

Before Cate could react, he opened the jar, raised it high, and slowly poured the slimy, rotten-smelling gunk over her head. Two dead tadpoles slid down her hair and plopped onto the sidewalk.

Owen thumped Tyler’s back in congratulations. The other boys followed.

Where’s the porta potty? one of them sneered, his nose crinkled. He bent down and sniffed Cate’s hair. Oh wait, it’s right in front of us! Anybody gotta take a leak? He reached for his zipper.

A car rounded the corner. The five boys scattered quickly.

Still lying on the sidewalk, Cate dropped her head to the ground. She gagged from the smell.

Through a fog of emotions, she heard their laughter fading off into the distance.

As Cate lay there, her hair dripping with the horrid sludge, she heard someone scuffling toward her.

Leave me alone, she said, her voice shaking. She didn’t raise her head.

A pair of tattered boots appeared in her line of sight. They had strange symbols drawn all over them in black marker. Hugh Clennon, she thought absently, just barely registering the boots through watery eyes. Hugh was the new kid, kind of quiet, who sat at the back of her grade seven class. He was tall and gangly, and most of the kids thought he was weird. Cate hadn’t given him much thought either way.

She glanced up without moving her head, mortified that someone from class had seen her like this.

You dropped your hoodie, he said, awkwardly holding out her sweatshirt.

She didn’t answer, so he laid it on her backpack, which was still on her back.

He started to step away but apparently changed his mind.

"Oh, and you’ll need this," he said more firmly, leaning down.

Cate didn’t respond. She felt his hand on her backpack, then he slowly walked away.

Chapter 2

Ican’t believe Tyler did that to me. What an absolute idiot! The others don’t surprise me, but Tyler?

After a few minutes of lying there with thoughts screaming hotly in her head, Cate realized she had to get home. It was September 27th. Her mother would be in bad shape.

She pushed herself onto her knees and looked down. Ugly brownish streaks dripped off her hair onto her T-shirt. Disgusting. She wiped drops of sludge off her forehead with the back of her hand and stood up. I don’t know what’s worse: the stench, being completely humiliated, or the fact that Tyler totally betrayed me. She grabbed her hoodie off the sidewalk and dragged her feet the three blocks to her house.

Cate quietly opened the side door and stepped inside, hoping to avoid her mother’s notice. She waited on the mat, listening.

Nothing.

Good, she thought. Maybe I won’t have to explain. I am so not up to it.

She slipped off her shoes and started up the stairs, holding her T-shirt out so she wouldn’t drip on the hardwood. As she put her weight on the fifth step, it squeaked loudly. Cate froze, holding her breath. Dang it, why do I always forget about that squeaky step?

Cate? her mother, Maggie, called from the living room.

Cate’s shoulders slumped and she sighed. She slowly backed down the stairs.

Hi, Mom, she said, hesitating.

Can you come here?

I was just going up to do my homework, she said from the hallway, trying to not sound desperate. We’ll talk after, okay?

There was a pause.

Okay, her mom said, her voice shaky.

Cate exhaled and went back up the stairs. She dumped her backpack onto her bedroom floor, then grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. The smell of her hair hit her again, and she gagged.

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As Cate stared into the bathroom mirror, glassy hazel eyes sized her up with disgust. Her light brown hair hung in damp, mousy-looking tendrils around her red, blotchy face. A tiny worm inched its way along a soggy leaf in her hair. Cate gasped. She gingerly plucked the leaf out, holding it as far away from herself as possible, and dropped it in the garbage with a shudder.

She glared back at her reflection. You’re pathetic. You have zero friends now. No one likes you. You’ve even driven away Tyler.

Cate ran the shower and got undressed. She looked in the mirror again. Her expression darkened further as she remembered the gunk hitting her head.

Forget it, she scolded herself. Just forget it. Put it out of your mind.

She got into the shower, tilted her head back, and let the water wash over her. The warmth hit her skin, and the sludge slid into the drain, mixed with tears.

Chapter 3

Awhile later, Cate slumped down the stairs and into the living room. Her mom was sitting on the sofa, feet curled underneath her, clutching a cushion to her chest. Tissues littered the floor around her. Cate spontaneously gave her a hug and sat down beside her.

Why is your hair wet? her mom asked through puffy, red eyes.

Um, I was really sweaty from gym class, so I took a shower.

Hmmm, okay, her mom said, looking doubtful. Is your homework done?

Almost, Cate said, feeling a twinge of guilt as she noticed her parents’ wedding album lying open on the coffee table. Sorry I got home late. I know today is awful. I can’t believe Dad’s been gone seven years. Are you okay?

Sure, I’m okay, her mom said, voice trembling. "I still miss him so much, but it’s getting a bit easier. Anyway, I’m grateful I have you."

Her mom blew her nose and looked at Cate, eyes narrowed. So, what happened today?

Cate looked away.

Cate?

Sighing heavily, Cate paused. After a moment, the words spilled out. She told her mom the entire story: how Tyler had stopped being her best friend without saying anything, how he’d ghosted her at school over the past few weeks, how he’d been hanging out with the mean popular kids and started making fun of her, and then… what he’d done to her after school.

Her mom’s eyes widened as she listened. Her knuckles turned white on the cushion in her lap, though her expression stayed neutral.

I know you didn’t like Tyler very much, Cate said quickly. But he was great. He understood me, you know? And we had fun together. But when he turned thirteen, well… now he’s…—her lip quivered and her voice shook as memories of the afternoon crashed over her—"horrible and mean and SO HURTFUL and—"

Cate? her mom interrupted. Cate!

What? Cate said angrily, on a roll.

"Tyler is an absolute jerk!" her mom said.

Cate looked at her in surprise. Feeling a rush of relief, she collapsed in her mom’s arms, sobbing.

Oh, Mom, she whispered between jagged breaths, face buried. Why do all my friends leave me?

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Cate helped her mom clean up after supper, then went back to her room. She grabbed Sunny, her threadbare unicorn snuggly, and plunked down on her comfy green beanbag chair. Her corkboard caught her eye and pulled her to her feet. It was a comforting mess of family trip photos, magazine cut-outs, save-the-environment stickers, and an old rainbow unicorn sticker that she couldn’t part with. She touched a slightly torn cartoon drawing of a ginger cat with a bent ear, labelled Catie-Cat. That was her dad’s nickname for her. He had scribbled the drawing for her when she was five.

Oh, Dad, you could've helped me with all this.

Sighing, she sat down at her desk and opened her laptop. Booting it up, she stared at the screen. And stared.

Tyler’s voice echoed in her head. I got a present… a little swamp water.

Bite me, she said, glaring at her computer.

She shoved her chair back and stomped down to the kitchen. Her mom was occupied in her usual wrestling match with the fridge. It was on a slant, so every time she opened the bottom door, the freezer drawers slid open and got in the way of shutting the door.

Hah! her mom exclaimed with a triumphant slam of the door, requiring one leg and both arms.

She noticed Cate in the doorway.

Oh, hi, her mom said with a sheepish smile. I was just, um… battling the fridge.

A tiny smile tugged at Cate’s mouth despite her mood. I need your help.

Sure, honey, what is it?

I need to get my mind off… stuff… so I’m going to play Minecraft. I wanna build something cool but I can’t think of anything. Do you have a new challenge for me? Something kinda hard?

Her mother sat down. Hmmm… She drummed her fingers on the wooden table. Yes, it’s time to make your builds more difficult, isn’t it? Okay, create a floating island.

Cate rolled her eyes. I can do that in my sleep.

Hold on, I’m not done. The island has to be far above the ground. Create a rail track that goes from the island down to the mainland way below. Then I want you to have a llama plummet down that rail track in a mine cart. Cool?

"Wait… have you built this?"

Not yet, her mom said.

Cool.

Cate bounded back up the stairs.

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Later that evening, her mother poked her head into Cate’s doorway.

Well? How’d it go?

Look! Cate pointed at her monitor. Her mom peered over Cate’s shoulder. Gimme a sec. I have to get back. Cate navigated back to the train track. She sent the llama down from the island in a mine cart.

You built it already? her mom asked. Wow. I’m clearly going to have to give you something even harder next time. She pointed to a large area on the screen. What’s that?

That? Oh, a pumpkin farm, Cate said.

A pumpkin farm? I haven’t gotten into anything like that yet.

Yeah. I was done with the llama thing, so I built a farm. See, I added pistons to—

Wait. Her mom held out her palm. You’ll have to educate me on pumpkin farms later. For now, it’s bedtime. Get ready, and I’ll be back to tuck you in, okay?

Can I have just a few more minutes? Cate pleaded.

No, it’s time for bed. Her tone was firm.

Okay, fine. Cate reluctantly put her computer into sleep mode and got up.

Her mom looked at her for a moment.

What? Cate asked.

I don’t think you realize how resourceful and amazing you are.

Because of stuff I built in Minecraft? Whatever. Cate shrugged her off and pulled pyjamas out of her drawer.

Seriously. And it has nothing to do with Minecraft. Her mother turned and left the room. Wow, pistons? she muttered.

Cate put on her pyjamas and slid under the covers, pulling them up tightly under her neck.

Mom, are you coming?

Her mom walked in and sat down on the bed. Goodnight, love bug.

MOM! I’m too old to be called that. Just Cate, okay?

Her mother sighed. Okay. I’ll try to remember. Are you feeling a bit better?

Cate’s lower lip trembled. She nodded.

I’m here if you need me. Her mom leaned over and wrapped Cate in a hug. You get a good sleep. Oh, do you want Sunny? Cate nodded again. Her mother pulled the tattered unicorn off the beanbag chair and handed it gently to her. Cate hugged it close.

Night, honey, her mom said quietly. She turned off the light and left the room.

The darkness started to close in on Cate, even with light coming in from the hallway. Nervousness crept into her stomach.

It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m…

She started to sweat.

Nope! I’m not fine.

MOM!

Her mom poked her head back into the room. What’s up?

My lamb!

Oh, sorry. I forgot. Her mom walked over to the dresser and turned on the plastic sheep night-light. A pale glow softened the darkness. Lamb was old and all the markings were gone except for one eyeball. Cate felt safer with that eyeball watching over her.

Her mom sat on the bed and spoke gently. You know… it may be time to let your lamb go. You’ve grown up a lot in the last seven—

NO WAY! Don’t even think about it! She flopped over to face the wall. Night, she said sharply.

Her mother paused before standing to leave. Goodnight.

Chapter 4

Sunlight beamed through the sheer white curtains, bathing Cate’s room in golden light. She stirred and awoke slowly, enjoying the pleasant warmth on her face. Gently moving shadows danced across her wall as a passing breeze played with the maple tree outside her window.

The memory of dead tadpoles sliced through her grogginess. Her stomach lurched.

NO! She moaned into her pillow.

I can’t go to school. There’s no freaking way. I know Mom won’t let me stay home, though. At least Tyler’s not in my class. But still, now I have to hide from him and Owen and their garbagehead friends.

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Cate shuffled to school, doing her best to arrive just before the bell. It was unusually warm for late September. She looked down and assessed her clothes: green Save the Earth T-shirt, jeans with a couple of strategic rips, basic runners, braided bracelet. Nothing weird to make fun of. Good. She took a deep breath.

Cate rounded the corner. Main Street Public School stood unusually ominous against the bright sky. Dread slithered into her stomach. Dropping her head, she retreated into herself and quietly made her way up the front steps.

She opened the door and headed for her locker, ignoring the usual morning chaos. Hi, Cate, chirped a girl’s voice as she walked down the hall. Distracted, Cate didn’t turn to answer.

Maybe I’ll actually make it to class without having to see Tyler’s nasty, betraying face. His locker was on the second floor and hers was on the first.

She flung her locker open and yanked her lunch out of her backpack.

Whoa, chill out! said a girl behind her. Cate whipped around. She couldn’t tell who had said it: Laurel, a tall, perfectly put-together blonde from grade eight, or Kelly, Laurel’s sneering brunette sidekick. They raised their eyebrows at her and whispered to each other as they walked down the hall. Cate glared at them.

Hey! Swamp rat! A boy’s voice cut clearly over the other sounds in the hall. Cate glanced around but couldn’t tell who’d said it.

Sasha, the most popular girl from Cate’s homeroom, was staring down at her phone, an incredulous grin on her face. A few kids were crammed in around her, looking at it. Two of them glanced at Cate, then looked back at Sasha’s phone and burst out laughing.

Cate felt a pang in her stomach.

She dragged herself to English class. Can this day just be over? She slid into her seat as the bell rang.

The morning announcements droned on. Cate stared blankly at the front of the room. Tyler and I used to hang out all the time. We went biking. We practically lived at the park. Then there was that epic day at Canada’s Wonderland. We had so much fun. I told him stuff, stuff I don’t tell other kids. And now he bullies me and dumps slime on my head?

Someone poked her in the back. She looked behind her, but Jason’s seat was empty. Glancing down, Cate noticed a paper airplane on the floor. Real mature. Irritated, she turned back around.

Poke.

What! Cate hissed, looking behind her again.

No one made eye contact. Seeing a second airplane on the floor, she glanced at Mrs. Crawford’s desk. The teacher had stepped out of the room. Cate reached down and grabbed both airplanes, then shoved them into the pocket of her binder.

Someone stifled a giggle.

Today, class, we are going to flex our creative muscles, said Mrs. Crawford as she re-entered the room, smiling at the kids as if she were giving them a big present. "I’d like you to open your notebooks and write the most outlandish story you can think of. You’ve got half an hour. After that, I’ll pick some of you to read your story to the class. Ready? Go!"

The last thing Cate felt in that moment was creative. She pulled her notebook out of her binder, opened it to a new page, and stared at it, eyes unfocused.

I got a present… a little swamp water…

I got a present…

The words taunted her.

STOP! Put it out of your mind. Think. Write something. Anything. She glanced around the room. The other kids were scrawling on the pages in front of them. Mike, who sat near the back of the room, pulled a dried booger off his nose and popped it into his mouth with his left hand, while writing with his right.

Eeew. So gross.

Cate’s pen was poised above her notebook, waiting for inspiration. It landed on the page and scrawled in big letters, Tyler freaking SUCKS!!! She traced and retraced the dark letters until her pen ripped through the page.

Class, it’s time! Mrs. Crawford said, clasping her hands. Put down your pens. I can’t wait to hear your bizarre stories. Do we have any volunteers? Several hands flew up. Mrs. Crawford scanned the room. Her gaze paused on the students who hadn’t raised their hands.

Don’t pick me, Cate thought. Don’t pick me, don’t pick me. Please… DON’T PICK ME!

I think we’ll start off with… Sasha. Sasha, please come to the front of the class.

Cate exhaled slowly.

Sasha flipped her smooth, gleaming hair over her shoulder and smiled sweetly in Cate’s direction as she bounced to the front of the room with her notebook in hand.

It’s short and it needs some fixing, Mrs. Crawford, she said, but here goes. She took a deep breath. "There was once a weird little creature with spots on its face. It lived alone with its mom and didn’t have any friends in the world because no one else could love a creature so strange and horribly ugly. One day it was out for a walk, and some awesome kids ran up to it. They felt bad for the creature because they thought that it must feel lonely and weird just walking along the street like that. ‘You look lost,’ they said. ‘Did you forget where your home is?’ The creature looked confused. ‘We want to help you,’ the kids said. ‘We know where you’re from, and we brought you a special souvenir from your home.’ The creature said, ‘But I am home.’ And the kids said, ‘No, we mean your real home. The one with the swamp rats.’ Cate’s stomach flipped. Sasha continued, They poured some special swamp water on the creature to make it feel right at home. The End!" Without waiting for a response, Sasha returned to her desk, a self-satisfied smile on her face.

Cate felt faint.

That was… interesting, Sasha, Mrs. Crawford said, looking bewildered. Okay. Well. May I have another volunteer? she asked, the corners of her mouth tight.

Cate didn’t hear