Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 11: Jack

For a long, horrible moment, everyone was silent. 

"What do you mean? Gone? How can Merida be gone?" Rapunzel burst out. "She's not... not dead, is she?"

"Not yet," Flynn said grimly. 

"Then we can save her!" Rapunzel wrung her hands together. "Where is she? What happened?"

I glanced at Ella. Some of what we did wasn't exactly legal, and while I didn't think she was evil, I had only met her a few hours ago.

"You can trust her," Rapunzel assured me. 

I turned to Ella. "This is going to be dangerous. Are you sure you want to get involved in this?"

Ella squared her shoulders. I waited for her to back down, to say she didn't want to endanger her life for someone she didn't know.

"I want to help," she said firmly. "Why not call the authorities though?"

I opened my mouth. How did I say this without outright antagonizing the Elites? "We can't. Some of the things we did aren't exactly, um, lawful."

"Oh," Ella said plainly, but I could have sworn I heard relief in her voice.

Ella and Rapunzel listened silently as Flynn, Hiccup, and I explained the situation.

"She just... disappeared?" Rapunzel asked when we finished.

"Without a trace," Flynn answered.

"We have to save her!" Rapunzel declared dramatically. She unslung her backpack from her shoulder and removed two glass jars filled with a clear liquid. Shaking the jars vigorously, she explained, "I bought some of these a few days ago after Flynn stole my lamp. The store lady told me they would glow for two weeks if I gave them a good shake. I only have two left though."

After handing one to Ella and replacing the burnt-out orb in the lantern with the now-glowing jar, I opened the door to the room.

For a long minute, we all stared at the stairwell.

"Maybe I should just go down alone. You guys can be backup," I offered.

"No way!" everyone shouted at once.

"I mean no offense, but that is a truly unwise decision. Whatever took your friend is probably waiting for another chance. Going alone would be the perfect opportunity," Ella pointed out. She was so formal. It was kind of funny.

She was also familiar. I couldn't shake the feeling that I already knew her.

"Why don't I go with someone else while the rest of you stay up here," Rapunzel offered.

"That's not happening," Flynn snapped as we all began arguing about who to send.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ella sigh. As if she noticed me watching her, she glanced up.

"We're wasting time," she said.

"Yeah. If we start walking, they'll all follow."

Not bothering to reply, Ella turned and descended the staircase, waiting for me to follow her into the dark.

~ ~ ~

"Merida!" Hiccup shouted. 

We had been at this for almost an hour now, wandering the corridor while shouting her name.

I had begun to think that it was futile. But it was probably a good idea to not say that.

"Is that?" Rapunzel pointed at the odd library at the end. 

"Yup," I walked into it, still shouting Merida's name. 

Rapunzel and Ella followed, while Flynn and Hiccup kept walking down the passage with the other light, calling for Merida.

"This isn't much of a library," Ella scrutinized the room. "More of a study."

"Are you kidding?" I demanded. "Do you see all of these books?"

"Just because there's books, it doesn't mean it's a library," Rapunzel pointed out. 

"A library is basically a big room full of books."

"And no Merida."

The mood darkened instantly. 

Ella frowned, studying the desk. She lifted the pile of scrolls and her eyes widened.

"It's not a library-" she was cut off by a sudden rumbling sound.

Flynn and Hiccup whirled, their light like a star in the distance. Ours, I realized with a jolt, had been snuffed out. The door to the library slid back into its place as we made a dash for the exit.

Flynn and Hiccup shouted our names. I stretched a hand out, only for it to land against the cold metal of the door.

"-it's a trap," Ella finished as the door sealed shut and the darkness rushed in.