A Journey To The Clouds, History Of Heros - Book Three -

Chapter Twelve

Hello?" I call out, standing a few feet inside the large great room of the cottage. 

No answer. 

I take six more steps forward and the floor crumbles. 

I scream as I keep falling. 

And falling. 

And falling,

Until I finally reach the ground.

I roughly climb up to my feet and I lean against a brick wall.

"Hello? Is anybody there?" I call out nervously as I take cautious steps forward, not wanting the same thing that just happened to repeat itself.

"Mmmm! Mmmmmm!" I hear something groan. I look around, but there's no one there.

"Ally?"

"Mm!"

"Ally, are Conner and Melinda with you?" I hear two different voices cry out and I breathe a sigh of relief as I recognize them.

"Hold on, just keep making noises so I know you're still with me somewhere. I'll find you!"

It takes a few minutes but I maneuver my way through the blackness and I find them by almost tripping over Melinda.

"Are you ok?" I ask her. I can't tell if she says yes or no.

A different voice however says, "Yes, why thank you for asking. Now, come to me or I'll knock you out, and believe me, I've knocked Lord Asher out for a year before." it says in a low voice. I think I can presume it's a female. "Or if you prefer, a knife," she adds.

I gasp.

Knife.

I think this is who Ally and Conner call, Hera. Apparently, from what Ally and Conner say, she's pretty and looks exactly like Lily. And from what I just learned, she's also violent.

"Are you Hera?"

"Oh? Do you know my name? I'm very pleased." Hera says. She claps once and the lights turn on. I realize I'm in. . . not really a house per se, but around, enclosed room.

"Where. . . are we?" I whispered softly.

"We are in the castle. The castle in which your friends who are named Ally and Conner have traveled into and got locked in here."

Wait. . . that castle?

"Mmmmm!"

"Ally, Connor, you might as well just shut up, as I'm sure your little Kylie friend here doesn't understand mumbling."

I sigh out of annoyance.

First things first, as much as I hate Hera and how much I hate to admit this, she's probably right.

Secondly, how does she know my name?

"Ah, you're wondering how I know your name?"

"Wh-what?" I stuttered. 

Can she read my mind?

"In fact, I can. I can see everything your stupid little brain has to hold," she sneers. I back up slowly but surely into a door. I move my hand along the wood until I finally find something. A latch.

A handle! And a lock! That means a way out. I just have to keep her talking. . .

"Er, so I have heard lots of stories from Ally and Conner about you. They've said that you're very cunning and smart." I lie as I dig in my back pocket, praying for a bobby pin.

"They have?" She laughs.

"Yeah,"

"Well let me just say that that's probably not a real thing that has happened. Remember, I can see what happens in your mouse-sized heads." 

Dang it.

"And, I can see clearly what you are looking for. . . a what did you call it?" Hera asks. After thinking for a few minutes, she comes up with, "Ah yes. A bobby pin."

Ugh. I wish she couldn't read my mind. Now how am I going to get myself and my friends out of here? I wonder. . .

Ally starts to shift around and that takes just the distraction to attempt to force the bobby pin into the keyhole. Hera doesn't notice as she is too intrigued with what Ally is doing-which isn't much since she's practically blinded because of the darkness we're held in.

Conner starts to move too and they both stop next to a loose brick. Together, without speaking, they pull it up and motion for me to go down and grab whatever they need. I'm confused but I go down anyway.

"Get back up here. I'm not finished with you yet!" Hera shouts.

The more of a reason to get out of here! I think to myself.