The Puddle Portal

Part 6: Starting the Search

       The sun slowly rose above the castle, letting the fountain's water sparkle. Inside the castle's dining hall, Liz, Sophia and Brianna sat at the table eating their breakfast. Liz's plate had five pancakes stacked on top of each other. She drowned them in maple syrup. Beside her plate of pancakes, she had scrambled eggs and some biscuits. Sophia had waffles that were hot and steamy. She had a bowl of grits that was sprinkled in cheese. Brianna ate nothing but a chocolate cake that she and Sophia shared.

       "Where is Olivia?" Liz asked. Brianna pointed at Sophia. "She was up all night playing loud pop music and Olivia couldn't handle it." Sophia nodded with a mouth full. "How come you're okay and ready?" Liz asked her, very curious. "Ear plugs." Just then, Olivia stepped into the room. She obviously needed some rest. "Next time, put some earbuds in." Sophia said, biting into a large piece of cake.

       Skyler walked in and said, "I am assuming you all are going to find the gems. Am I right?" the girls nodded. Liz thought for a moment, and asked, "Can we have a map?" Skyler pulled out a map from his coat and said, "You should try to go to this village right here." He pointed at a small village in the map's corner. Liz grabbed the map "Thank you." The girls walked up to their rooms to get ready. Sophia looked down the entire way. Brianna noticed, but didn't want to say anything. Once Sophia got to her door, Brianna had to say something. "Do you want to talk?" Sophia nodded and Brianna followed her into Sophia's room.

       Brianna sat on Sophia's bed, and Sophia not far behind. "What's wrong?" Brianna asked. Sophia took a deep breath and said, "I just feel like we are going to be trapped in here forever. I had a life back in Georgia. I had friends, family, and Jason." Brianna sat there for a moment, then said, "I have a question for you." Sophia looked at her. "Have you and Jason ever kissed?" Sophia just stared at Brianna after hearing the question. Her face blushed. Brianna smiled, "You've never kissed him!? Sophia Smith has never kissed a boy? You're sixteen years old." Sophia glanced at Brianna. "You've never kissed someone before, have you?" Brianna's giggle went away. "Okay, so what?" Then it was silence for a minute or two.

       Sophia looked straight into Brianna's eyes. She didn't know why, but she felt a chill going up her spine. Their eyes slowly closed while their faces moved towards each other. Their lips touched and Sophia put her hands around Brianna. An amazing feeling went through Sophia's body. She didn't feel so sad anymore. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. "Brianna and Sophia, are you ready?" Liz called from the other side of the door. They pulled away from each other. Brianna called, "Almost, just give us a minute." "Okay, we'll be in the dining room." Liz said.

       Liz walked away from the door. They agreed to tell no one, especially Olivia and Liz. The girls got up and went downstairs. "What were you two doing?" Olivia asked. Sophia looked at Brianna, trying to think of an excuse. "I had to...um..." "She had to use the bathroom." Brianna snapped. Liz shook her head. "Can we go now?" The others nodded and opened the door. "Have fun." Skyler said as the door closed behind them.

       A smile came across his face. He walked over towards the hall. "They're gone." A figure started walking towards him. "Good job, Caleb." Kelsey said, "I'm a little shocked by your performance." Caleb closed his eyes and transformed back into his original self. "Now, what should we do with him?" Kelsey lifted the real Skyler up. He was wrapped in chains with a scarf over his mouth. Lexie came down the stairs. "All the guards are locked up. Now where is he?" Lexie said. Kelsey held Skyler up. Lexie walked over to him. "This was for our divorce, our daughter, and plus," Lexie said, "I can't have you going around saying anything. Can I?" Skyler tried to scream but it wasn't loud enough. 

       Lexie pulled a gun out of her pocket and put the bullets in it. She held it up to Skyler head. She stood for a minute. She took a deep breath. "I can't do it." Lexie said, "Caleb, you do it." She threw the gun at Caleb. "Hell no. Kelsey you do it!" He threw at Kelsey. She smiled and pointed the gun at Skyler's head. Caleb and Lexie turned around. BOOM. They turned back around to see Skyler on the floor and blood spilling out of his head. Kelsey smiled with her face covered in blood. Caleb looked at her. "You might want to clean up."