The Markus Party

CHAPTER 13, THE WRITER

Peter and Baldwin made it down to more recognizable floors faster than expected.

Peter had a strange sensation that something was after them. The corners behind them grew darker than what lay ahead. Like some large shadow was there, watching them from a distance. It must be how house protected itself. The house...Peter stared around with awe. Now that he'd been thinking about it during their haphazard run he had an idea. The house was alive, controlled by someone, orthere was a watcher looking overeverything. It may seem farfetched but... It was in the way things appeared, the echoes, candles that lit on their own, windows that swung open and shut, and a strange warmth under your feet. On that very first day, his simple touch made the front doors spring open almost expectantly. It must be true, he reasoned.

The castle and its magic is being controlled somehow. Peter smiled. All he had to do now was find out who controlled the house. Was it Louis? Probably.

"We're almost there. I can hear the guys." Baldwin spoke with his first happy smile since they got lost. "What are we going to tell him? If Louis asks where we were!"

"Hopefully, he doesn't know we're missing. If he does we just pretend we have no idea what he's talking about. We stick to the fact that we were in the gardens the whole day." Peter said but couldn't hide the doubt on his face. "What else can we do? What happened to us is definitely something they don't want the other interns knowing about. I bet he won't even ask."

"But I still can't believe it." Baldwin stared around with fear. "Where are we really?"

"In a castle from days past filled with magic, or in a really bad dream!" Peter shrugged. They stopped before the doors leading into the dining room. Opening them would attract the attention of all the interns and there was a chance Louis and Erick were both there. "Are you ready?"

"Y-yeah!" Baldwin spoke with a soft look at Peter. "I have to thank you. For a second back there I thought you were going to leave me in that dark place!"

"For a second there...I was. Don't count on me on any other day."

"Of course! But...today you didn't leave me to die. So thanks." Baldwin stared at him until it became uncomfortable for Peter. He then took the chance to do the impossible and reached up to brush away locks of Peter's hair from his face, tucking them into his ears. Then Baldwin inched in closer, his lips ready for a kiss.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Peter backed away in time.

"What? After everything we've been through I thought it was leading to this. I held your hand for five hours straight. And...you know I have a thing for your..."

"Don't even say it! You have been bullying me since we were children. Holding hands was the only way to get out of there. And we can make sex bets sure, but it doesn't mean we care for each other that way." Peter spoke with a horrified look on his face and then started laughing. "Are you really that into me?"

Baldwin sighed, anger replacing the amorous look he'd worn. "No word of this will be breathed out there. Okay!" He pointed to the dining hall, filled with interns chatting about.

"I will try my hardest but this is just too good." Peter was still laughing until the moment Baldwin picked him up off the scruff of his collar, dangling him in the air.

"No word of this will be breathed." Baldwin's nose flared, staring daggers at his captive.

"O-okay, Okay...no word...promise." Peter struggled to say while he was slightly being choked. Baldwin suddenly let go causing Peter to lose balance slightly, but he righted himself before crashing to the floor. He was still wearing that goofy smile as they reached for the doors. "Appearances, appearances you big softy." Peter quickly whispered.