MAEVE

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

The inside was dark and cold. So cold that I had to run my hands down my arms for extra warmth.

"I have watched a lot of movies, and this is the point where it usually dawns on the characters that they were making a big fat stupid mistake," I murmured from the corner of my mouth, knowing they heard me.

"So what do you suggest? That we turn back?" Dre asked right back. No matter how slowly we walked, or how gently we whispered, our words and steps bounced off the walls, and echoed in the darkness.

The huge doors behind us creaked slowly, and we all watched with bated breaths. It moved deceptively slowly, and closed shut with a loud bang. We all flinched backwards.

"Well, there goes our way out," Dante whispered snidely, and I turned to shoot him a glare, which was pointless really.
"You don't sound too thrilled to be here," Noah observed. "Why are you here?"

"I figured coming on an adventure with you guys was a better bet than sticking it with the school," He shrugged nonchalantly, and we all stopped now to glare at him. "What? At least I am helping. I was originally going to flee you know? But Luca wouldn't let me, and threatened to report back to Ashton," Dante ended, not looking even the least bit ashamed. And I was just grateful for the new distraction.

"What? You know he would have tracked you down like a hound. And that's why you panicked," Luca laughed, with no remorse in his voice. We all laughed with him, knowing just how true the statement was. San just looked confused.

We crept for what felt like a long time, and eventually the pitch darkness surrounding the hall began to lift. Although the change was imperceptible at first. The sound of fallen leaves crunching under our feet began to get lighter. The darkness softer. I refused to believe it at first, thinking my eyes were just getting used to lack of lighting when we passed a painting.

Halting my feet, I immediately backtracked to the painting, scrutinizing it from all angles.
"I don't know what you are looking for, but I don't see it," Kaz commented beside me, and i turned to see everyone scrutinizing the painting as well for clues.

The painting itself was nothing much. Just a lot of abstract strokes staining the canvas in shades of red and burnt umber.

"You are right it's not much, but look around. It's not supposed to be here," I gestured wildly at the dark deserted space of the building. In fact the painting was the only trace of color, the only evidence of life.

"Oh gods. It's official guys. I can't deal," Luca shuddered, and we all silently echoed his thoughts.

"And I'm sorry I can't help. But this is where my books end. There's no history of what goes on outside of Nilfheim," San said dejectedly, and I turned to him.

"Don't sweat it. We will figure it out, alright?" I asked, and he nodded, they all did.

It felt like hours, but after a lot of walking with no end in sight, the leaves stopped. If anyone else noticed it, they didn't comment. The faded walls were slowly coming to life.

The walls were becoming lighter. The atmosphere heavier. The loud echoes of even the tiniest sounds stopped, and as we walked forward, the hallway transformed before our very eyes.

It was dramatic. Brown colors flooded the previously dead walls, and lights began to glitter gently from the high ceilings. We all spurned around in fear as we began to hear the faintest hint of chatters coming from the walls. I reached out my hand blindly and grabbed Noah's who just looked at me and tightened his hold.

It finally reached it's climax when a book rolled down the floor and stopped at my feet. I yelped back before approaching warily. The book was quite heavy, and the design on the cover was unlike any I had ever seen. Immediately I rose up, a pair of hands stretched in front of me and I screamed. We all did.