The Witch

Chapter Three

During extreme weather conditions, a climber must possess the wisdom to determine when evacuation is inevitable. 

Grace rang the bell with a gentle smile, with the children running down the stairs shortly to the dinner table. They walked into the room, standing behind their chairs as they waited for their father.

A controlled alpine descent begins with girding of one's loins and the anchoring of the climbing rope to one's enemy, the mountain.

Once their father finally appeared at his seat, he looked up at Vanya who looked at him with anxious eyes before he yelled out "Sit!" Everyone sat down quickly started with their meals. 

The dulferzits rappel is the preferred method for descent when rope is the only available tool, but must be regarded as a last resort. Begin by looping the rope through the anchor.

Luna pushed her food around with her fork, glancing at her siblings. Luther smiling at Allison as she grinned before looking down at her food. Diego carving into the arm of  his chair, while Klaus was rolling what she could could only guess was a joint. He looked up feeling her looking, putting his finger to his lips, making her give him a small smile shaking her head. Ben next to his was reading his latest book, while Vanya next to her at the end of the table was silently eating from her plate. Luna could feel her anxiety from a mile away. She glanced at her other side, at five who was looking around at everything as well. He was irritated. She gently nudged her foot at his ankle, making him look at him. She gave him a questioning look as he looked back before turning to their father who didn't notice the boy staring.

A screen anchor must be used if the rope is to be successfully retrieved from the face of the mountain. Tightly anchored, thread the doubled rope through the legs, front to back, and around around the buttocks. Proceed by holding the rope diagonally. 

Luna jumped as Five stabbed his butter knife into the table, as he kept eye contact with their father. Luna glanced at Vanya, sharing a look full of nerves. "I have a question" Five stated bitterly, letting go of his knife. "Knowledge is an admirable goal, but you know the rules. No talking during mealtimes. You are interrupting Herr Carlson." Reginald dismissed five looking back at his meal. The record in the background as all the kids watched five, wondering what he'd do next.

Luna could tell Five was angry with being brushed off by their father. She slipped her hand under the table, reaching for the end of his jacket tugging softly, attempting to get his attention. "I want to time travel" Five demanded, ignoring the tugs on his jacket. "No" was the simple answer Reginald gave not interested in this conversation. "But I'm ready. I've been practicing my spatial jumps, just like you said." Five argued, blinking out of his chair  next to their father. 

"See?" He gestured to himself as Reginald didn't even give a glance. "A spatial jump is trivial when compared with the unknowns of time travel. One is like sliding along the ice, the other is akin to descending blindly into the depths of the freezing water and reappearing as an acorn." Reginald waved his hand. Everyone had went back to eating their meals, as Luna kept her eyes on him. Five's anger showed on his face as he glanced at his siblings. locking eyes with Luna. 'Please just leave it' he heard her shadow whisper in his ear. "Well, I don't get it." Five mumbled 

"Hence the reason you're not ready." Reginald replied. "I'm not afraid." Five stated, ignoring the looks he was getting from Luna. "Fear isn't the issue. The effects it might have on your body, even on your mind, are far too unpredictable. Now, I forbid you to talk about this anymore." Reginald said turning to look at Five. Five looked to Luna, before shaking his head and turning to run. "Number Five!" Luna stood out of her seat, basically knocking it over running out after him hearing her father yell out for her about not being excused. She didn't care, she didn't care she would probably be in big trouble for disobeying him. All she cared about was Five. She had a bad feeling, and her feelings were never wrong.

"Five, please!" She yelled, running behind him. He didn't stop, he kept walking. "I can do this, Luna. I'll show him." Luna's hand went to grab him but he blinked out of her grasp, causing her to tumble to the floor. Her hands and knees scraped as she looked up seeing no sign of Five. Her lip trembled, she stared at that spot for what seemed like hours. Which it was. Vanya had snuck out to find Luna and found her sitting in a corner waiting. "Luna?" Vanya's quiet voice brought the girl back from her daze. It sunk in that Five really left. Tears started flowing and broken sobs fell out the girls mouth. Vanya sunk to her knees gently bringing Luna into an embrace. "It's okay, its okay." 

"He's gone, and I don't think he's coming back." Luna held onto Vanya. "I have a bad feeling about this, Vanya." 

Vanya finally was able to lead the girl back to their home, they were greeted by an angry father and all their siblings looking at them concerned. Reginald grabbed the girl away from Luna, dragging her away from all her siblings as they shared nervous glances. Diego took a step to stop their father, being stopped by Luther grabbing his arm shaking his head. 

Reginald took the girl to a downstairs area she had never seen before, tears still flooding her face as they past Pogo. "Sir, lets just send her to her room." He tried to stop the old man, watching as he opened a door before turning to the girl. "Number Eight, you'll be spending the night in here. To teach you not to disobey me." He said, shoving the girl in and locking the door as she cried banging on it begging to be let out. He walked away ignoring her pleads and shutting off the lights. Pogo stared at the girl sadly, before being called by Reginald. Luna fell to the floor and soon passed out. 

Dreaming of five coming back.