Stars, Secrets, and Lies

Secret Rooms and Angry Girls

                  

                  

Hey there people! This chapter was a little rushed because I wanted to get it to you guys, but none the less I hope you enjoy it! Again, please review, all criticism is graciously accepted. Also, ideas for plot are welcome.

Note: It has come to my attention that there is the world's best typo in this chapter. You can probably pick out which I'm talking about. I chose to not fix it because it is f*cking hilarious. (:

I knew there were catacombs under Paris, but I had never thought there would be something so vast under the Institute.

After Mae ran over to help Seth, who was surprisingly uninjured, the rest of us continued down the stairs. I could feel the oppressing cloud that had hung around the group lift as this breakthrough (literal breakthrough thanks to Seth's impulses,) had both piqued our interests and gave us hope. I went in first, though was quickly shoved past as I stopped and stared. Witchlight torches lit up around the room as they sensed the motion of us intruders. The new light gave me understanding as to why the staircase was so long and deep. The ceiling down here soared, almost competing with the training room. How could we have been so oblivious?

This room was designed like an amphitheatre: rows of seats in aisles that descended to a circular space in the middle of the room, and the nerd inside me thought of the architecture Rome had left behind in France. There was a dais in the middle of the circular space, its markings indistinguishable in the flickering supernatural light. Shadows jumped and grew on the walls, which made me uneasy enough to wait for Mae before venturing further in. Everyone wandered the aisles, tripping over the odd rut in the floor. The floor was a cracked cement after all, that and the antique style of décor gave away this room hadn't been changed since it was built.

The room may not have changed, but it had been used. There was no dust despite the ancient feel of the room, and the odd possession left behind sat in a seat or the floor. There were certain chairs in the aisles that had not been pushed in properly, almost in a rushed manner. I did not have time to fully analyze much else, as there was a sudden scream that broke the silence of our investigation.

Mae, Seth, and I all turned back from where we had been making our way to the dais. We saw everyone running towards an arched opening in the wall, which was lit by more torches. After exchanging worried and confused glances, we wasted no time in hurrying up the stairs and following Jacque's bouncing curls through the aperture and down a hall. The passage seemed unused, with dust coating the torches and cement floor. I could feel why: the compact cement walls arching just a little bit above Seth's head were very constricting and unwelcoming. I caught a glimpse of a spider web on one of the ancient gothic metal torch holders, and shuddered. I hate spiders.

I ran into Daniel. I wasn't paying attention again, I guess. After muttering sorry, I peeked over his shoulder at what was before us. We were in another section of the tunnel, all crowded around Sylynn. She was laughing, which I didn't understand, but it still brought a smile to my face. Maybe she went insane, but at least she's not sad.

"Uh, what the fuck happened here..." Mae was muttering in front of me. Skylar answered smiling, an expression on her face I'd missed.

"Apparently Sylynn is a sissy and just got jump scared by Vesper. I'm not surprised." She took the chance to make a jab at the dark-haired girl.

"Hey!" Sylynn was recovering, and butted in to defend herself. Vesper, on the other hand, was still curled up in a ball dying of hysterics. "I thought it was like, a demon or a ghost or something okay? This place is creepy..." She trailed off.