The Dangers of Pomegranate Salad

Chapter 10

Chapter 10. The End of the Beginning

Monday as I am getting ready I decide to wear Jackie’s jacket. I don’t know why but I feel like wearing it. I put it on over my D’Artiste landscaping and gardens work shirt. Mom drives me today and we talk a bit. “Have you heard from dad recently?” I ask.

 Mom nods. “Yes, he said he was proud of you for Taking on a job by yourself” I grin. “That’s good. What did he say about life in the Afghanistan?” I ask.

“Well, he said it was hot and sandy.”  I nod. We pull into the Underlan’s Driveway and I hop out. I wave to mom, “bye! Love you!”  I walk into the Underlan’s house, but Haden isn’t there. Just his parents, who seem angrier than usual. They keep glaring at me.

I almost ask them where he is, but I don’t what to pry. I start working on the garden. It feels lonely without Haden. I work quickly but solemnly. I don’t like that he isn’t here. He said he would see me today. I feel slightly worried. What if his parents kicked him out? I work all day, worrying about Haden every minute. After a few hours, it’s about time to call it quits. I gather my things and put everything into place. It’s time to go. I walk through the house, hoping to see Haden before I leave. I walk past the cellar door. It’s wide open. Which is weird. It’s never open. I stand in front of it looking at the door. “Terre? Is that you?” calls Haden’s voice. “Yeah, why are you down there?” I call out to him. “Hey come down here I need your help” he says. “With what?” I ask nervously. This doesn’t feel right. “I just need your help” I walk a little bit closer to the door. I look into the basement. Its pitch black. I can’t see anything. “Hey, where’s the light switch?” I call to him. “Just come down here!” he yells. Ok something is definitely wrong Haden never yells. I start backing away but I feel like something is tugging on my arm, pulling me down into the basement. I fight it, pulling away as hard as I can. “Haden!! Help!” I scream. “HELP!!!” I lose my footing and tumble down the stairs. I’ve heard that in life and death experiences you learn things about yourself. I learned that I fall from great heights a lot.

I land with a loud thud. I jump up really quickly. The door at the top of the stairs slams, and I can’t see anything. I’m so scared. This feels so wrong. Like the horror movies Henri likes to watch sometimes. “Hey, who turned out the lights?” I mumble to myself, I then scold myself for bringing that up. “Ha-Haden?” I say shakily. “Over here” he says, I can’t tell where his voice came from, “where?” I say frantically. “Haden, I’m scared. This isn’t funny” a loud noise comes from behind me. I’m sweating and my heart is racing, I’m really scared. “Haden?” I whisper. Suddenly a bright light blinds me. “Haden?” I call out. Blinking my eyes adjust.

I see Mrs. And Mr. Underlan standing in front of me. “I hate using other people’s voices, hurts my throat” says Mrs. Underlan. Haden is behind them. He’s tied up and gagged. He looks at me wide eyed and a muffled yell comes from him. He’s moving spastically trying to get free. I look back at his parents which are the bigger threat. “Ah, so it’s true. Deaths son has fallen for a Wilds daughter” says his Mr. Underlan creepily. “What are you talking about?” I ask trying to keep my voice under control. “And she doesn’t know. Such power wasted on an ignorant. Tsk, Tsk.” Says Mr. Underlan. “What power? Wilds daughter? What?!” I’m starting to panic. Haden’s parents are super villains. Ok… maybe The Avengers will pop in and save me? No, I think, stop fantasizing. This is real! Mrs. Underlan goes over to Haden. She lifts his face. “You finally made a friend. A shame she’ll have to be killed.” He starts moving spastically again, smacking his mom in the face with his head. “Gah!” she screams. Mr. Underlan comes to her aid. While there distracted I get a better look at my surroundings. It’s like a cross between a laboratory and a medieval armory. There are various different scientific looking tools, medical equipment, chemistry stuff, and then there’s some swords, and bows and knives. Haden was right about the torture chamber. Medieval torture devices are all over the place. While there distracted with Mrs. Underlan’s bloody nose, I make a mad grab for a knife. Haden starts scooting towards me.  “Hey!” I cut Haden lose and he takes off the gag. We start rushing away from them. Haden grabs a book from of one of the tables. We run up the stairs, with his parents behind us.  Haden grabs the penguin bag, and knocks over a candle in his haste, it catches the curtains and they go up in flames almost immediately. Other things start catching quickly and I scream, Haden grabs me and we run out the door, I look back at the house and a lot of it is already it’s burning.