A Prison Of Blood And Ice

Chapter two

Clara White

I slip my key into the lock and twist it, roughly. I'm hoping to give Zoe the shock of her life. It's been months since we've seen eachother. I shove the door open; I'm greeted by stagnant air and the scent of burnt out candles.

"Hello?" I call out, expecting a reply. I wait for a few seconds but there's no answer. There's no sign of life at all. The walls are covered in mould, which is climbing up them like ivy. The floor has splotches of dirt all over it, and not to mention the things that have been misplaced. Random possessions cover every surface.

I wander into the living-room and slump into the old arm chair, that we all used to fight over. It is the most comfy chair in the whole universe. It feels good to be home. But I have no idea where Zoe is and that is peculiar, considering she never stays out past two in the afternoon, on Saturday. However, it has been months. Schedules change.

For a second, I close my eyes and slip into a world of unconsciousness.

***

Zoe White

The door is ajar. My heart starts pounding really fast, I'm praying Noah is here.

I've been trying to find Noah all day, I've left him a dozen messages but he's nowhere. There's probably eighteen voice mails from me! I know it's silly to only think of the bad things. But to be honest it's really difficult to not think of them.

The corridor is cleaner than I left it this morning. The walls have been bleached. Noah wouldn't have done that! Who has?

I head into the living room and find the television is on and there's a distinct smell of freshly baked bread. The kind that Selene used to make me.

Momentarily, I forget. I forget Selene is dying. I forget Clara is so far away. I forget that Noah is gone.

***

Noah puts his arms around my waist and spins me round. "Put me down!" I wail. He doesn't listen; he keeps spinning me, until Clara comes through.

"One day you will be a couple," she says with a grin on her face. I blush and Noah doesn't do anything. It's obvious he has a crush on Lucy Opal, in my English class. He sneaks glances at her. I am so unfortunate to sit next to her. She's stick thin, tanned and has silky, blonde hair. I wish I looked like her. Instead, I have glossy black hair. I'm as pale as a piece of paper. And finally, I'm "curvy".

"He has his eyes on Lucy Opal," I announce and he looks genuinely surprised. "What?" He asks, an eyebrow lifts in curiosity. It makes me jealous when he does that, I always wished I could do that.

I hear a huge scream and it frightens me. I look behind me. Clara's eyes are wide, alert. We both run for the bathroom. Selene stands behind the shower curtain.

"Selene?" I ask. She covers half her body with the curtain but sticks her hand out. Purple and blue splotches cover her body. The plague. My aunt has the plague. The aunt who raised me as her own.

***

That day the floor fell from underneath me and I've been running ever since and now I can't find my way back. There's no chance I will if Noah is gone too.

"Hey, Zoe," A voice says. My heartbeats are disjointed, I know that voice. Clara.