The Five Rooms

Chapter 4

I remembered the picture lined hallways and knew, if there was a picture to be found with a grandfather clock, the picture would be here.

We walk down the hallways with me studying the pictures and Aria watching for people who we could unwantedly run into.

The first picture filled hallway had various different paintings on the walls, but none had anywhere close to what I need.

I let out a heavy sigh, really hoping I wasn't wrong about all of this, just as the pictures start in the second hallway.

The first picture I come to is of a boat in a storm. The colours used are all gloomy, like dark greys and dark blues. The artist had put a lot of detail into the little, sail boat and even made some of its crew jump off and float in the wild waves surrounding it.

I know this isn't the right painting right away, so I move on to the second one. This one is different than the first. It's of a small garden. The sun is out, and from the way the colours are placed in the painting it is hot. Most of the plants in the garden are fried to a yellowy colour. All except for one plant in the front. It was small but a nice green colour. Its leaves are slightly wet, from what I can tell. It looks strong. Or at least it symbolized strength. I like it. I like it a lot actually. But it didn't have what we are looking for, so I needed to continue on.

I move into yet another different hallway to find the next painting, I heard the floor boards creak from behind me. When I turn around, my jumpiness getting to me, at first I don't see anyone. I know Aria is ahead of me, she couldn't have made the noise, so that means someone else did. I held my breath, a quick shiver racking my body.

That's when a face comes out from behind the corner. Small and frightened. I step forward slightly, seeing that the little girl in front of me looked only about thirteen maybe. Who would stick a thirteen year old girl in such a horrible place?

The little girl had bright green eyes which resembled Aria's in some way, though her cheekbones were no were near as defined as hers, and they didn't look like they ever would be. Her hair was a yellowy blonde colour, and hung thinly to just about her shoulders. Her nose was small and cute, almost like a little button. She wore a small white dress that must have made this game a lot more difficult for her.

I'm about to step forward again when Aria comes and lightly touches my shoulder, I jump at the touch and my gaze swings her way.

"We don't know her. She could be dangerous." She leans down a little to whisper in my ear, eyeing the girl slightly.

The girl slips back behind the wall so only her face peaks out from behind the edge, obviously nervous about seeing Aria with me.

"Look at her. She's scared to d..." I start to complain but I'm cut off midsentence.

"Acting." She tells me. "Last time I saw someone as young as her they changed direction and moved away as fast as they could. If she was actually as scared as she looks, she would have ran by now."

Aria had a point, I thought to myself. A good one. Though maybe she stayed for the hopes that one of us would be friendly. But I get that we couldn't take that chance. No matter how much it hurt me to just leave the little girl here alone, I knew it had to be done. I mean, she was thirteen. Hopefully she could take care of herself.

I nod to Aria and she steps forward, in a threatening motion towards the girl, obviously in hopes she'd run off in the opposite direction. But instead of her running off, she is shoved aside into a wall by a guy. He has sandy blonde hair and dark eyes that looked almost black from the angle I got of him. He looked in good shape, though his cheeks were a little more, not exactly chubby, but just bigger then I would have expected considering his body type. He wore a black t-shirt and a black pair of shorts. I'm not sure why so many people are wearing all black, but that thought doesn't stay in my mind for any longer than merely a second.