Fire And Ice

Chapter 10- Food

My feet hit the red carpet in the hall and my shoulders slump. It feels like now that I'm away from Kye all of the pressure and fear I had been feeling came rushing back like a tidal wave. I need to find my friend's, or at least what's left of them, and sort things out while I piece my mind back together.

I shuffle along keeping my head down trying not to think about what happened with Kye. When I hear my name being called down the hall I look up with tears in my eyes.

Sam One and Two throw there arms around me and pull me into a hug. The tears escape my eyes when I realize they are okay. When I lift my head I see the girl I saved and Rebecca standing behind them. The girl is smiling brightly, but Rebecca just looks annoyed, as if it is such a trouble that I am back unharmed.

"Where were you this time Kat?" Sam Two asks, "We thought you were dead when we saw your head hit the floor like that. And then that idiot Kye came out of no where and picked you up, but when we tried to get you swatted us away like bugs! Did he hurt you?" 

I wipe my tears away and shake my head. "No, he didn't hurt me. Are you guys all okay? Is everyone still here?"

The girls look away from me for a moment and my stomach drops. That's when I notice Aidan's not with them, and I remember what happened before. I had tried to protect him, and that's how I ended up with Kye. But I couldn't remember what had happened right before I passed out to know what happened to him.

"Is Aidan...?" 

"He's gone." Sam One says looking down.

"I figured so... But we are going to get him back! We still have that clue we got from the TV room. You guys remember what that door looked like right?" I ask, excitement rising in me.

"Yeah," The girl I saved before pipes up, "I drew a picture of it while we stopped for a break. Here, you can look at my sketch book if you like."

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a thick and tattered looking book. I take it, handling it with care, and slowly flip open the front page. One the first page, drawn in beautiful faded italics, is the name Anna, and I assume this is the mystery girls name.

As I flip through the pages I see picture after picture and I can't help but stare. The pictures are drawn with such heart and passion that it almost brings tears to my eyes. I see roses, profiles of attractive celebrities, dresses that one would wear to a dance, and just random art that flows like a rainbow across the page.

And on the last page is the picture of the door from the TV room. The very same wooden boards laid out as if it were the same picture, and the symbols were drawn so well they seem to glow like they were real. I trace my finger along the page and I can feel every push and brush.

"This is beautiful." I whisper.

"Thank you." Anna beams.

I hand the book back and she slips it back into her bag. With the image imprinted on my mind I feel like I am ready for another adventure.

"So where do we start looking? We're back to stage one, and what are the chances of Kye letting us find that door on our own?" I ask.

"Very slim," Sam Two agrees, "But to be honest, I don't think finding that door is our first priority. We haven't eaten anything since before we came to the house. And because we were supposed to eat here no one brought a lunch. We need to find some food, and soon."

Just the thought of food has my stomach growling. I hadn't thought about food until now. But now that I start to think about it it's all I can think about. 

"Okay, problem number two," I say, "How are we going to find a kitchen in this place when we can't even find the basement?"

"Well Kye doesn't want us to get to the basement because then we could get the others and work on getting out. But it's in his best interest to help us, because if he doesn't give us food then his girlfriend here is going to get sick!" Sam Two shouts at the ceiling, almost as if she thought Kye could hear her.