The Twilight Princess

Five

"Zoey? Is that you?" Aria could have sworn she saw a familiar brunette head bobbing in the distance. Zoey swung out her arms and they gave each other a big hug. "You're okay! What a huge relief! I was so worried about you," Zoey exclaimed. "Oh I'm fine," said Aria matter-of-factly, as if it wasn't a big deal.

Suddenly, a tall figure that was unfamiliar to Aria approached them. "Who's this?"

"She's a—...... um," Zoey wasn't sure what to say.

"A friend," the woman finished for her. "Now come on Zoey. We have some unfinished business to attend to." She guided Zoey out of the room, who had a confused look on her face.

Unfinished business? Aria thought. What does she mean? What is going on?

A spark of realization hit Aria. The old grandfather clock ticked. It read 10:18 p.m. The night wasn't so young anymore. Time had swept away, like the cool breeze outside. Aria had to make a decision: Get home before the storm rolls in and before her parents start to worry, or save her friend.

So she searched every hall long and wide, short and small, until there were none left. Every room. Every corridor. Not a single trace of Zoey and the mysterious woman that she was with.

                                                                                           ......

There was a hush of silence flowing over Twilightija Palace. The woman grabbed Zoey's hand. "Where are you taking me? What do you want? Who even are you?" The woman turned on her heel to face a nervous Zoey. She clasped her hand over Zoey's mouth. "Quiet girl! No more questions! You shall follow my orders if you do not wish to face your doom!" The woman screeched at the top of her lungs. "Do you understand?" Zoey nodded hesitantly, the woman's ice cold hand and prickly black nails still covering her mouth.

"Come along my dear. We have.....business, to attend to," she snickered. "Oh, and just so you mind, my pet." She cast a glowing dark shadowy magic over Zoey, evaporating into her head and shoulders. She shuddered. "Each time you disobey me child, you will feel a slight shock," the woman explained. "Now, let's get going, shall we?"

Zoey did as she was told, even though deep down, she was trying to fight it. What just happened? The two entered a dark chamber, torches lighting up each corner, pushing back the darkness. This is what Zoey felt the urge to do.

The walls, floor, and ceiling were made of heavy stone. It felt cold, even a little damp. As they reached around the corner, Zoey figured out why. There laid a muddy pond, which looked green due to all the seaweed floating around in it. There was just something interesting about it that sparked Zoey.

"Here," the woman said, pointing to the pond in the middle of the stone floor. "Get in." Zoey flinched. Why would she even ask something like that? Zoey kind of shook her head. She hoped that the woman didn't see it. She was scared to hear what she might say. "I said, get in."

"Now?" Zoey asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice, looking at the pond. It was so dirty, and she really didn't want to get anywhere near it. Seaweed was just so disgusting.

"Yes now. Hurry up! We don't have much time!" Zoey dipped her big toe in. The moonlit water, there was a skylight right above it, was as cold as ice. Here goes nothing. Zoey thought. She held her breath and plunged beneath the waves.

The whole world sank above her. Cloudy, musty waves cluttered her vision. Mixes of greens floated all around. Zoey's clothing started to stick to her body, as if someone had glued it on. She inhaled some water up her nostrils. She held her hand to her nose, stopping the water from rushing in. Her arms, that kept her afloat, fell to her side, and she fell to the bottom of the pond floor.