Trapped: the Truth (Book 2)

Chapter 5

I tell my Aunt that I am going on a road trip with Chris. She does not question me. However, she does tell me to be safe. I understand perfectly what she meant, but in my head I imagine the wizard turning us into a random animal or leaving us behind in a cave. Chris picks me up first, then he picks up Nate and Steph from the park. Unlike me, Steph is excited about this. I have a feeling this might not end well. I wish I were as positive as Steph but I cannot ignore this feeling of unease.

I turn to Nate. "Are you sure about this?"

"No, but I want to do it anyway. I want to know how we were created." He has a point I guess, but still.

I shake my head slightly and turn to face forward again. That wizard gave me the creeps yesterday and I am dreading the moment we meet him again. I try to distract myself by playing a game on my phone but it does not do the trick.

We arrive at the nearest spot to where we encountered the wizard yesterday.

"Is it safe to leave the car here?" I ask Chris.

"I will lock it and take the key." He shrugs as if I asked a silly question. "Whoever wants to steal the car will have to break a window."

That does not make me feel any better but I nod anyway.

We all follow Chris to the meeting spot. I halt when I see my brother standing next to Gwydion. What is he doing here? Didn't he say that he will not be a part of this? Why is he here then?

When I get myself together, I step toward Luke. "What are you doing here?"

He has a backpack on one shoulder. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm coming with you. Chris told me you were going too so I changed my mind."

I give Chris an annoyed look. Why did he have to tell my brother? I turn back to face Luke. "I don't need you babysitting me. I can take care of myself." I cross my arms in front of me.

Before Luke can speak again, Gwydion speaks. "The humans cannot come with us."

Chris shakes his head. "If they cannot come, then we cannot either."

The wizard rolls his eyes. "Very well... but they are your responsibility."

He does not have much choice but to let me and Steph join this weird quest or whatever it is. I still do not think it is a good idea but I support Nate and Chris. I am doing this for them.

"This way." Gwydion turns to walk away.

Nate stops him. "We're walking? Can't you teleport us there?" Nate hates any kind of sports including walking. I honestly have no idea how he looks so fit.

The wizard gives Nate a deadly glance. "I'm much older than you think, boy. I cannot teleport all of you at once myself." He looks at the rest of us. "I created a portal inside that cabin." Gwydion points at the abandoned cabin Chris had told me about.

We follow the wizard at his slow pace. How old is he? He looks like he is in his 70's but he said he is much older than he looks. Is he over 90 years old? Or hundred?

When Gwydion opens the front door, it creaks. Even the floorboard creaks as we step inside. Everything is broken or shattered. The fireplace has cobwebs all over it. What I assume is the dining table is chipped along the edges. Most of the kitchen cupboards do not have a door or else the door is hanging. Gwydion leads us into the bathroom. There is no bathroom door and the remaining hinges are rusty. The toilet does not have a lid and the bathtub does not have any tiles around it. The sink is the only thing that looks whole to a certain extent. It probably does not function anymore either.

Gwydion waves his cane at the bathtub and it fills with brown liquid. It looks like rusty water but thicker. It resembles a muddy mixture when the bathtub is full.

Nate is the first to speak. "What is that?" His tone is full of disgust.

"It's better if you don't know," Gwydion answers. "Who's jumping in first?" He looks around at us.

Chris steps forward. "I'll go first."