Abeyance

'Measure for Measure'

          Jaden woke up later than usual that day. She got herself ready for the day and went to the main hall.
"Jaden my dear, you've slept in." Chargii said from her throne.
"I'm aware. I'm sorry madam." Jaden bowed to her.
It was still raining heavily outside.
"This is a much longer storm than I expected.." Chargii sighed.
"Umm.. Madam.. Is something wrong with the front door?" Jaden pointed to the door.
It was boarded up with wood and nails. Lots of nails.
"...That's odd.. I don't remember ever asking someone to do that.." Chargii Looked at the door astonished.

Everyone gathered in the main hall that day, including Pants.
"Does anyone remember seeing this door boarded up?" Jaden asked everyone. Everybody said no.
Pants kept a straight face. She knew.
It was Sketchy, wasn't it?
"Well, when the storm ends, you guests are going to need to leave. This can't be fixed easily however, so you all must start working to get these nails out." Chargii said, walking back to her throne.
Pants sneaked away from the group. She had a few things to ask Sketchy..
Lua was trying to pull out a nail. "Ow!" He said. "These nails are hurting my nails!"
Jaden giggled lightly at his statement.
"..Stop." Lua said glaring at Jaden.

Shroomy inspected the nails. "It looks like they've been put so far into the wall that we won't be able to get them out without tools.."
"But.. We don't have tools, do we?" Jaden looked at Chargii, who wasn't paying attention.
"..Huh?" Chargii sat up a little. Jaden rolled her eyes at her.
"Hey don't you roll your eyes." Chargii pointed at her as she turned around.
Tofu was looking around. "Has anybody seen Pants?" She asked.
"..No. She's probably doing her work, as usual." Chargii slouched back down into her throne.

Down, down, down. The stairs felt like they lasted forever. Pants was going down them as quick as she could, not even regarding her sound.
"Sketchy?!" She went up to the bars.
He was standing in there.. "Hello my dear." He pretended to hide the key from her. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"Why did you board up the door?" Pants shouted at him.
"..Board up the door? I didn't do such!" He said in the most sarcastic voice possible.
"Sketchy I'm serious!" Pants continued to shout at him.

"Pants.." He said, "Why did you board up the door?"
Pants looked at him strange.
"Oh why? Why did you do it? You really did it! Didn't you? Oh boo hoo.."
"..Stop it." Pants crossed her arms.
Sketchy dangled the key in the air. "You did it! It was you! I took no part in this!"
"OK FINE!" Pants closed her eyes.
Sketchy climbed to a trapdoor on the ceiling.
"..Sketchy?" Pants tried to look up there.
"You did it, by letting me out." Sketchy walked up behind her, now out of the room.
Pants turned around. "How did.." She shook her head. "Right..right.."

"You know, it doesn't feel any different, being able to leave the room. I'm still trapped no matter what." He said, sitting on the floor. Pants frowned at him.
"Care to talk about it?" She asked.
"..No. I would prefer not." He said turning away. "Well- No.. Actually, wait.. maybe.. Absolutley not. Uhh.." He mumbled to himself. "..I don't fully blame you for boarding up the door." He said finally.
Pants rolled her eyes. "Really."
"Yes yes, really. I did do it!" He nodded.
"I thought we already established that." Pants looked at him funny.
"We did? ...Ohhhh no.." He looked away.

Pants continued to look at him. "...Sketchy.. Do you know who gave you that key?" Pants said, curious.
Sketchy took a long gaze at the key. "Uhhh... no.." He said. "No, I don't."
...He must be more messed up than I thought..