The Key

There's No Place Like Home

The Guest Board is still buzzing with guests, so I decided to leave it be, for now. I got to my feet and walked towards the huge black and marble staircase, I looked around once again and realized that we do have windows, although it's blurred, and no one can see past it.

The second story has the same size, wall and floor. Forward, a space where you can look down to the first story. Right side has huge bookcases and racks and entertainment stuff. Two of the guests already started to be comfy around the red leather sofas, I didn't think twice. To my left, three cabinets of hope stand, no one's near, so I approached it. The cabinets look sturdy enough for it to resist a bear's deep claw. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. What if we do starve? Should I get much food as possible? Then that wouldn't be fair, we must have our own food suplies in our rooms, but that can end to another conflict. A single window, still blurred. Two much smaller stairs lined the end of the room. Curiosity made me climb up the wooden stairs. The door is made of fine oak wood, it's knob is unique, gold plated. I pushed it open, a long hallway stood before me. I closed the door lightly, making little noise. Wood planks with archer carvings running towards the end of the hall are carved on the wall, a blurred window is on the end of the hall as well. I walked lightly forward, my shoes clicking. If I can hear them, I am alone. Matching doors lined the sides of the hall, a name on top of each one. "Hm." I muttered. 'Anderson' is on the first left door, 'Edward' is just in front of my room, great! I turned to discover my room, but someone - Sarah entered. She approached me swiftly and said, "Hi. My name is Sarah Cane," I didn't said a word, her smile stayed on her face and she stared at me, longer than she's supposed to, she's saying something, and I can't get it. I smile "Mine is Anderson," I say, maybe I'm supposed to follow her. She stretches a hand, "Nice to meet you Anderson." I grasp it nervously as I remember that cameras are watching our very greeting, I have to pretend. "You too Sarah." I nod and we shake hands. Hers slips away from mine too fast, I start to feel my heart beating fast, and she points to her I.D. "My I.D. Get one down there." She says. I nod "Thank you." I smile, but head for my room anyway.

Surpised, my room here looks like my room in my real house. A single bed on the left, bedside table made of dark oak wood with a lamp, floor same as all, white shelves near the bed, a cabinet with some clothes and I didn't even have an idea how they knew about my clothes and a matching table near my right. There's a blurred window in front of me, a black electric fan stick on top of it, too. Except of my back pack, and it doesn't have the scent of my old room. I walk and sit on the bed, resting my palm on the soft orange bed cover, the blanket is nicely folded over the pillow. I take a sigh and close my eyes, wondering if I can put some of my power in this bed by my hand, and I knew it was crazy.

After exploring my room more, and realized it will be my territory, I go back down to the first story to get my I.D. Passing the second story, I already saw someone eating and it troubled it me, a little. Are the rules Gilbert told are really that strict?

I took my I.D from a basket below the list of guests. "Anderson Sumera - Andrew 21 year old male From Conching Street" And no picture. I put it on. We are all supposed to wear this, right? I look around catiously. People wear fine clothes. This place is, to be honest, quite elegant, but if I had a mansion like this, it wouldn't be as pretty as-

A heavy foot steps on my toe, and it was there long enough to be heavy as it is, and I tried not to punch it. "My apologies!" I turn to him, his face really trying to say sorry. I'm not used to hear that after an accident, especially with Edward. Why so formal? I smile and hide pain away, "It's okay." Before he could respond, his eyes flick past me and a cold, mildy wet hand rests on my shoulder, I shiver, maybe someone is going to remind me something. My head turns and the hand slips away, instead it is in front of me, a warm gesture, asking me to shake it. "Hi. I'm Hannah," I shake her hand. A new acquiantace, but I'm more confident now that this is not dangerous at all. "I'm Anderson, but call me Andrew." And then I notice wine! In her hand. "Where did you get the wine?" I ask, pointing a finger. "Oh, over there, that's where the food is." She points to three cabinets, almost same as the three above us, except it's handle is iron. "Ah, okay." And I thought the food is up there, but maybe it's just things. "Hello Andrew and Sarah," It was the one who stepped on my foot, "Can you tell me where the bathrooms are?" I forgot about them, "Neither do I." I chuckle a little. "I know. It's over there, near that huge table, it's actually camoflouged, I have no idea why." And then I got this theory that Hannah thinks this is a party where you can earn gold. The man nods, "Thank you," And walks swiftly to the way Hannah had pointed, but before he walked out of arm's reach, Hannah placed her free hand on his back like what she did to me. "What's your name?" Okay that's it, cleary this Hannah is telling some message. No fear. Instead of looking at his I.D, she asked him personally. But the man looks back anyway with a little smile, "Richard." Richard says and then walks again, he might terribly want to use the bathroom. "Wanna sit?" Hannah asks and I turn to her, "Sure." I remember my social pobhia when I was in elementary, it sucks. We both sit down ln the leather sofa. I feel okay and not that nervous compared when me and Sarah greeted each other, maybe because of that calm smile of hers. It would be better if I start the conversation. "Being that.. Unformal doesn't scare you eh?" I feel my toes curling up on my brown fine shoes.

"Hm? I believe that it would be better if I stay normal." Surprised, I put on my surprised-but-smiling face, "Same! Although don't you feel slight uneasy..?" My eyes flick on the corner of the mansion to tell her 'Because of the hidden cameras and microphones?' After a moment, she lightly slaps her hips and cross her legs. "A little, but they won't be angry if you only be yourself and know that you are innocent." She's so honest, I really like that. After a few more topics with her, I felt a lot more confident. A little amazed, too because of how fast we became friends, and we end up eating at the table with each other, the food is fine. After the day, I return to my room and pondered about what happened. It is right to be innocent and honest, but stay cautious, and just feel like home because there won't be any penalty for that.