12+Doors


 * My Story **


 * Chapter 1 **


 * I open my eyes to see him staring at me with his ice cold eyes. I quickly shut them again. I continue opening and closing my eyes until I force myself to keep them open. My heart jumped and my hands tensed. The tape around my wrists hurt when they did. I looked around the isolated room and couldn't find Dylan. The bright light gleaming down hard on my eyes were making me blind. I quickly shut my eyes and heard the man chuckle. His voice bounced off the walls of the room. I was terrified. My wrists and ankles were sore. My head hurt, I had the worst migraine. I haven't slept or eaten in days. My stomach growled and I wanted to cry, but I wouldn't. I won't give Jasper Stye what he wants. I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing that I'm scared out of my mind, because that would show weakness. And I, Aiva Shrine, am not weak. **


 * Chapter 2 **


 * "Jasper! Mine won't shut his trap!" I heard a deep voice shout. I woke up to find myself lying down on a cold, hard floor. Jasper, the guy with the ice hard eyes, was sitting in a chair across from me. He rolled his eyes and yelled, "Alright I'll take care of him! You come in here to look after her!" **


 * I sat up straight and tried to process the information Jasper so kindly gave me. Who's "him?" Could it be Dylan? No, it couldn't be! I began to stand up but a hard chain wrapped around my waist pulled me down. I let out a little shriek. Jasper turned his head and smiled, ""Don't worry sweetheart. If he cooperates, I won't hurt him too bad." **


 * My eyes widened, Dylan was here. Jasper opened a hard, steel door and stomped out while a small, chubby man walked into my cell. He eyed me carefully while I did the same. **


 * "It's not polite to stare," I told him. **


 * "Who ever said I was polite?" he asked. **


 * I rolled my eyes and he grinned. **


 * "You're a feisty one aren't you? Ain't no kid's ever sassed me when I walked into their cell. At least not the ones I've visited," he announced. **


 * "How many kids do you have locked up here?" I questioned. **


 * "More than I can count," he assured me. **


 * "I'm not surprised," I mumbled under my breath. Jasper walked back in, slamming the door behind him. **


 * "I've never heard a kid yell so much," he sighed. **


 * The chubby man laughed and strided out the door. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just let us go," I demanded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Us? You mean, you and Dylan?" He raised his eyebrows. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah and anyone else you're torturing here." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What? You feel tortured?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well it's not very comfortable lying down on a hard, cement floor with chains wrapped around your wrists, ankles, and waist." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I knew I should've kept that tape on your mouth." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why? So that I can't do this?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I spat at him. Jasper didn't even blink. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"The more you fight with me the more you're going to suffer when you die." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"At least I'll be remembered." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Teenagers!" He scoffed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't you just love us?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Jasper stormed out of my cell. I leaned against the wall satisfied. Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to think about what I knew, and how I got here. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">My best friend is Dylan Britt, he's just like me. I have a gift, I can see the future. I'm what's called a see-er. There are hundreds like me, scattered all over the world. Dylan is another see-er. The only thing that makes us different from all the others is that we know about our power. Only a handful of see-ers actually know about their gift. All the others just think they're mental. That's why there are so many freaks in this world. All of them are see-ers who never got to realize their gift. My dad died in a car accident and my mom became a mess after his death. She moved towards drugs and alcohol and left me at the age of seven to fend for myself. I have no idea where she is but I hope she never comes back. I have been alone for seven years now. I just turned seventeen. A lot of people think I'm crazy because I told the about the visions I see. The only person that took me seriously was Dylan. The first time I met Dylan was at a bowling alley. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm telling you! I knew that popcorn machine was going to explode! I saw it," I shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah right! You're such a freak," My old friend, Emily, shouted back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She laughed and her and her clique walked away. I dropped to the ground and began to cry. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nobody ever believes me," I whispered, trying to hold back my tears. But I couldn't. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I believe you," a boy said as he sat down next to me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You do?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah. I get them too. Those visions I mean. They scare me sometimes." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded to confirm. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He smiled, "Hi I'm Dylan. Dylan Britt." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm Aiva, Aiva Shrine," I choked on my sobs. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nice to meet you Eva Shine." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stopped crying and controlled myself. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva Shrine," I enunciated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, sorry. Aiva Shrine," he corrected himself. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah," I smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I like the name Aiva more than Eva." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Thanks," I giggled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How about a game to get your mind off things?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sure, that would be great!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That was the day I met my best friend. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Jasper captured a bunch of see-ers to use them for their powers. Unfortunately, Dylan and I were easy targets because we were in the newspaper and on T.V. known as the lunatics that make up "stories." Jasper has co-workers that help him give him what he wants. But from as far as I can tell, Jasper is the leader. All I remember from being captured was being tied up in the backseat of a truck, half-conscious. I remember hearing a conversation, **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why did he tell us to grab this one? Her punches hurt. Out of all the other see-ers he told us to make sure we got this one, and her stupid friend who can't stop yelling," a gruff voice said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"He told us she was special remember," a squeaky voice replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah but what makes her so special from all the others?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Do I look like God to you?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well then why did we need her boyfriend?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I told you! If we didn't get him, she would have a greater chance of escaping. As long as he's here, she'll feel the need to rescue him which will delay her. We can't risk losing her and besides, he's another see-er," another voice chimed in. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That was all I could remember, but it was enough information to keep me up to date with my situation. Me and who knows how many other see-ers were captured by Jasper to be used for our powers. But I think I'm different because of the way those men were talking about who I think was me in the car. Whatever it was that made me speical wasn't something that I wanted to stick around for to figure out. I was getting out of this place. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 3 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Think Aiva! Think! How do I get these chains off? I looked around for something, anything, but there was nothing. It was just me, these chains, and a door so far away from me that I could barely see the handle. It was useless. I had to wait for Jasper to come back so that I could somehow manipulate him into getting me out of these chains. No, I couldn't wait, I needed to get out of these chains or else I'll go crazy! I started clawing at the chains wrapped around my ankles. Nothing happened and I was furious. I punched the steel chains out of frustration. Then, I noticed something. A dent! I made a small dent! I punched the chains some more and they seemed like they were flattening. Soon enough it was as thin as paper that I could just rip it! My left ankle was free! I did the same for my right ankle. After a few minutes, my right ankle was free too! I did the same thing with the chains around my waist and my wrists. I was free! How could this have happened? They were definitely not steel. If they were, I wouldn't have been able to punch myself free. I picked up the sheets of the material and examined them closely. I could bend it and roll it into a ball. This was not steel, not metal, it was aluminum! Jasper is such an amateur. I began to walk across the room, but stumbled after my second step. Woah. I haven't used my legs in days, so it wasn't very smart of me to rush to the door. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stood up straight and poised myself. I walked slowly at first, but finally caught up with my legs and sprinted towards the door. Thank goodness I can still run and that they didn't hurt me in any physical way. I was in great shape, besides the fact that i was famished and parched. I quietly opened the door just a crack so that I could take a peek outside. What was Jasper thinking? No guards? No locked doors? This was just too easy. Jasper. The very name stung me in so many ways. He was my English teacher. He was my favorite teacher because he was always so nice to me, but now I know why he favored me. He also favored Dylan. He wanted to know everything about me before performing his little stunt. I hate Jasper, he makes me sick. I snuck out of my cell and tiptoed down the hall. I looked around, there were doors everywhere. I will never find Dylan! I opened the closest door near me and was caught off guard when a girl ran right into me. We both fell. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ow! What the heck?" We said in unison. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Who are you?" she asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nobody important,"" I replied and scrambled back on my feet. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Let me guess, you're trying to escape too," she got up also and seemed amused. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're a smart girl," I stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I do okay." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So who are you then?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I asked you first." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine. I'm Aiva." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm Tais." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I studied Tais. She had beautiful black hair with blazing red highlights. Her eyes were a stormy gray, and she had a determined look on her face. She was wearing a white tanktop and blue jean shorts. Her clothes were dirty, like mine. That means she was captured too, and that she was also a see-er. My black hair with brown highlights was knotty, but her hair was silky. I could just tell that Tais had the kind of hair that would be perfect anywhere. Her stormy gray eyes sparkled when my dark brown eyes were just plain. My eyes always made me look fierce but scared at the same time. And my facial expressions always seem undecided. You can just look at me and tell that I don't really know myself. But Tais looks like a leader, she looks like she knows exactly who she is. I liked Tais because of that, and we both share a lot of attitude. Plus, Tais must be smart if she knew how to break her way through those chains. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So how did you escape?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It didn't take me long to find out that those chains were made out of-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aluminum," we both said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais smiled, "Wow you're smart too." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I do okay," I mimicked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both laughed but quickly shut up in case someone was around. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, I'm breaking out of here. Want to tag along?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sure," she replied, "Two minds are better than one." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well how about three minds? I need to find my best friend, Dylan." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sure. I would love to meet your boyfriend." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Best friend." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, sorry. Best friend I mean." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both opened the next door and found a very handsome, muscular boy sitting on the ground, chained up. It wasn't Dylan. Dylan had dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. This boy had pitch black hair and eyes so dark I couldn't tell the color. He looked at us with a helpless expression on his face. Out of instinct, I ran towards him and got him out of those chains. I hated the sight of someone chained up, because I knew exactly what that felt like. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Th-th-thanks. Wh-who are you?" he stammered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're welcome. I'm Aiva," I answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wow. For best friends, you guys sure don't show it. How could you not know your best friend's name Dylan?" Tais asked the boy. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He blinked in confusion, "Dylan?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais, he's not Dylan," I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Then who is he?" she asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't know," I replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm Zach," the boy answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, if he's not Dylan, let's go Aiva." Tais was hurrying me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, please! Don't leave me here by myself!" Zach screamed and grabbed my arm. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ow! Butt off!" I demanded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I tried to shake him off but he had my arm in a death grip. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Alright fine! You can come with us," I sighed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He let go of my arm and I slapped him. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ow!" he yelled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You never treat a girl like that," I demanded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sorry!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais was laughing. I rolled my eyes and walked out of the cell. I needed to find Dylan. I opened the door right across from Zach's and was relieved to Dylan sitting on the ground. He had tape on his mouth. When he saw me his eyes lightened up and he made an attempt to smile. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I ran towards him and gave him a hug. He tried to hug me back but wasn't very successful with his chains. The first thing I wanted was to hear his voice, so I ripped the tape off his mouth. He didn't even wince. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva! You came for me!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Of course I did!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I ripped the chains off and he was free. Then, we had a proper hug. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Did you grow like mega muscles over night? How did you do that," he wanted to know. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's aluminum Dylan." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh. Whoops." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both laughed and then shared another hug. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Alright so that's definitely not your boyfriend?" Tais asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She had that same amused look on her face with her arms crossed and she was leaning on the back of the door. Zach had no expression on his face at all and his hands were in his jeans pockets. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Best friend Tais. Don't you hug your best friends?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't have any friends. Everyone thinks I'm a psycho," Tais replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach nodded in agreement. That surprised me. Tais was totally easy going and Zach is the kind of guy that girls from where I live would call a total hottie. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, I wouldn't have any friends either if Dylan didn't find me," I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Find?" Tais smiled and I knew she was going to tease me about Dylan every chance she gets. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay can we just drop this please? I thought we all wanted to get out of here," I claimed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes please!" Dylan added. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay fine! I was just trying to prove a point," Tais said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach just kept quiet. We all headed out the door but immediately stopped once we saw the grim face of Jasper Stye. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 4 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Running away? But why?" Jasper teased. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We just thought that this place wasn't very hospitable," Tais stepped forward. I knew she was pumped up for a fight for her revenge. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, I'm sorry," Jasper said in a sarcastic tone. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You should be," Tais stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, Aiva, how did you escape?" Jasper asked me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aluminum, Jasper. Really?" I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes well, we couldn't afford steel based on the amount of captives we have here," Jasper admitted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well maybe you might be able to afford some steel if you lost four captives. So, if you don't mind, we'll just be heading out," Tais chimed in. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, but I do mind. The only way you're getting out of here is if you proved you weren't all see-ers." Jasper was staring at me now. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, what if we told you we weren't?" I questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You'd have to prove it," Jasper answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How?" Tais and I said simultaneously. Okay, this was getting a little annoying. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Glad you asked," Jasper smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Something hard hit me on the back of my head and I passed out. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 5 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wake up!" I heard Tais say. I opened my eyes and was surprised to see sunlight welcome me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What happened?" I asked Tais. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked around and saw trees everywhere. Trees and Tais. But no signs of Dylan or Zach. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I have no idea," Tais answered me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">A T.V. popped up and was hanging down over our heads attached to a tree we were under. Jasper's face appeared on the screen. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why hello girls! I'm happy you decided to attend my test!" He laughed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and I looked at eachother, she shrugged. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Test?" I asked Jasper. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes, test. You asked how you could prove to me that you're not a see-er. The only way is to pass my test. And since I have been watching the both of you for a while now, I'm positive that you two are see-ers. So, this is pretty much just for my amusement. However, I do think you deserve a chance to prove to me that you do not know about your power," Jasper announced. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How do you pass?" Tais questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"There is a key you need to find. This is level one. You're environment for level one is a jungle. Find the key in this safari and you will proceed to level two. The way you get to the next level is by entering a door that will appear in front of you after finding the key. Each level marks a different environment. There are twelve levels you need to pass. Therefore, twelve doors you must enter to be free," Jasper stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"And how does this test our ability to see the future?" Tais asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'll be throwing in tricks during the test. If you dodge one of my tricks, then I will know that you saw the future. You knew what was coming. If I sense that you had a vision, I will immediately pull you out of the test and hold you hostage for the rest of your lives," Jasper answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wait, where's Dylan and Zach?" I pitched in. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"On the other side of the jungle. All of you will reunite again during this level when trying to find the lost key." Jasper looked bored. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"And what was the point of seperating us again?" I fumed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I think you can figure that one out on your own," Jasper winked, "Good luck." The T.V. disappeared. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wait!" I screamed, but it was too late. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked at Tais and she looked back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Guess we better find that key," Tais said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But what about Dylan?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We'll find him," she assured me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded and we set off for a journey that may change our lives forever. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 6 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">There were animals everywhere. Birds, monkeys, anteaters, and the rest of them were animals I've never seen before. However, the most common thing I saw were trees. Tais and I have been walking for hours, but this jungle was endless. Suddenly, my eyes went dark and shifted towards another scene. I was having a vision. I couldn't stop walking or it would be obvious to Jasper that I was having a vision. So, I continued to walk even thought I didn't know where I was going because my eyes were showing me another scene. I saw Dylan and Zach running towards a rock, being chased by a gorilla. Then, I saw Tais and me entering a door on the other side of the rock. My eyes returned to the present. I saw Tais, she was still walking next to me. She seemed oblivious to my vision. I was so relieved that she didn't notice. Because if she did, Jasper would have also. We passed the rock that I saw in my vision and I tried not to pay a lot of attention to it. My vision told me that Tais and I were going to be safe, and that we would proceed to the next level. However, Dylan and Zach were not, and they didn't find the key, we did. If they didn't find the key, then they couldn't advance to the next level. And that means they would be stuck on loevel one. I panicked, I needed to change the future but how could I do that and keep Jasper from being suspicious? I stopped walking and Tais stopped too once she saw me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What's the matter?" she asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, I'm just tired. I think we should find Dylan and Zach first though," I said casually. Luckily, Tais could take a hint. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah I was thinking that too. Besides, we shouldn't worry your boyfriend." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Thank-you Tais! She said the absolute perfect response to my completely retarded remark and saved me. I laughed to her joke and she laughed too. I did the first thing I thought of and screamed, "Dylan? Zach?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais followed me and we both bellowed, "Dylan? Zach? Dylan? Zach?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva? Tais?" We heard a reply. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and I sprinted towards the voices. I eventually saw Dylan and Zach looking around, trying to locate our voices. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan!" I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He looked in my direction and smiled when he saw me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva!" He yelled back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck, squeezing him to death. He did the same. Tais approached Zach, and Zach smiled! Zach actually smiled! **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hey Tais," he said with way too much excitement in his voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hey Zach," Tais looked surprised. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach then immediately stopped smiling and resumed his hard, expressionless face. After Tais saw his face, she looked guilty. I started laughing. It was so awkward that it was funny. That was the first time I actually saw Zach smile. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, let's find that key," I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We all began to walk until something blocked our path. It was a gorilla,and he did not look like he wanted to play. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 7 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I wasn't surprised to see a gorilla standing inches away from me, but I needed to seem like it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Run!" I shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We all ran in the opposite direction of the gorilla, but abruptly stopped when a fat tree stopped us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Get up the tree!" Zach ordered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He pushed Tais up the trunk so fast that she had no idea what happened once she reached the top. Zach springed from one branch to another and pulled himself up next to Tais. Dylan and I had no problem climbing up the tree because we climb trees for fun all the time back home. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Is everyone okay?" Dylan asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais screamed which answered his question. We all looked in her direction and saw a monkey hissing at us. The monkey was holding a gold box. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I wonder what's in that box," Dylan whispered. I was curious too. All four of us surrounded the monkey, and Tais approached him quietly. The monkey panicked and lunged for her face, dropping the gold box. With quick reflexes, Tais punched the monkey so hard that he came flying towards Dylan who ducked just in the nick of time. The monkey whizzed past him and landed on the next tree. Tais picked up the gold box and opened it. Inside was a shiny, gold key. A scroll fell out. Dylan picked it up and read, **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You have found the key for level one. A door will appear any minute now to lead you to level two. Complete all twelve levels without using your powers and you will be free." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">A wooden door appeared in front of Zach and he opened it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Level one complete. Level two here we come," Zach said as he walked through the door. We all followed him to find out what awaits us in level two. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 8 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The first thing I noticed were the sparkling stars. That and the pink and white toy horses jumping on them. I blinked and shook my head. I did that same routine about twenty times. No, my eyes weren't deceiving me. There really were stuffed animal horses jumping from star to star. It looked like something you would see in a videogame. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What the heck?" Tais shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You see the plush horses jumping in a line from star to star too, right?" Dylan asked Zach. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach nodded. It's true. The stars were formed in a line, and there were so many rows of lines of stars. And on top of that, there were fluffy toy horses boucing on them. Tais, Dylan, Zach, and I were placed on a large star that lead to five different rows of stars. We were in a place that was set to look like outer space, so it was pitch black in this environment. Fortunately, the stars were so bright that we could see everything. I took a closer look at the horses, and they all had a gold box on their backs. There were about a thousand horses around us, so how on earth were we going to find one key in a gold box when there were thousands of boxes around us? **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Split up! Look inside every single box and don't miss a single one! If you find the key, tell everyone else but scream in case we're far away. Then, we'll all meet back here. And be careful! Got it," I ordered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Got it," Dylan replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and Zach nodded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Alright, let's get started," I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We all took different rows and started wildly hopping from star to star, chasing the horses. I snapped the lid off of all the the gold boxes on the horses backs that I confronted. Zach was the only person I saw when I looked around. Tais and Dylan were somewhere else searching the boxes. I was so bored, I just popped the lid off about the one hundredth box I've seen. So, I decided to look around and saw Zach, standing dead still on a star. I looked at his eyes and I could tell that he was having a vision. I needed to snap him out of it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach! I know you're bored and tired but please don't quit now! Not if you want to be free," I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Hopefully he'll know the actual message I was trying to tell him. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah sorry! I was just taking a break. I'm so dizzy! Let me just think for a moment and then I'll get back to work," he shouted back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I hope Jasper is buying this. Please! I waited for a minute, and nothing happened. Phew! That was a close one. Then, Zach did the weirdest thing. He picked up a box off the back of a horse, and pretended like he couldn't open it, or maybe it wasn't pretend. I was about to step on the next star when Zach's voice stopped me, "Aiva!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I jumped from shock. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What?" I shouted in an irritated voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I, um, I'm having a hard time opening this one. Could you help me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't be ridiculous! Seriously? I could lift them with my pinky!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was about to step on the next star, again, when Zach stopped me, again. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But this one's different! Please come here and help me!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ugh! Alright! You're such a baby!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I turned around on my heel but lost balance and fell backwards. I landed on the star that I was going to step on before Zach stopped me twice. If this was like any other star I've been hopping around on, falling down wouldn't be such a big deal. But that wasn't the case. The star fell out from under me and dropped into the darkness below. My butt fell through the empty space, but my hands acted quickly and grabbed the edges of the star behind me. My heart stopped, all I needed to do was let go and I would fall to my death. So, I did what any other seventeen year old girl would do, I screamed. I remember having a conversation with my mom the day after my dad died, when she wasn't sober: **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"A star falls whenever a good person dies," my mom whispered to me. She was hugging me because I was scared. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Did a star fall for daddy?" I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes baby. Many stars fell for him, because he was such a good man," she said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Will he ever come back?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't know sweetie. But I do know that he wouldn't want you to be crying. He would've wanted you to be happy," she explained. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"If he wants me to be happy, he will come back," I stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sometimes your daddy doesn't have a choice. But if he did, he would come back. I love you. Now get some rest," she kissed me on my forehead, turned the light off, and left. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva!" Zach shouted, which broke me out of my daze. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I continued to scream, even though it was doing no good. I tried to stop but I couldn't. I wonder if Jasper was watching my mom and I during our conversation. Fear washed over me, my fingers were slipping and my legs were dangling below me. I looked down, which was the single most stupidest thing I've ever done. Pitch black darkness was below me, and it was just waiting to swallow me whole. Seconds, I was only seconds away from certain death. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva don't let go!" Zach screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why on earth would I let go?!" Okay, so I wasn't being very kind. But come on, I was facing my death. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm coming! Tais! Dylan! Come here fast and follow my voice! Aiva's in trouble!" Zach bellowed very loudly. I screamed even louder to back up his statement. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva? What happened to her? I'm coming! Tais, come on!" I heard a faint voice say. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I saw Zach running towards me, and he looked scared. Yay, another facial expression. Now I know why Zach had told me to turn around and help him. He must've seen a vision where I fell through the star. Well, it didn't matter, because the outcome was probably about the same. I was so nervous, that my palms started sweating, and my arms began to tremble. I shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm slipping! I'm slipping!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't slip!" Zach shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva I'm coming! Just hold on!" Dylan's voice was coming closer. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah! We're pretty much on the same page! But for the time being, can't you guys give me any other advice?!" I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva! Wrap your fingers around the edges and hug them with your palms! It helps!" I heard Tais shout. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I tried to do what Tais said, but then something terrible happened. When I moved, the sweat I created made my hands slip. And I no longer had grip on the star. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 9 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was sure I was going to die, but then I didn't. At the last second, Zach grabbed my left arm. And this time, I was glad he had it in a death grip. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Pull me up! Pull me up!" I begged. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was kicking my legs ferociously. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Quit moving!" He ordered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stopped moving, but was still experiencing an adrenaline rush. 'I don't deserve to die. I don't deserve to die. I don't deserve to die.' I thought to myslef. I shut my eyes and could only wait to see what would happen. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm scared!" I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I know. Just try to calm down," Zach said in a soothing voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I took deep breaths but it didn't help. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva! I'm here! Don't worry," Dylan assured me. My eyes were still shut, I didn't want to open them. I was so scared for what would happen. Will I fall to my death? Will I be pulled to safety? I took the advantage of being alive for at least that moment. Then, I felt Dylan's comforting hands grab my right arm. Together, Zach and Dylan managed to pull me up and on top of a sturdy star. I was shaking and crying. Dylan pulled me into his arms, and I savored that moment. I was alive, and I felt safe. I wanted to stay here forever. I didn't care about school, about being a see-er, about my parents, Jasper's stupid test, or anything. I just cared for this moment. Right here. Right now. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 10 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Eventually, I had to let go, but that was okay. I was going to finish Jasper's stupid test because I was sick of it, and I wanted to be free. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why don't you just rest here for a little bit, we'll keep searching," Tais offered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sure, thanks," I smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I leaned back on my palms and looked around at the jumping horses. They all looked the same. Pink, white, and plush with gold boxes on their backs. I sighed and threw my head back. I looked up, and saw something glint above me. What on earth is that? The shiny thing was about five feet directly above where the fallen star originally was. I stood up and squinted at the small, shimmery object floating in front of me. I grabbed it an took a closer look. All of a sudden, the object grew into a full sized, gold, shiny key. The key! A scroll appeared and fell in my lap. I read it, **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">You have found the key for level two. A door will appear any minute now to lead you to level three. Complete all twelve levels without using your powers and you will be free. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan! Tais! Zach! Come here! I found the key!" I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What?" I heard Tais yell back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I found the key!" I shrieked louder. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We're coming!" Tais told me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">A wooden door appeared in front of me. I waited patiently for them to come. Once they arrived, Tais asked, "How did you find it?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It was suspended in the air. Right here," I pointed to where I found it, "Except I didn't know what it was at first because it was so small. But when I grabbed it, it grew to its normal size." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh," Tais said, "Well let's go!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">And with that, we walked through the wooden door, and moved on to the next level. Level three. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 11 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Darkness was all I saw. There were no stars, no light, and no horses. I stuck my hand in front of my face, and couldn't see it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Is everyone still here?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, I'm here," Dylan said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Me too," I heard Zach's voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Here," Tais added. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay, good. Wow, I can't see a thing!" I exclaimed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Me either," Dylan agreed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I took a step forward and heard a 'squish.' **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ew! What did I just step on?" I questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't know! I feel it too! It's all squishy down here, and it smells really bad!" Tais replied in a voice that sounded disgusted. I bent down and touched the ground, or what was on the ground. It felt slimy, squishy, warm, and gross. Plus, it smelled like rotting fish! Blech! I dropped the substance. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh my gosh!" Tais screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"These are ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //bugs!// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">" She replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both squealed and I began to wipe my hands all over my shorts. I heard a 'click' and a 'tss' and a bunch of other weird noises. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ew!" Tais and I whined at the same time. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I heard Dylan and Zach snicker. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Shut up!" I shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's not funny!" Tais added. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Their snickers turned into laughter. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais, where are you?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Over here," she replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Her voice came from somewhere to the right of me. I stuck my hand out over to the right of me, and felt someone. I tapped the person. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Is this you?" I questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah! Now stop touching me with your gross hands!" Tais yelled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I heard more laughter coming from the left of me, perfect. I bent down, picked up two handfuls of slimy bugs, and almost puked. I flung it to the left of me and was satisfied with the reaction. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ugh! Gross!" I heard Dylan yell. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hey!" Zach said defensively. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">This time I started cracking up. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What? What happened?" Tais pulled my blouse. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nothing. I just threw a handful of bugs at them and they screamed like girl," I chuckled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nice," Tais laughed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Right on my cheek!" Dylan said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"On my nose and my eyebrow," Zach fumed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay, I'm sorry," I giggled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Alright guys, cut it out! The sooner we find that key, the sooner we get out of-aaahh!" Tais shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Her screams were becoming fainter. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais?" We all shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, the floor opened up below me and I fell. It was my turn to scream. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva?" Dylan and Zach's voice echoed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Boy was I sick of falling! I landed on something soft with Tais right next to me. I saw her because it was bright down here. Thank goodness there were no bugs down here, except for the ones that fell down with us. I crawled as far away from the bugs as possible without falling off the white cushion. Tais followed me. I looked up and saw the ceiling fall, with Dylan, Zach, and the bugs. They all plopped down on the cushion. I kicked all of the bugs around me as far away from my sight as I could. Dylan and Zach crawled over to us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What are we sitting on?" Zach asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I shrugged. Then, the beetles, worms, and ants started eating the cushion. A T.V. popped up in front of us from the cushion. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Children! I'm so glad to see that all of you make it this far," Jasper smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan, Zach, Tais, and I looked at him with hate. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 12 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay, so I see you have met my friends, huh?" Jasper was still smiling. All of us just kept staring without saying a thing. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aw, come on! You can't be too mad at me. I mean, Aiva is still alive right?" Jasper just kept smiling. So, all of us just kept quiet. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine, I guess I deserve the silent treatment. Well, anyways, these bugs are very hungry. What you're sitting on top of is a gigantic marshmellow, and those bugs are eating it. The key is somewhere hidden inside of this marshmellow, so you better get chewing. The bugs will chew right through the key unless you find it first. If you don't, the bugs will eat the entire marshmellow and all of you will fall into that pool of acid underneath it. If the bugs eat the key first, there is another key at the bottom of the pool of acid. That way, you have two chances to get the key. The acid will not react with your skin if you get out of it in a maximum of five seconds. Good lu-" Jasper was about to finish his sentence before Zach kicked the T.V. off the narshmellow and it fell into the pool of acid. Dyaln, Tais, and I all looked at him. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What? He was annoying me," Zach explained. I smiled and began to eat the marshmellow. After all, I was starving. Everyone else dove in also. By accident, I bit into a bug. I squealed and spit it out. But that wasn't smart of me because the bug happened to be gnawing on something that was very valuable to me. And that was the key. I literally just spit out the key. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No!" I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Everyone else looked in my direction and saw the bug and the key falling into the pool of acid. Dylan jumped for it, but it was too late. The key sank into the water. I looked at Tais, but she was focused on something else. I looked at her eyes, and this time, Tais was having the vision. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I can't swim. So, I'm useless in this case," Zach admitted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay! Tais! Can you swim?" I shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She broke out of her vision and looked at me with sad eyes. Then, she shook her head. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sorry, I never got a chance to learn," Tais apologized. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'll do it then, I can swim," I offered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, I'll go. I can swim too," Dylan volunteered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I shook my head, "No, Dylan. It has to be me. I'm faster than you," I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No! I don't care! I can't risk loosing you again," Dylan yelled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I think Dylan should. He's stronger than you, so he can pull himself up faster," Zach stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, I'm lighter, and it's faster to be pulled up then trying to pull yourself up," I said. I knew what I was talking about, so why won't they just accept me? **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"That's true, I think Aiva should do it," Tais said out loud. Then, only to me, she whispered, "It has to be you. I saw it in my vision. I saw Dylan trip on some bugs and fall into the acid. But he couldn't make it either way. You can make it though. Be sure to step in front of him before he slips so that you are pushed into the pool, okay?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded. I saw Dylan, he was about to slip on the bugs, so I ran in front of him. With a forced push, I dove into the pool. 1 second, I'm diving towards the key. 2 seconds, I see the key. 3 seconds, I grab the key. 4 seconds, I push off the ground as hard as I can. 5 seconds, I'm whizzing through the water and hands pull me up. 6 seconds, my foot is still in the water... **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 13 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Suddenly, it felt as though my foot was burning in a fire. The excruciating pain was more than I could bear. I started screaming, and then crying, while hugging my leg. I looked down at my foot and winced. My skin was peeling and my foot was all bloody. The stinging pain only got worse. Dylan dropped to the ground and held his head in his hands, glaring down at my foot. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh my god, what did I do," It sounded more of like a statement than a question. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, Dylan, it's fine. It's not as bad as it looks," I lied through gritted teeth. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"This is all my fault! I-I pushed you!" He shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, it's not your fault," I anounced. This was true, it wasn't Dylan's fault. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How is it not? I have no excuse. I slipped and pushed you!" Dylan yelled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No! No it's not your fault! I saw that you were about to slip and jumped in front of you! It's my own fault," I fired back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan snapped his head up to look me dead in the eyes, "You what?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I couldn't let you," I whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">His expression softened, and he looked at my foot, then back into my eyes. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be yelling," he mumbled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I took deep breaths and tried to overcome what seemed like everlasting pain. I looked up at Tais and she looked back down at me, then at my foot. She let out a strangled sigh and shut her eyes, knitting her eyebrows together. Zach was just staring at my foot, with his famous 'no expression' face. A scroll suddenly plopped on my lap. I looked at it, and threw it into the water. Besides, I already knew what it said. A wooden door appeared and I gave the key to Dylan. Slowly, Dylan took it, then handed it over to Tais and picked me up. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No that's okay, you don't have to..." I started. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva?" Dylan asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah," I answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Please shut up." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">So I did, and Tais opened the door while we all followed her to level four. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 14 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We all fell and made a 'splash' into the ocean water that greeted us. I gasped from shock, but then thought I was an idiot for sucking in a huge gulp of water. However, something strange happened, I didn't suck in a load full of water, I think. It felt like I sucked in a load full of air, and then I discovered something. I was breathing, but I still felt warm water surround me. The water was treating my foot in a way. When I looked down, my foot still looked gruesome, but it didn't hurt as much as it did at first. I let go of Dylan, and he let go of me, only to swim down to the sand and rip out a handful of seaweed from the ocean floor. Then, he swam up to me and wrapped it tightly around my foot. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Thanks," I smiled, and then noticed I just talked under water. Dylan, Tais, and Zach noticed this too and began talking also. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wow, I didn't know we could talk," Tais remarked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Me either," Zach added. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Let's just find that key," Dylan spat. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was surprised at how at how upset and angry he sounded. All my life I've never heard him talk in such a rude way. He sounded like he hated somebody, probably me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sorry," he whispered, then swam away. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked at Tais and she raised her eyebrows. Then, I looked at Zach, and he shrugged. We all swam away to look for the key. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I tried to catch up with Dylan, but with my bad leg, this was nearly impossible. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan?" I called, "Wait up!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes?" He asked in an irritated voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just, like, what's going on? Why are you so ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //crabby// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">? I've never seen you like this before," I announced. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan sighed, "Listen, Aiva," **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then he paused. I waited for a moment, but all he did was stare straight ahead. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan?" I waved my hand in front of his face. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Uh, yeah?" He moved his head towards me, but he wasn't looking at me. I mean, he was, but he wasn't. He was staring straight into my eyes, but it's like he couldn't see me, his gaze was empty. He looked at me the way Zach does to everyone, except for Tais of course. But Dylan isn't like Zach, and he never will be. Zach has that 'cool guy' look to him, the one where he seems as though he doesn't care about anything. Like a tough guy, no soft spots, with the exception of Tais. I know he has a thing for her, it doesn't take a genious to figure that one out. Tais might not like him, but she hides her emotions well, better than Zach does even. I can never tell what she's thinking, or if something was worrying her. But Tais is a leader, and leaders don't show fear or weakness. So she hides them differently than Zach. In a way where no one would even think she could ever be hiding something, but me. And Dylan, well, he's my best friend. I know everything there is to know about him. I may even know him better than he knows himself. And I bet he could say the same thing for me. I love Dylan to death, and I don't know what I would do without him. He's just so kind, considerate, and caring. Dylan is a helper and cares about everyone he meets. So why was he looking at me like he didn't care about me? Like I was that fly in his room that keeps him up all night because he couldn't catch me. The person that annoys him and follows him around everywhere. Maybe that was the case. Maybe he did think I was just that girl who follows him around because she doesn't know what to do with herself. Like she's a completely lost child. Well, I am, but it hurt so much to think about him having this feeling towards me. I wanted to cry. Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. That guy with the dirty blonde hair, soft hazel eyes that make you melt when you look into them, and when you do, you have to stay there because you're locked with his, and couldn't possibly look away unless he does first. The one that's tall, tries really hard to get a tan during the summer, but when he does, it fades away when winter comes around. The guy that thinks his muscles are the best, and will stand in front of his mirror with his shirt off, smiling at himself, until he finds a flaw. But Dylan has no flaws, because he is perfect. And a lot of people would think that there could never be a perfect person, but to me, my definition of perfect would be Dylan. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stopped daydreaming, but Dylan kept his cold expression. I felt like the minute I stepped out of my world, I noticed that Dylan didn't feel the same way for me. The feeling was terrible. I felt like someone kept slapping me until my cheeks were too numb to feel anything anymore. My eyes watered and my stomach dropped. Dylan didn't care about me, and I guess he never did. Then, anger washed over me. How could he not care about me? After all the things I did for him. After all the great times we had together. Like when we had a car wash and he sprayed me with the hose and I dumped the bucket of soap and water all over him. When we were climbing trees and he got stuck, so I pulled him out and we both fell into the leaves we raked, laughing hysterically. At the bowling alley, the first day we met. My ball fell in the gutter, and he ran out there, picked it up, and bowled a strike for me. I was offended. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What?!" I yelled very loudly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and Zach even snapped their heads back to look at me. Dylan jumped and stammered, "Uh, wha-what?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ugh!" I grunted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I've never been this mad at Dylan. And I didn't even have a good reason to be mad at him. I just was. It was one of those times when something stupid really sets you off. I ferociously swam away, or as ferocious as you could under water. Tais followed me. I swam down to a rock and leaned against it while picking at the sand I was sitting on. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"He didn't even notice I left! He's just standing er floating there with the same stupid expression. He completely ignored me!" I rambled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What are you talking about?! What has gotten into you?! Have you completely forgotten why we're here?! Where we ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //are// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">?!" Tais roughly whispered through gritted teeth. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I blinked and though about what she said. Why are we here? And then suddenlt I felt like an idiot. A stupid, selfish idiot. Words didn't even come close to what I wanted to call myself. How could I have been so naive? So retarded?! Of course! Dylan was having a vison! I could tell with Zach when he was, and with Tais, and when I did I knew what I had to do to keep Jasper from being suspicious. But of all people, I couldn't immediately tell that Dylan was. And I knew him best. What is wrong with me?! **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh," I whispered. Mixed emotions were overwhelming me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah! Now go fix things!" Tais ordered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I swam back up to Dylan. He shook his head and looked at me, no longer with his lost expression. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">His eyes fluttered immediately to mine, and he had that welcoming expression for me, the one that told me he cared. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva, I'm so," He started. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No. Why should you be? I'm the stupid one. I'm really sorry, I just, I'm so sorry," I whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I knew he could hear that I was being sincere, it was as plain as day. I studied his eyes, and I felt like trash. I felt so guilty. And for the first time, I was the first person to look away. He knew why I was apologizing. We all did, except for Jasper apparently. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I need to tell you something. I've been keeping this a secret from you, and from everyone. It's the only secret I've ever kept from you. Because nobody knows my secrets but you, and this one I wasn't ready to tell you. And I specifically mean you," Dylan smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah," I prodded. Please. Please. Say it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We've known eachother for a while. And the first time I met you, I couldn't help but fa-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan?" I stopped him. I felt my stomach turn. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hm?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just say what you were going to say. You don't need to tell me a whole story. Just tell me," I begged. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay. Aiva, I-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">And when I was just about to hear his next words. The words I've been longing to hear from him since the say we met. The words I hoped would come from his lips one day. Dylan was interrupted by a distant scream. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Help!" Zach bellowed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I broke out of my fantasy and wheeled around to see Zach, hanging upside down from an octupus' arms, about to meet the ground with his face in a matter of seconds. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 15 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach!" Tais, Dylan, and I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Help! Help me! Help!" Zach bellowed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais was the first to act. She ran towards Zach. I'm pretty sure she didn't have enough time to think before her legs flew towards Zach, dragging the rest of her body along. Just as Zach was about to be smashed into the ground, Tais rammed right into him. Tais delfected off his body and was spinning backwards rapidly towards Dylan and I. In the meantime, Zach was spinning in the opposite direction of Tais. At least Zach was flying sideways and not straight down to the ground. Dylan pushed me to the right, so I wouldn't be hit by Tais, and attempted to catch and stop her from spinning wildly through the water. But Tais was going too fast and knocked Dylan backwards with her because of the great force Dylan was hit by. However, Dylan did slow her down, and then they both fell to the ground. Tais was unconscious, at least I hope she was, and Dylan had the wind knocked out of him. He lay on the ground, gasping for air, er, water? Meanwhile, Tais lay perfectly still. Her head and nose were bleeding. I snapped my head to the right of me and noticed that Zach eventually stopped spinning and landed on the ground like 1,000 yards away from my current location. Okay, so I admit it, I felt bad, terrible actually. There were three somehwhat wounded people around me, and I was levitating in the water, my body completely in tact and unscathed. So I decided, the least I could do was go and get Zach, even if he was a mere 1,000 yards away from me. I swam towards Zach like a limping dog. Okay, so I wasn't completely unscathed, my foot was still in pain, but you know what I mean. Once I got there, I noticed that his eyes were shut closed, and he had the nasty and very gruesome gash on the side of his forehead which extended all the way to his left temple. I shuttered, blood made me queasy. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh my God," I pursed my lips and squeezed my eyes shut. Then, took a very deep breath, and opened them again. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I checked his pulse and was relieved to feel a steady beat. I lifted his shoulders up so that he was in a sitting position. Then, I hugged him, wrapping my arms around his firm back while his chiseled face lay on my shoulder. I put my two feet on the ground, exerting more pressure on my uninjured foot, and pushed with my thighs to stand up. Did you think that even this was easy? Well, think again. Let me tell you, it is no swift task to try and get a one hundred and fifty something pound guy made of pure muscle and dead weight to stand up. I mean, for goodness sake, I'm only like 95 something pounds, and it is NOT all muscle. I almost toppled over about nine times, on top of him, but thankfully, I didn't. My legs were shaking, but I didn't give up just yet. I had him lean on me while I turned around so that his weight was now on my back. I probably looked like a retard, if anyone were to see him trying to pull off my little stunt. And if it were videotaped, I have no doubt in my mind that it would make America's Funniest Videos. Fortunately, the water help A LOT. In what seemed to be like an hour, I finally managed to drag Zach's body all the way back to Dylan and Tais' location. With my last ounce of strength, I shook Zach off my back, and he hit the ground with a thud. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Whoops," I exhaled, "At least he didn't feel it." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I collapsed to the ground and landed right next to Dylan. His ear was pressed up against Tais' chest. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ugh,"he grunted, "I can't hear anything!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh wow. You're so stupid," I rolled my eyes and pushed him away. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I crawled up to Tais' body. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What? What am I doing wrong?" He looked taken aback, and then he pouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stifled a laugh, "Watch and learn." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I grabbed her arm and pushed my thumb against her wrist. I felt a rapid pound. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"She's alive," I concluded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How do you know?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I checked her pulse." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But that's so easy." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You couldn't seem to figure it out." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He sighed, "That's really how you do it?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes Dylan, that is really how you do it." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I giggled in between my heavy breaths. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So what do we do now?" Dylan asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We wait," I answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wait for what?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"For them to wake up, duh." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But what about the key?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I sighed, crawled over, and sat down next to him, "We can't look yet." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why not?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Because we can't leave them alone." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But what if you stayed here and I looked. Or vice versa." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What if you get lost? I can't lose you, we're in this together. And besides, you could get hurt." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I let you get hurt. Why do you care so much about me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan, I know that if Tais and Zach let you, you would've jumped right after me into that acid to save me." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"True. But what about my question?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What question?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why do you care so much about me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What kind of question is that? I've known you my whole life. You're my best friend." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just a best friend?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, yeah. What's wrong with that?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He sighed, "Nothing. It's just, you always say how much you care about me." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Of course." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Friends don't always remind eachother how much they care about them." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Best friends do." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, not even best friends." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Then who?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan hesitated, "A mother to a son." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Is that it?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Then what else?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I was hoping you would tell me." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">My ears were getting hot. What is going on here? "Tell you what?" I asked slowly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Have you ever thought of me as anything but a best friend?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He looked me dead in the eyes and I felt like I was going to melt. I had to look away. 'Yes.' I thought. 'I have. You are the guy that I am in love with, and it's been that way ever since I could remember.' But I wasn't ready to tell him. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I was stuck. He looked at me expectantly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, have you?" I finally asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes. Have you?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Shoot. I was tongue tied again. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You know? Yeah, I have, many times." I couldn't help but smile. I wonder if my cheeks were as red as they felt. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He smiled back, "How so?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'll tell you if you tell me first." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine. On the count of three." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"One." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Two," I said. Then, I saw something glint out of the corner of my eye. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Th-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wait," I interrupted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva," he started. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Look!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I turned my head and saw that the thing glinting was the golden box! Dylan saw it too. I ran to the box and picked it up. Then, opened it. Yes! The key! Inside the box, I saw the scroll, that was normal, but then I saw a yellow piece of paper. It was a note. I read it aloud: **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Thought I'd give you a little break after that disaster. Here's the key." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Whatever," I scoffed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I crumpled the paper and threw it away. A door appeared and I used the key to open it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Which one do you want to take?" I heard Dylan ask from behind me. I twirled around to see him gesturing towards Tais and Zach. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais anyday," I laughed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan joined in while I dragged Tias and he dragged Zach to the next level. Level 5. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 16 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Suddenly, everything transformed to a fairytale, literally. Tais and I were wearing beautiful gowns and crowns. Dylan and Zach were dressed as knights. Dylan took off his helmet. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"This is so-" he started. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wonderful!" I squealed and began to twirl. My dress spun with me and flounced. It fluttered open making it look like an opened umbrella. Dylan was grinning at me. Then, I felt uncomfortable and stopped twirling. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Uh, what?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nothing. You just look, beautiful," he answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Thanks," I blushed, looking down at my feet. "You don't look too bad yourself." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan flipped his dirty blonde hair, "Why thank-you milady." He bowed and I curtsied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">If all that it took for this to happen again was for me to wear a dress, heck, I'd wear a dress for every day of my enitre life. Well, if I live through this. I felt all giddy and my stomach had butterflies flying around in it. Dylan leaned in towards me, his lips just centimeters away from mine. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What? Wh-what's going on?" I heard a confused voice ask. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I jumped, startled, and Dylan and I pulled away from eachother. I looked down to see Zach leaning on his elbows. His pitch black floppy hair shining in the sun. His eyebrows were raised. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"N-nothing," I sputtered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nothing? Oh," Dylan said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Um, well, something, but nothing anymore," I eyed both of them carefully. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Something?" Zach smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked at Dylan, and then back down to the ground. Then, after an awkward silence, Zach's smile dropped and he blinked. I guess he started recalling everything because next he shouted, "Tais? Where's Tais?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Relax. She's right behind you," Dylan said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach immediately spun around to see Tais laying down on the grass, knocked out. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"This isn't happening. This is my fault! She's like this because of me! Don't die, Tais. Please, do not die," Zach cried. He grabbed her hand and stroked her hair. If I wasn't so touched, I would've thought he was overreacting or that this was way awkward. But you could almost hear his heart breaking. His bottom lip trembled and I saw tears form in his eyes. One by one, they ran down his cheeks. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach, it's okay. She's-" I started. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Shut up Aiva! I don't want to hear it! If you just stopped her. Why? Why didn't you just stop her?" He weeped. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He let go of Tais' hand and turned around to face me. His eyes were red. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How could you just let this happen?" He repeated. His words were a mixture of anger and hurt. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't worry about him, he's just hurt and is taking it out on you," Dylan whispered to me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan! You are just as much to blame!" Zach ranted, "You're faster! You had a larger chance! But, you didn't even-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach!" A voice interrupted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">It wasn't me, and the voice was way too feminine to be Dylan's. So that leaves us with only one person. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais!" Zach exclaimed, "You're okay!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He ran towards her, "I was so worried." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh were you? Because to me, it seemed like you were handling things just fine," She added a tinge of sass. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What's wrong? What did I-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, please. Don't act stupid. I saw your little act. Where do you think you were going to get by yelling at them? Do you care about me? Oh yeah, I believe that. Zach, you care TOO much about me. And when something bad happens to me, you blame others. Am I the only thing that means anything to you? Seriously, do you know how much they've ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //helped// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">us?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I-I'm sorry. I just got carried away." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No kidding." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How much of that did you hear?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Enough. Ever since you first yelled at Aiva." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You know? You're so shallow. Aiva was the one that saved you, Zach. Not me. There's a word for people like you, and that's a ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //jerk."// **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Only she didn't say jerk. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"And I meant that in the meanest way possible." She finished. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm sorry," Zach muttered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. When are you going to understand?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais, it was all because I lo-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Save it Romeo. I don't feel the same way." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais took off one of her shoes and threw it at him. Woah, Talk about girl issues and fits. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're a, a ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //loser,"// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Only she didn't say loser. "-and I don't want you in my life. You freak me out," And with that, Tais wheeled around and ran off. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'll get her," I whispered and sprinted off after her. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais! Tais! Stop!" I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She stopped in her tracks and turned away, wiping a tear away with the back of her hand. I caught up to her and grabbed her arm, "Come with me," I panted. I pulled her into a nearby cave. We sat down on the cold ground, leaning against the hard stone wall. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What was that all about?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She shrugged, "I wanted to make him feel bad. It's just, I was so shocked at first, I didn't know what to say. So then, I thought the only way he'd feel guilty were if I were to be angry with him." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So, that was all an act?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Of course! Remember the part when I threw my shoe at him and ran away? I swear, I'm going to make a great actress one day!" She laughed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais, you shouldn't do that. You're not even mad at him." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"That's so not true. I am mad at him." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, you're not as mad as he thinks you are." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So what? He needed to feel guilty. And if you were the one yelling at him, he wouldn't feel guilty at all. He would just yell back at you. If it were Dylan, he would still feel nothing. It's because he's selfish. I'm the only one he cares about. He needs to learn to care about other people. Not just himself, or the girl he loves. Zach needs to change, or he'll just end up with everyone hating him. He'll even hate himself. He has no respect towards anyone but him or the people he's really connected to. It's like he's a robot. I mean, I care about him, I really do. Heck, I might even love the loser, but the way he treats everyone, it's not right. It's not fair. And I'm the only one that can change him, and make him better." Somehow, Tais began crying in her little speech. She quickly wiped away all the tears. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But no worries! I'm fine!" She smiled brightly, "See?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I put my arm on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, "Tais, stop this. You can't always be a leader. You can't make sacrifices for everyone so that they'll be happy all the time. Sometimes you just need to think about yourself. And it's okay to cry, you don't need to be a leader around everybody. It's okay to not be perfect. Perfect is way overrated. If crying is what makes you feel better, then that's what you do Tais. You don't hold back and you don't care what other people think. You just do it because that's what makes you happy." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're right." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, Tais began to cry, hard. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I just wanted everyone to be happy. I-I just wanted to be a good person," she whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You are a good person. You're a great person. You're a phenomenal person! You are the complete opposite of selfish. You're the best person I've ever met, and I'm so glad I did!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais laughed and cried. Then, we hugged eachother. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Thank-you Aiva." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I smiled and squeezed her tighter. Everything is so complicated right now that I don't even know how to put these issues into words. It's just so confusing and everyone's being so emotional. I laughed at all the confusion. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What?" Tais sniffed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nothing. Everything is just so crazy!" I giggled. Tais joined me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I know right!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Good evening ladies," a deep voice greeted us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and I shrieked. We looked around to find a very ugly man who was scrawny, short(not much taller than me), had long black hair pulled into a ponytail, a huge nose, and a scar on his left cheekbone. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Let's take a walk, shall we?" He smiled eerily. I do not have a good feeling about this. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 17 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I woke up with a blurry vision. The first thing I noticed was how freezing it was in here. My teeth were chattering and my hands actually looked a little blue. Once the room stopped spinning, I blinked a few times so that the blurriness disappeared. Boy am I sick and tired of being knocked out. Anyways, I was in some sort of cell. No, not a cell, a chamber. I looked around to see Tais laying on the ground. I tried shaking her awake. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais, wake up," I mumbled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She remained still. I shook her some more, no luck. I slapped her hard on the cheek and she woke up screaming. This caught me completely off guards as I jumped and fell backwards, landing on my butt, screaming with her. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aw, shut your traps! All ya princesses are so irritaing," a deep voice boomed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I noticed that it was the guard. Tais pulled me away from the bars and into the back corner, so that we were out of earshot. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What happened?" Tais whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't really know," I replied. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She rubbed her head, "Ow! My head hurts so much!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I noticed this too, my head really did hurt. I was having a deja vu feeling. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, mine too," I concluded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How'd you wake me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I slapped you. Didn't you feel it?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, not a thing. I just remember waking up, but not from pain. From a dream. Gosh! I can't remember what it was about!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, it doesn't really matter. I mean, it was just a dream. Nothing can happen to you from it." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I know," she paused, "You sure you slapped me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded, "Oh, yeah. It made a very loud noise. You probably just couldn't feel it because your cheek, or face, was most likely numb. I mean seriously! It's freezing in here!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It is! I can't feel my face, my hands, my feet, just my whole body! Geez!" She shivered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah! And we're turning blue! Pretty soon we're going to be as blue as Smurfs!" I giggled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She joined me, "I know! Your lips are so blue! It's insane!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both laughed when Tais called over to the guard, "Yo! Guard, or knight, or whatever!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He turned around, "Yes, ya royal pain?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Kick up the thermometer a notch, would ya?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Kick a what? Up a what?" A confused expression washed over his face. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both laughed hysterically. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Make cold room change to hot room," Tais enunciated carefully using a baby voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Uh, well, how may I do that miss?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're a big boy! You can figure it out!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I do not tolerate yer insults!" He pointed his sword at us and threatened to use it. After he turned around again, Tais and I snickered quietly. Then, it happened. My eyes shifted to another scene. I saw Dylan pounding on a heavy, tall, wooden door. The same ugly man from earlier today opened it. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Who goes there?!" His voice boomed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You have our friends! Let them go!" Dylan demanded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The ugly man cracked a huge smile, "Yer princesses ay? Must the noble nights wish to see their beauties before dawn or ya shall never see them again. Find a way to rescue yer princesses 'fore time runs out. And if me think yer worthy, will release them. If proven to be cowards, thou shall ne'r see you false knights once more, and will both marry a wiser lord, as me." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay, I understood about half of what you just said. But what I do know is that I will snap your head like a twig if we don't get our girls back!" Zach bellowed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How dare ya call thou princesses 'girls?!' Thou be beautiful, fragile creatures." The ugly man snided. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ha! Fragile?!" Dylan laughed and Zach joined. "Don't make me laugh. Those girls are the exact ** **__<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">opposite __** **<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">of fragile! You don't know what you're in for buddy! They'll escape so fast it'd make your head twirl 'till you puke," Dylan chuckled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We shall see!" The ugly man slammed the door behind him. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes we shall!" Zach mocked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The both kept laughing but immediately stopped once they saw a fire breathing dragon, circling the tower. My vision ended. I noticed how Tais was staring into one spot, just like I probably was. Oops. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wow! That was a fun game! It really helped you focus on all the issues at hand. Nevertheless, I stayed in the position longer! I win!" Tais exclaimed and then quickly winked at me. Wow, I tell you, this girl is going to be a great actress some day. I smiled. What would I do without this girl? I saw something pass the one window. Well, what passed for a window back then I guess. It was really just a chunk of the wall that was missing in a block form. Just a hole really. However, it was impossible for even me to squeeze through it because there were bars in the way. Except, you could still see through it. I mean, it ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //was// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">a window. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What was that?" I asked Tais, looking out the window. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What was what?" She asked back, turning her head to look through the window. The 'thing' passed again. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"That! What was that?!" I pointed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hmm, I dunno," Tais admitted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both hopped to our feet and ran to the window. Once I got there, I felt one thing, heat. Which I guess I should've been relieved about considering that my body was as cold ice. But something made me feel uncomfortable about this heat wave. My instincts told me that this was not a good sign. Then, I heard a loud roar and something flapping. After, I saw a scaly, purple body. It was a long body. No, scratch that. It was a dragon's body. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 18 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Well, my instincts were proven to be true, no surprise there. They usually always do. This time, though, I didn't scream. Oh believe me I tried. But I was so shocked that I choked back the scream and nothing came out. I was just so flabberghasted, because right now, I was in the prescence of a cold-blooded demon creature in the flesh. However, Tais didn't have this problem. Oh she screamed, and loud too. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aw shut it!" The guard hollered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais abruptly stopped screaming and began to pant. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's a! It's a! It's a..."Tais repeated. Her voice trailed off. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dragon," I nodded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh my God," Tais pressed her hand against her chest. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, what did you expect? Different level, different environment. This is like some sort of fairytale, I guess it's one that took place in the medieval times." I shrugged. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dragon! Dragon! Dragon!" Tais ranted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, a dragon! Now shut up!" I commanded. Tais shook her head, "Sorry." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We need to get out of here," I stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, and now please!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sh! Don't let the guard hear us." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Right, sorry, again," She lowered her voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We need a plan." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Got any ideas?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well, how about I whack the guard over the head with something? Then, we can steal the keys and leave!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What if you don't knock him out though?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Are you doubting me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well! I thought we were friends!" Tais teased. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We are. And as your friend, I'm giving you my honest opinion. I don't think you'll be able to knock him out as long as he's wearing all that armor." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hm, you're right." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We need another plan." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Your turn." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Maybe we can make him fall asleep." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We could sing lullabies," I offered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nuh-uh! I don't sing! I never could and I never will be able to!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Lower your voice! And I don't either but we have to at least try if we want to make it out of here." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva!" Tais whined. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais!" I whined back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine." She pouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Good." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So, what now?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just follow my lead." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I crept closer to the guard, then, sat on the ground and leaned against the bars. We were back to back, with only the set of bars in between us. Tais sat down next to me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You look tired," I said to him. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's a lot of work," the guard nodded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, you poor guy," I sympathized. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What are you doing?" Tais whispered nudging me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Help me, just go with it," I answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais rolled her eyes, "Why don't you just take a break? Relax, close your eyes. You don't need to go to sleep." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I can't. It is my duty to watch you two." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh please, what damage can two princesses do?" Tais scoffed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'll just close my eyes," he whispered, "But I'm not falling asleep! So don't get any ideas!" He perked up. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We wouldn't dream of it," I said sweetly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He slowly lay his head against the bars. I suspected he probably closed his eyes. First, I began to hum softly. I hummed to, "Hero", by Mariah Carey. Tais joined in. I noticed how the guard began to nod off. Right when we were about ot finish, I heard a loud snore. I looked at Tais to see if she noticed this too. Her wide grin answered my question. We celebrated quietly. I turned around and stuck my head through the bars. The keys were clipped to his belt. I grabbed them and quietly snapped it off. Then, warily pulled it back into the chamber. When I put the key into the rusted lock, it made a small, shrill, creaking noise as I turned it. I opened the door just enough so Tais and I could shimmy through, careful not to disturb the guard. Then, we slowly tiptoed out the chamber and down the long, narrow, hall. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hey!" A deep voice screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and I jumped and wheeled around to see the guard running towards us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What do we do now?" Tais shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"When in doubt, run out!" I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the guard along with me. We sprinted down the hall. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Help! I need help! More guards!" The guard hollered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We hopped up the stairs and were no longer in an isolated basement, but a royal room. With Tais in a tight grip, I scurried left and right, guessing our way out. Thankfully, I saw a massive, wooden, heavy, royal door which looked like the one in my vision, the front door. I was abruptly stopped by the ugly man. He caught me, "What is going on?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I kicked him in the shins and he released me, shrieking in pain. Tais turned around and punched the guard in the face, hard. It made a loud noise as her fist clashed with the metal helmet. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ow!" She shook her hand. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The force pushed the guard to the ground and we left him there in a daze. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Come on!" I urged. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We ran out the door but when we thought we were home free, I bumped into someone and fell backwards. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 19 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva! Tais!" Zach greeted us and helped me up. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, I'm sorry." Zach said to me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's alright. That was probably my fault." I explained. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, it wasn't. And I'm sorry for everything I said before. I just got carried away and I swear I didn't mean any of it. I hate myself for saying all those things. You really are a great friend you know." His voice was so sincere. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"That's alright. It happens," I remarked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked at Tais, she was smiling. Then, she walked up to Zach and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. He blushed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Let's go! Come on, I want to get out of here," Dylan prodded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay," I said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We were about to run as far away from this territory as possible when the purple dragon immediately stopped us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh no," I whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">It inched closer to us. Tais and I screamed at the same time. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Sh! Stop screaming! Is that really all you guys do?" Dylan yelled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The dragon roared and ran towards us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, you got it going now!" Dylan whined. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay! We need a plan! Dylan and I will split-" I started but was interrupted when the dragon picked me up. I shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva!" All three of them screamed in unison. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"H-Help!" I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">My heart began to pound out of my chest and I was trembling. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'll get you down!" Dylan shouted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach and Dylan pulled out their swords and stabbed the dragon's stomach. The dragon roared and swung its tail at them. It missed Dylan and Zach dodged it, which left Tais in the way. She was whacked with the tail and spiraled into a tree. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ow!!" She wailed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais! What happened?" Zach screamed to her. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Well! Let's see, I just got slammed into a tree!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Are you okay?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It definitely doesn't feel like it!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Go to her. I'll take care of this dragon," Dylan said to Zach. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You sure man?" Zach asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Positive," Dylan nodded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Here," Zach handed him his sword. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Thanks," Dylan smiled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach patted him on the back and ran towards Tais. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Alright. Let's dance," Dylan smiled at the dragon. First, he used the sword and cut off th dragon's tail. The dragon growled and moaned. It turned towards Dylan and blew fire at him. Dylan jumped out of the way and rolled over and hit behind a rock so that he lost the dragon's gaze. The creature turned around, looking for Dylan, when Dylan jumped on its back. He stabbed the dragon right in the middle of its back. Suddenly, the dragon roared and dropped me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Help!" I screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva!" Dylan dropped the swords. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I closed my eyes. This can't be the end of my life. It can't end this way. I was falling through the air at an extremely fast pace. My back would meet the ground any time now. I sneaked a peek to see the ground about three feet away from me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No!" I shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was just about to hit the ground when a pair of strong arms scooped me up. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"D-D-D-Dy-Dyl-a-an?" I stammered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was crying and shaking. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yes. Sh, it's alright," he whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I-I-d-don't want t-to do this anymore," I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It'll all be over soon. I promise, just stay strong. I know you know how to." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He set me down and went to retrieve the swords. 'Stay strong. Stay strong Aiva.' I thought. 'Be like Tais.' I stood up straight and quickly wiped the tears off my face with the backs of my hands. Then, I smiled. 'You're beautiful. You're strong. You're independent. You're ** **__<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">brave __****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">.' I picked my chin up. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice that the dragon was facing me. It was blowing fire at me, but I didn't have enough time to think to jump. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva!" Dylan screamed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I couldn't see him because the fire was blinding and watering my eyes. Suddenly, something hit me and I was knocked out of the way from the fire, landing on the grass. A piece of my hair singed from the heat. I looked at the fire. Dylan was in there somewhere. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No! Dylan!" I shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The fire passed and I saw Dylan on the ground. His armor was on fire. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No," I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I picked up a nearby sword and ran towards the dragon, blazing fury. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nobody messes with my Dylan!" I screamed and chopped its head off. The dragon disappeared, leaving behind the gold box. I saw Zach running towards us, carrying Tais. I ran towards Dylan and dropped to the ground. With my shaw, I put out the rest of the fire. I took his armor and helmet off. His face was black, and I wiped it off with my hands to see his perfect tan skin. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan?" I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">No answer. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan, please! Answer me." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Nothing. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't leave me, I'm nothing without you." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">His face was wet from my tears. I hugged him, and then heard a chuckle. I let go of him to see him smiling. Then, his eyes fluttered open. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How thoughtful of you to say," he laughed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're alive!" I exclaimed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, I guess I am." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why are you laughing?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I was never hurt. That armor actually helped me. I heard everything you said." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, well." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're not mad, are you?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Mad? Why would I be mad? You risked your life to save mine." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, I did." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Because, you're my princess. I wouldn't want to live anymore if you died. I love you." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"And I love you. You're my night in shining armor." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. And I bent over him. We closed our eyes, and I gently pressed my lips against his. Sparks flew as I kissed the guy of my dreams. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach whisper something to Tais, she smiled, and kissed him too. A few moments later, Zach's voice interrupted us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I got the key. The door is here. When do you want to leave?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I pulled away from Dylan, "Now." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wait," Dylan whispered to me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What was that?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Way overdue," I winked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We smiled at eachother. Tais and Zach walked through the door. Then, hand in hand, Dylan and I passed through also. Today was a fairytale, literally. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 20 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Okay, this outfit totally did ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //not// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">complement my complection. I mean, where did my gown go? I miss that gown! My hair was pulled back into a hideous bun, and my clothes? Yeah, they were itchy. I had on a ragged, one sleeved, dress(I think) made of animal fur. And I wasn't wearing any shoes. I mean, you could've looked at me and thought I was some kind of hoochie mama. This outfit was ancient, and I do not mean figuratively. Our new environment took place in the ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //prehistoric times.// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Yeah, that's right, no bathrooms. You can stop laughing now. But you know what's even worse? That dinosaur breathing down my neck, and he had sharp teeth. Hm, I wonder, are you still laughing? **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Uh, Aiva, there's a...an um," Zach stammered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I know," I whispered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't move a muscle," Dylan enunciated each word carefully. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ha, where'd you get that line from? Jurraissac Park?" I suggested. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm serious. If your run, it'll chase you, and definitely kill you," Dylan stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"When did you get so smart?" I asked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Okay, so this is like a problem of mine. When I'm facing a 'near death' experience or situation where I know things are not going to turn out too well, I freak out. But I express this emotion by being very, er, sarcastic you could say. I'm not proud ouf this habit. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva, just listen to me," Dylan said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"When do I not?" See? There it is. The teenage sass. It's just, my lips seem to have a mind of its own for the time being, like it did in the last level. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Do I need to make you a list?" He fought back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I sighed, "I suppose not." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Good. Now, slowly and warily, tip-toe over to where we are." He gestured towards Tais, Zach, and himself. I was seperated from them, there was this huge gap between their location and mine. 'Gee, thanks a lot Jasper,' I thought. Slowly, I did as Dylan commanded, holding my breath the whole time. With every step, I thought of the consequences of my face being eaten. I was almost home free when I stumbled on a sharp, pointy rock. Need I remind you that I'm barefoot with a slowly healing, injured foot? Well, I just did. Oh, not supposed to answer that, it was a rhetorical question. I can't believe I'm correcting myself in my thoughts. So yeah, this feeling wasn't all rainbows and lollipops for me. I winced and fell with a thud and a small yelp. Honestly, this one wasn't even loud. But I was sure it was enough to set off this dinosaur. My heart stopped, realizing what I'd done. 'Maybe it didn't care, maybe-' my thoughts were shattered by a very deep, and loud by the way, roar. I did the first thing that came to mind, I ran, my eyes wide with fear. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva, no! Stop!" Dylan screeched. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Stop? Was he nuts? If I stopped, I'd be dead for sure. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I can't! Then, it will definitely kill me!" I hollered back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Maybe now that's the case! But before, when you were on the ground from tripping, you were just fine! All it did was roar, it didn't actually come after you! You were the first to run!" Dylan yelled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Oops. "Well, it's too late now! Are you just going to yell at me for what I did, or are you going to help me? Choose the second option please!" I concluded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Jesus, Shrine! How many times am I going to have to save your butt?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That was a joke, right? He must've been kidding, but this was no time for jokes. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just do something!" I pleaded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine! Zach and I will distract it while you and Tais double up for the kill!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wow, that was very ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //James Bond// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">of you to suggest, but did it ever occur to you that that task is impossible?!" I questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"The dinosaur is like ten times the size of us! And we don't have any weapons to strike with either!" I pointed out. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh, then run to safety, and when we get this thing off our backs, we'll follow!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"And how do you intend to to 'get that thing off your backs?'" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't worry about it! Tais will catch up with you, and the two of you find shelter! Understand?!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"UNDERSTAND?!!!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay, but Dylan I could-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Good! Now ready, set, action!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stopped in my tracks and whirled around to wait for Tais. My abrupt stop contorted some confusion in the dinosaur, but it was probably wiped away from its mind fast, replaced with fury. Because Dylan and Zach were throwing sticks and stones at it, shouting some very innapropriate language to the dinosaur. If it wasn't trying to eat me alive a second ago, I'd probably feel sorry for it. Tais somehow managed a way to sneak past the demon and caught up with me in a heartbeat. Geez, I didn't know I was that slow. We both ran around aimlessly, looking for shelter. Finally, I noticed what I think was another cave, and tapped Tais. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Let's go in there," I pointed to the cave. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Good idea," she panted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">So we did, and it was, indeed, another cave. We dropped to the ground and tried to control our breathing. After, we did what anyone would do under these circumstances, religious or not, we prayed for Dylan and Zach's safe arrival. Or survival for that matter. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 21 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Snap! I woke up with a start, bright light streaming through the cracks of the cave walls. My stomach grumbled, and I realized that I have never been this hungry before in my life. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hungry, huh?" Tais snorted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How long was I asleep?" I asked, bewildered. I didn't remember falling asleep. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Long enough. So, when you're finished eating, get ready to leave and go search for them." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais shoved a piece of meat on a stick in my face. Snap! Crack! I searched the cave and noticed a warm fire making a lot of noise to the right of me. My gaze directed back to the meet. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What is this?" I questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Food. Eat it now. There's no time to be picky." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What if I get sick from it?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You won't." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How do you know?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais threw her head back in laughter, "Oh please! Aiva, suck it up, and eat it!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I frowned and then sniffed the suspicious meat. It smelled absolutely apalling that I almost barfed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Here's a trick," Tais started. She pinched her nose, "Do this and then eat it real quick. All that matters is that we get food in you." I followed her instructions and quickly shoved the food in my mouth and swallowed it whole. Surprisingly, the trick worked, and I didn't taste a thing. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Alright, come on now. We're burning daylight," Tais prodded. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I stifled a groan and slowly rose to my feet, hobbling after Tais to the mouth of the cave. As I stepped out of my shelter, warmth greeted me and I realized just how cold I was in that cave. It was so bright out, that for a moment, all I could acknowledge was a blinding white scenery. Soon, my vision re-focused. We hiked around for a while and fatigue was beginning to overtake me, but I pushed through it. After what seemed like hours of trekking and hollering, my legs gave out from under me and the ground rushed up to me my face. Before I knew it, I was face first in the dirt. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Ugh," I moaned, "Can we take a break?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No," Tais panted, "We have to keep moving." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Listen, I want to find then as much as you do but if we don't take a break, we're going to hyperventilate or pass out or something, and you know it," I tried to negotiate. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Then we'll cross that bridge when we get there." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais," I started. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Stop, please, I'm not changing my answer," Tais mumbled. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But seriously, just hear me out. I really think that-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva, no, stop," Tais warned me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But we don't have water, and-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't care! Aiva! We can't stop! We have to find them! God, what don't you understand?!" Tais shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was awestruck, then confused, then upset, then furious. Suddenly, a dam broke inside of me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"For the first time ever, my tongue isn't wet! It's bone dry! And you don't even care that by keeping this up, we might faint! You won't even allow a five minute break! Gosh Tais, think about others for a second, will you?" I screamed back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Don't ask me why I lost it, maybe it was because I was so drunk with heat and exhaustion that I couldn't think straight. I mean, the last adjective I would use to describe Tais is selfish. I know she was just trying to motivate me because the message wasn't getting through to me. However, I never took being scolded very well. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How about getting home, huh?! There's no time for rests! We need to find them, no excuses! So get off your lazy butt and get going!" Tais roared. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How dare you critisize me? You don't even know me!" I shot back. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I guess not because you're being really hypocrititical right now!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I guess you don't because I am not two-faced! I can't believe you're my friend and you're saying those things to me!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Maybe we aren't friends then!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No I guess not!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Good!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Whatever," Tais turned on her heel and began to storm off until a distinct voice stopped her. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hello?" We called out simultaneously, then shot each other a nasty glance. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva?" The voice was nearing us. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah?! Hello? I'm over here!" I scrambled up to my feet. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais?" The voice called. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach? Dylan?" Tais hollered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais and I sprinted towards the direction of the voice. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach!" Tais squealed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked around, "What where?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a hard body slammed into my frail one, knocking me on my butt again. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Easy there now. Are you okay?" Zach swiped me up to my feet and forced a sympathetic expression, but he couldn't hide the grin lurking underneath. I nodded my head vigorously. Next, my arms involuntarily wrapped around his neck and he embraced my form as well. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Is he-?" I began. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"He's fine," His fingers stroked my hair as I felt his voice vibrate off his body. I heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he broke away and carressed my face because I was beginning to tear up, smiling ever so slightly. This wasn't in the way a boyfriend does to a girlfriend but more like a father and daughter. Henceforth, I thought of Zach as my father. I noticed Tais shifting uncomfortably so we both acknowledged her, ignoring each other. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Hey," Zach smiled and pulled Tais in for a hug. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So where's Dylan?" Tais' voice was muffled talking into his shoulder. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"He's resting. I'll take you to him, but he hurt himself real bad when tousling with that dinosaur," Zach stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What? Bring me to him now! You said he was okay," I was mortified. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I said he was fine, insinuating that he was alive, not dead," Zach pointed out. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just bring us to him before she throws another fit," Tais sighed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">My jaw dropped. I was not the one that began the screaming! The nerve of that girl! **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, I heard the yelling. What happened?" Zach wanted to know. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Nothing," I answered a little too quickly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach raised his eyebrows. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais snorted, "Ms. Diva here had a temper tantrum when she wanted to give up on finding you guys and I wouldn't let her." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was absolutely apalled. All I wanted was a break! I didn't know it was such a crime! I am not, nor will I ever be, a quitter. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"That is not even remotely true and you know it," I spat. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais just rolled her eyes while Tais stepped in between us, "Alright, sorry I asked. Calm down now and I'll lead you to Dylan." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Suddenly, a shadow of a smile platered on my face, defusing my anger, by just hearing Dylan's name. Zach turned around and walked away while we followed him. In a mere five minutes, I was looking down at him, sleeping like a baby. This was him. Dylan. The boy I fell in love with at that bowling alley. Oh, and he was drowning in a pool of blood. His blood. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 22 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">After all we've been through, we just can't catch a break. Blood makes me nauseous, and the color red now makes me sick. And to see Dylan's head covered in the vile color, well, let's just say I couldn't stomach this any longer. I turned to the side just in time for the mysterious meat to make its way back up my esophagus. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach!" I cried. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I swear, he wasn't that bad when I left," Zach promised. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why didn't you just wrap his head with a bandage or something? To stop it from bleeding," I sobbed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, 'cause there's so many bandages around here," Tais scoffed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You know what I mean!" I screeched. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais," Zach pleaded as he squeezed her hand. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No, no, you're okay," I whispered to Dylan. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, I ripped off a patch of my dress and tied it around his head, trying my best to hospitalize him. After, with the help of Tais and Zach, we moved Dylan to a cleaner spot of the dirt covered ground. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva, I'll take care of him. You go lie down somewhere. I don't think you should watch this much longer," Zach said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"He's going to be okay, right? He's going to live?" I was crying now. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva, please, just-" Zach began. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"He's going to survive right?! He's going to be fine?!" I raised my voice and choked on my tears. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Tais, get her out of here, before the trauma sets in." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Zach! You promised! Y-You promised me! D-Dylan has to live! H-He c-can't d-die!" I stuttered. By this point, I was in hysterics. I was so focused on shouting at Zach that I didn't even realize that Tais had scooped me up and was carrying me to another location. "Tais! Put me down!" I kicked my foot in her stomach. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Kick me one more time, and I'll bite you." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just let go of me!" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Do you want me to knock you out? It'd be much more relaxing carrying you when you're quiet anyways." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I considered this for a moment, but then realized that I didn't care. I began kicking her again, but she ignored me like I was nothing, which really annoyed me. I started punching and shrieking, but she didn't care. Finally, she threw my body on the ground and I landed hard, which knocked the wind out of me. While I tried regaining my breath, Tais plopped down next to me. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"That was pointless you know. I'm obviously going back," I panted. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No you're not," She stated matter-of-factly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh yeah? And who's going to stop me?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"All I want to know is why," She ignored my previous question. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why what?" I was confused. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why would you want to go back?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan's hurt!" I shrieked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So? Why do you care?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Scrape the mud out of your eyes! I...love him." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, I'm ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //soo// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">sure," She said sarcastically. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What are you talking about?" I glared at her. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She glared back, "You don't like Dylan, you like Zach. I saw you two getting cozy with each other." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">My mouth plummetted open, I was extremely shocked and utterly surprised. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Don't act stupid. I could tell you were falling head over heels for him. That act you put up with kissing Dylan, nice job covering up your tracks. Whats is it? Are you embarrassed for people to know you like him? You certainly weren't with Dylan. Oh, maybe it's because you know I like Zach," Tais spat. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I didn't even know how to respond, I was so dumbstruck and totally taken aback. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah, well, he likes me anyways. So, too bad, you lost," Tais stated. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I shook my head, "No, Tais, you've got it all wrong. This never was a competition because I never liked Zach. I like Dylan, and have liked him ever since I first met him." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Save it. Your eyes brightened up when you first saw him just moments ago." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I was excited to see a familiar face besides your ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //lovely// ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">one," I noted bitterly, "He was, after all, my ticket back to Dylan." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You can lie all you want pretty girl, but you can't conceal the truth well enought from me. It's written all over your face." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm not lying! I don't like Zach! I don't just fall for a guy that easily." 'Dylan being an exception,' I thought. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just keep your dirty paws off him." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"But I-" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Paws. Off." She enunciated each word deliberately slowly and walked back towards Zach and Dylan. I shot back up to my feet and ran after her, but stopped short when a small body knocked me back down. Man, I am sick of hitting this stupid ground. I heard a faint whimper and another body collapse next to mine. I turned around to acknowledge my pursuer, whom I was sure was Tais. But this girl was small and fragile and definitely not Tais. She was a complete stranger. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 23 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Who are you?" We asked each other in unison. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">This girl had chocalately brown, curly hair and eyes that resembled a dear's. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What's your name?" I asked her instead. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She looked down at the ground and whispered her answer so low that I couldn't make out what she said. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm sorry? What was that?" I asked again. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Gigi," She answered louder and clearer this time. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm Aiva," I smiled warmly and stuck out my hand. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She gazed at my offering for a while, but didn't accepts it. I awkwardky dropped my hand and cleared my throat., **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So, how did you get here?" I questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We were captured by a man named Jasper. He was convinced that we were something called 'see-ers.' People who could see the future. It was ridiculous, like 'see-ers' actually exist, I'm so sure. Before we knew it, we were a part of this games, trying to prove our innocence. I've been looking for that stinking key for four years." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded, "That's exactly why I'm here." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I suspected." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Who's 'we'?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Huh?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You said, 'We were captured...'" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"My best friend Hollie and me." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Where's Hollie now?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi looked back down to the ground, her face was turning as white as a ghost's. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't know. Dead probably. Jasper made her disappear because we were half way into the game, and doing so well. He couldn't allow us to succeed I guess. He knew Hollie had the full potential of conquering this game, and that I didn't. So he got rid of her instead." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How do you know that?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's obvious. I should've seen it coming." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I'm so sorry." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi looked back up to me, "Actually, I've recovered. But right now, I feel sorry for you." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Why?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Get ready, Aiva. This is the 6th level and there are only 12. You are now half way throught the game." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"So?" **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"The same thing is going to happen to you, like it did to me. Either you or someone you love who you're really close to is going to disappear, forever." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 24 **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">My heart dropped. Dylan. Gigi's words finally sunk in and hit home. How could I have not made this connection earlier into our conversation? **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"No. That's not going to happen," I refused to allow the idea to waver in my mind. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You can try to ignore the truth and put all of your faith in a lie. But you can't put off the inevitable. So the more you get your hopes up, the worse you're going to feel when they get crushed." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">This wasn't happening, right? Gigi's lying. She's probably some robot Jasper sickly formed with the intention to try to get me to crack. Or was she telling me the truth? I quickly pushed the thought away. There's no way Jasper was going to kill off Dylan, he has no reason to, and we've worked too hard. It just wasn't fair. And although he's a jerk, Jasper has always been fair. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You don't know what you're talking about. You're probably a fake, a robot Jasper designed and now controlling." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi's face twisted into a hurt emotion, "I am not lying. I'm trying to help you," Her voice even cracked. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That's when I realized, robots don't have any emotions. Suddenly, I felt terrible for accusing her of those retched things. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How about you come back with me and I'll introduce you to my friends," I suggested. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi smiled, "Sure, thanks." **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">As we were walking back, I noticed Tais and Dylan hunched over a fire, talking. Then, I saw Dylan's motionless, crippled figure lying next to them. He was still unconscious from all the blood loss. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Wait, what do you mean?" I overheard Tais ask Zach. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Curiously, I eavesdropped on their conversation. I knelt to the ground so that the tall grass hid me. This way, they couldn't see or hear me, but I could observe and listen to them. I motioned for Gigi to kneel down beside me, and she obeyed. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What are we looking at? Are those your friends? Why are we hiding?" Gigi questioned. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I shushed her. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just don't tell Aiva, okay?" Zach whispered to Tais. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay," Tais answered. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan's not going to make it. He's going to die, and then vanish into the air," Zach whispered so low that I could barely make out the words. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"How do you know?" Tais asked, not so quietly. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan stared at her long and hard. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Oh," She sighed, understanding the messgae. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">However, I didn't, I was still trying to put the pieces together in this puzzle. I was, after all, in another state of shock after hearing that Dylan wasn't going to make it. The wheels in my brain slowly began to work, and then it hit me. There's only one reason Zach wouldn't explain the rest to Tais, because it was too risky. A light bulb went off in my head. Zach wasn't guessing that Dylan was going to die, he knew it was going to happen. And he knew it because he had a vision, and our visions don't lie. My eyes blurred. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan was going to die. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 25 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You're going to have to tell Aiva before she finds out the hard way," Tais stated. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach shook his head, "No. It's better if she didn't know for the time being." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Fine, I'll tell her." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"You promised you wouldn't," Zach grabbed her arm. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Just 'cause you don't want to shatter your girlfriend's heart, doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to know." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"We've been over this Tais, I don't like her. She likes Dylan and he likes her. Besides, I already have you." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais disregarded the sweet things he just said, "I wonder if she'll still like him when he's dead." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"What happened to the Tais I know and love? You're talking nonsense right now and I need you to snap out of it. I need you to learn to trust me when I say that nothing is going on between me and Aiva." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais paused and then sighed, "Okay. I'm sorry. I just, I'm not used to trusting anyone anymore." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I know, me neither. And the same goes to say for all of us who has been abandoned before. And listen to my advice, don't tell Aiva. The last thing we need to carry on our shoulders is a hot mess." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Okay. And don't blame her for those outbursts. She is going through a rough patch. What would you do if you were in a situation like that?" **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Zach pondered for a moment and then shook his head, "I don't know." **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I finally noticed the wet, hot, and salty drops of water running down my cheek from my eyes to my chin. I hadn't even noticed I'd been crying. I couldn't take it anymore so I shot up from under the tall grass. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Yeah? Well I guess your stupid plan backfired big time, didn't it?" I spat. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Aiva?" Tais noted incredulously. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"Dylan is going to die and you don't even have the decency to tell me to my face in fear of a hot mess? Is that it? Wow, I didn't know you guys could stoop so low," my voice rose with anger. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"It's more complicated than that," Zach assured. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">"I don't need to hear your excuses. Both of you just leave me alone and don't talk to me ever again!" I was hurting a lot. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Aiva, wait, let us explain,” Tais begged. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Never again!” I repeated. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">At this moment, Gigi decided to pop up. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais gasped and Zach remarked, “Who’s that?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">They were both extremely astonished, but it’s not like I cared. I stormed away and Gigi scampered after me. I didn’t know exactly where I was going but I knew I had to get away from them before I started throwing stuff like rocks. I found a fat tree and decided to sit against in order to calm down. Gigi huddled on up next to me, “Are you okay?” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “No, not at all,” I started at my hands. That was a rather stupid question. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You’ll be okay,” Gigi promised me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I didn’t really have anything to say back so instead I focused on trying to keep a steady breath. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Is Dylan your boyfriend?” Gigi nudged me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I smiled, “No, he’s my best friend.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, I thought about my answer, and decided it wasn’t true anymore, “Actually, yes he is.” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> Chapter 26 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I opened my heavy eyelids, realizing that I fell asleep again last night. Gigi’s head was sleeping on my shoulder. I looked around and noticed a familiar meal in front of me. It was, yet again, the suspicious meat on a stick. Except this time, there were two sticks. One for Gigi and one for me I guessed. I shook Gigi from her slumber and handed her one of them. Gigi’s eyes widened. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Food!” She exclaimed. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, without any judgemet, shoved the whole thing in her mouth and chewed thankfully. I pinched my nose and repeated the same process from the day before. Oh well, food is food. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Sorry, I broke off our promise on introducing you to my fr-,” I stopped myself, “companions,” I corrected. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“It’s okay, I understand.” Gigi responded. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I smiled, glad to know someone did. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“How hard was it? Losing Hollie?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi shrugged, “I got over it. You will too.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I declined, “There’s no way I’ll ever get over Dylan. He was all I had for what seemed like my entire life. When we get out of this mess I’ll have nobody to go back to, nobody and nothing at all.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">This sudden realization hit me as I said it. I have nothing left, no more reason for me to live. Last night I guess I was just numb from hearing the news for the first time. Now the pain was really beginning to set in. It was almost as if you exercised a lot one night out of the ordinary. Right after it’s over, you feel numb, but then the next day, you’re muscles ache and you’re sore all over. However, my case was about a billion times worse than that, even when the only muscle that ached in my body was my heart. I didn’t allow the tears to spring out of my eyes because I knew if I started crying that I would never stop. Then, I thought of Jasper and his cruelty. He wouldn’t have any entertainment at all if we all just gave up on this test. After all, it was obvious that Gigi wasn’t a seer. Then, my curiosity moved towards Hollie, and how much she reminds me of Tais. I realized that I wanted to know more about the fascinating Hollie. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “If it doesn’t bother you, would you mind telling me what Hollie was like?” I asked Gigi. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She was staring off into the distance as she answered me, “It doesn’t bother me much anymore. I think talking about her makes me feel better. At least sometimes it does. Well, she was sly, hostile, and sullen. She was also short, like me, in addition to that. I thought of Hollie as my sister, even though we didn’t resemble each other in the slightest bit. She had blonde, golden, and bouncy curls of hair while I just have straight brown hair. She was about my size and always expected the unexpected.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What do you mean by, ‘expected the unexpected.’” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I don’t know. There was just something weird about her. Like, we would be in the middle of a conversation, and she would just stop talking mid-sentence and stare at nothing in particular. Then, after a few seconds, she would resume with what she was saying. It was kind of freaky, and then she always knew what was going to happen next.” Gigi furrowed her eyebrows, “Hollie saved my life once.” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “How?” I asked. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“We were at an amusement park. While I was waiting in line with Hollie to go on a rollercoaster she randomly shouted out of nowhere, ‘Everyone get off! Run away! Leave this rollercoaster immediately!’ She pulled me out of the line and evacuated, still repeating her hollers. A few people followed us, but most stayed put, looking at Hollie like she grew wings or something. When Hollie noticed that nobody was listening, she turned around and shouted even louder, “Do you want to die? Is this how you want to end your life? Listen to me, we need to get out of here.’ And she kept yelling other stuff but I can’t remember it like I used to. Before we knew it, security guards were materializing from everywhere and pulling her frail body away. When they locked her out of the entry to the coaster, she banged on the door in hysterics screaming ‘no’ and ‘don’t let it run.’ But Hollie couldn’t do anymore than what she already did to help those poor people, so she watched everything unfold when she peeked behind her hands which were covering her eyes. We watched the rollercoaster, the one we were supposed to be in, take off. It looked like it was running smoothly until the loop came. All of a sudden, the vehicle stopped right when everyone was upside-down, and the protection buckles released them. Some fell immediately out of their seats to their doom while other quick thinkers had sense to grab a hold of anything that would keep them from falling. The weaker people couldn’t hold themselves much longer than a few moments until their arms gave out and they went plummeting down to the ground. This even occurred with most of the stronger ones while a few lucky muscle heads were saved by holding long enough for the paramedics’ arrival. At that moment, I knew Hollie had saved my life, because there was no way I would’ve been able to hold on long enough, and neither could she. Reporters crowded her house the following day, but she wouldn’t answer anyone anything.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Wow,” I managed to squeeze out after a long pause. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Yeah,” Gigi sighed. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I felt terrible for Gigi because she never knew who Hollie was. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Soon after the whole incident, we were captured and taken here. The news was broadcasted all over the world and there was even some footage of the both of us from when we saw the tragedy take place,” Gigi added. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded slowly. Everything Gigi’s been telling me seemed to make sense. Hollie was obviously a seer. Jasper probably found out about the story on T.V. and saw both of them so he captured both. I just needed to know one more piece to complete my puzzle. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Did Hollie ever continue with those strange pauses throughout this game?” I questioned. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Yeah all the time,” Gigi answered immediately. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Was it noticeable?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Yeah, you could sense it from a mile away, it’s not hard to notice those.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Bingo. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Gigi, I know why Hollie was taken away from you earlier in the game.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Really? Why?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Because she’s a seer. She can see the future.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I told you, that’s impossible.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Not to Jasper.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What do you mean?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Jasper warned that if we showed any signs of being a seer, he would use them for their powers. Jasper must have thought those long pauses were visions. He didn’t take Hollie out because he feared she had potential to conquer Jasper’s test, Jasper took her out because he was positive she was a seer.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi’s face twisted into an expression of confusion and then realization. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“So Hollie is being held against her will? She’s being held captive?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded and squeezed her hand, “I’m so sorry.” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Where is she now?” I could tell she was fighting off tears. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I don’t know,” I whispered. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Is she still alive?” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Definitely. Jasper would never kill off one of his precious seers.” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Will I ever see her again?” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> I winced, because I knew what I had to say. Jasper wouldn’t keep Gigi because I bet he was already aware of her innocence, “I don’t think so.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I could tell from her face that I just shattered all of Gigi’s hopes with those four words. They were hurtful, yet true. I scanned my brain for a true statement that might brighten her mood and found one, “You’ll see your family again, and all your other friends.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m an orphan as well as Hollie. That’s how we met each other. I don’t have any other friends because when Hollie and I developed a friendship, nobody else could compare to her. I felt like Hollie was all I needed.” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> It was scary how Gigi and I were so alike. After my mother dropped off the face of the earth, I was immediately thrown into an orphanage. Dylan went to the same one, but I never met him until the bowling alley because guys and girls were separated on the opposite sides of the orphanage. The only time the guys and girls would mingle was during lunch and when we went on mini field trips like the bowling alley. I never met him during lunch because even then, we segregated ourselves naturally. However, I separated myself from the girls too because I liked keeping to myself. The only clique I ever joined was Emily’s. Then, I made the mistake of sharing my secret with them, and was soon kicked out. After the bowling alley day, Dylan and I became inseparable. We would sneak out of the orphanage during class to meet up outside the fence to run into the forests to climb trees or walk down the city square to talk and window shop. We would do whatever as long as we were alone together. A lot of the time we got caught and we would get hit on the hands with wooden sticks and get disciplined. But nothing romantic ever occurred before, no matter how badly I hoped, wished, and dreamt. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Aiva!” A voice shouted distracting me from my thoughts. I direct my gaze to the sound of the voice to find Tais running in my direction. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Hurry! Before he’s gone!” She shouted. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Her comment extremely confused me, but the worried look on her face infers danger. She’s frantically motioning for me to follow her, so I act on instinct and am running so fast I’m nearly flying. I follow her back to our camp spot to find Dylan vanishing very quickly. He’s lying on the ground with his eyes closed while his skin and pieces of his body are evaporating into the air. His body sparkles as more and more of his body vanishes. I wish he was larger so that I’d have a better chance of reaching him. Soon there will be nothing left. His body is already half gone, diminishing into the air. Now there’s only 1/8 of his form left and I don’t think I’d be able to make it in time. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No!” I shriek and lunge forward so that I could fall on top of him and protect him from somehow. I wouldn’t allow the pixels of his skin leave my sight. Dylan is almost gone now, it’ll take only about a few more seconds until I never see him again. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I finally land, but I’m too late. I collapse onto the dirt that was once underneath Dylan. Now all I have left of him is the warm body heat he gave off into this very spot just moments ago. But this heat, his heat, is only temporary because Dylan can no longer give off heat into this world. He’s gone forever. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 27 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Have you ever been rock climbing before? If you have, you would know that after you jump down from the wall, your legs don’t really hurt but they do feel numb. Just like with what I said about exercising. You’re numb at first and then the next day the pain in your body becomes noticeable and sometimes unbearable. This is what happened to me again with my heart suffering. When I first saw Dylan slowly disappearing I was overcome with shock. Soon after, I realized my situation and sprinted to him. At least then I had hope. Not much hope, just a slimmer of possibility. That’s the numbing feeling. Then, when I realized he was gone, I shut down. I blocked out everything in the world. It didn’t hurt much at first because the idea of it hadn’t entirely seeped in. But later, when my brain had time to process the scenario, the pain sucked the life out of me. Unfortunately, the pain decided to hit me right when I woke up this morning. I woke up to find myself lying on top of the same spot Dylan de-materialized. The feeling was dreadfully abominable and it made me feel nauseous. I also felt like I was just hit by a truck. My stomach felt very hollow and I might’ve thrown up if I had anything left in it. Along with this feeling was when the memories started flooding back; the screaming, hysterics, river of tears, running, panting, aching, lunging, vanishing, and then nothing. Except there’s a difference from that moment and now; now there is no hope. Now, I can face reality. Now, I know that the one person I’ve ever loved, laughed with, cherished, and lived with is not going to be in my future. The one person that ever meant anything to me in my life is gone, for good. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 28 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“One,” I say. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Two.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Three.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Four!” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I lift my upper body a little bit from my lying-down position only to slam back down against the muddy ground. This was my 6th attempt to get up off the ground with no success. No matter how many times I try to sit or stand up, gravity always pulls me back under. It’s like some kind of magnetic force isn’t allowing me to shift away from the last spot Dylan occupied. Therefore, I decided to give up. I’m trying to move on because they say once you let go, you’ll feel a whole lot better. Since I feel really suckish right now, I’m trying to let go. But the problem is I don’t know if I want to move on from Dylan. On the other hand, there’s nothing I can do now to get him back. So why sulk, right? Wrong. I don’t want to forget about him. Oh how I really hate my dilemma right now. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Hey how you holding up champ?” Tais strides on over to me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I make a sound that comes across as a little bit of a grunt and a little of a growl. I was still furious with her and on top of that, I had my Dylan issue right now. Regardless to say, I did not want to deal with her. I rolled over on my belly and turned my head in the opposite direction of her. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh come on, don’t be like that. We should really talk.” Tais nudged me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I have nothing to say to you,” I sounded like a dying mule. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais sighed, “Then don’t talk, just listen. I feel really terrible about everything. After yesterday, I realized that it’s Dylan you really care about.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Cared about,” I corrected her. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Well I mean you do still care about him even when he’s gone. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be sulking right now.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m not sulking.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Right. Anyways, I’m really sorry about that too. I didn’t know what I was thinking about before when I said all that mean stuff to you. I guess I wasn’t thinking. Whoever said all that junk to you wasn’t me, I’ve never done anything like that before. And I’m really sorry. I’m not asking you to forgive me. In fact I don’t even expect you to forgive me. But I just need you to know that I apologize, and I really truly do mean it.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">And with that she got up to leave. I heard her footsteps slowly fading away. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“And I’m sorry,” I mumble. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I hear the footsteps halt, “Sorry for what?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That’s when I finally sit up. She jogs back over and plops down next to me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“For leading you on like that. I never, in a million years, would ever mean to do that to you.” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Can we start over?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’d like that.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She extends her hand, “Hi, I’m Tais.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Hi, I’m Aiva,” I shake it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We both crack a smile and lean over to hug each other. Her warmth fills in this cold gap I’ve been feeling throughout my body and I feel a little better. Maybe I will survive. Maybe friendship really is so powerful it can fix anything. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 29 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Maybe not. Everything I look at reminds me of him. Yesterday, with Tais, was just some sort of epiphany. It didn’t solve anything with Dylan. That issue is still yet to be resolved, and I still feel horrible. I’ve been so depressed that sometimes I find myself involuntarily digging my fingernails into my skin just so I could experience a feeling other than depression. Sometimes I dig so hard that blood draws from my scratches. I immediately stop when I see what I’m doing. Oh look, here’s Gigi showing off the first fish she ever caught from a newly discovered stream. That reminds me of the first time I went fishing with Dylan. We pushed each other in the lake and scared all the nearby fish away. He came home with one while I didn’t catch any fish. That’s when he gave me his fish. Oh look, there’s Tais and Zach gathering wood from those trees to start a fire. That reminds me of when Dylan and I snuck out of our co-ed orphanage to play on the oak trees during lunchtime. I was scared the first time to climb it but he supported and helped me up every branch, pushing me ahead of him. The list goes on and on and each memory is like a shot to my heart. For the last half hour I’ve been sitting with Gigi pretending to listen to her talk about who knows what, probably her fish, while all I could think about was Dylan. I’m pathetic, I know. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m going to go for a walk,” I announce. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Apparently I cut Gigi off because she goes, “But don’t you want to know how my story ends?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Maybe later when I’m not so tired.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“If you’re tired, why don’t you go to sleep? Why are you going for a walk?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“So I can wake up silly,” I rub her hair. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Can I come with you?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I sighed. The truth is I wanted to be alone with my thoughts. But how could I say no? I open my mouth to say ‘okay’ when Tais interrupts me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Hey Gigi! How would you like to cook up that fish?” She calls over. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi nods vigorously and bounces over to her. Then, Tais winks at me. I smile and nod to her in response. Finally, I turn away and just walk. So I’m bounding along, kicking rocks and dirt with my bare feet and obviously thinking about Dylan when I finally acknowledge my surroundings. The dinosaur foot prints, the desolate area, and far-off cave in the distance. Needless to say, this is the place where we entered this level. It gives me chills. I don’t know why but it does. Suddenly I hear a roar and the same dinosaur materializes in front of me. I slowly back up when another dinosaur appears pops up next to it. They looked exactly like each other as if the one dinosaur was a copy of the first. That one roars too. The weird thing is, they don’t move or do anything after it roars. The fast pace of my heart begins to slow down. I step forward and another dinosaur appears. I step backwards and one more shows up. Forward, backward, forward, backward. Right now there are eight dinosaurs facing me and they all construct a symphony of roars. It seems like there’s some kind of invisible barrier that sprout a new dinosaur every time I pass it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Woah,” I whisper. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That one word seemed to trigger each dinosaur to break from their trance and growl at me simultaneously. I stumble backwards and fall. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Holy…” the dinosaurs roar again. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I swallow and slowly crab walk backwards. Then, the unthinkable happens. Each dinosaur pairs up and begin fighting and killing each other. It’s a totally bloodbath and all I can do is watch in awe. One rips the other one’s throat out in one fight. In a different fight, one snaps the other’s jaw open. One knocks the other down in another fight. In the last fight, one is digging and clawing at the other’s heart. I have to look away so I don’t retch. When I look back up, the dinosaurs are gone. The blood is gone. Everything is wiped out like it’s never been there. All that’s left behind is a gold box. I scurry towards it and snatch it. Luckily, it was placed before the barrier. I rip off the lid and squeal in delight when I see the key. The box coughs up the scroll that I know so well. However, all the way at the bottom I see a little slip of paper with writing scrawled on it. I read it in my head: **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> //Dear Aiva,// **
 * //<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> If you ever want the chance to be with Dylan again, advance to level 7 alone. Leave your friends behind and I’ll give you the chance to see him again. //**
 * //<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> Love, Jasper //**
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 30 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The feeling of excitement and horror knock me off my feet as I stumble backwards back into the dirt. I blink 5 times and re-read the note. Yup, the words are still there. This can’t be possible. I saw Dylan die with my own eyes. But no, I guess that was all part of Jasper’s plan. Stupid, I’m so stupid. I should’ve seen this coming. The door to level 7 pops up in front of me. It’s so close yet so far away. Should I go? My conscience is screaming ‘no’ and ‘it’s a trap’ but my fingers are just itching to touch the knob. It can’t be a trap because that would be unfair and Jasper is cruel but at least he’s fair. He gave me two options: my life with Dylan or my life with Tais, Zach, and Gigi. The decision is up to me, but I wish it wasn’t. Could I imagine life without Tais, Zach, and Gigi? Yes because that’s how I’ve been living for the majority of my life. Could I imagine life without Dylan? The truth was, I don’t really know if I could. That was enough for me. I put the key through the lock. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">* **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">What was I thinking? I just locked Tais, Zach, and Gigi in level 6 forever. I was being so selfish! I was only thinking about how life would be for me that I didn’t even consider how their future would pan out. The only thing left for me is Dylan so I’m determined to see him as soon as possible. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay Jasper! You tricked me! Now just let me see him!” I shouted. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Only now did I realize my eyes were shut ever since I opened the door to now. I slowly lift my eyelids one at a time. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No way,” I whisper. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I could notice this place anywhere. The confusing sharp turns and angles are very recognizable. I am currently in the stomach of a maze. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I didn’t trick you. That was a wise decision you made. You can find Dylan by completing this maze. Good luck,” Jasper’s voice booms out of nowhere. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What? That wasn’t the deal! Let me see him now!” I shriek. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The only response I receive is a deep chuckle. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You lied Jasper! And I thought you played fair!” I cried. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Once the words were out of my mouth I knew that I misunderstood him and that he was being fair. In the note he said he’d give me the ‘chance’ to be with him again. Just a lousy chance! I pound the hard, grass-covered ground with my fists. I spend a while in the fetal position just crying until I boost myself back up to prepare for my adventure. A little hope is better than no hope at all so the least I can do is mop up my mess. The best thing is to suck it up and stop wasting time. I walk through the dewy grass and make turns here and then. Every time I make a turn I dig my pointer finger into the dirt beneath the soft, wet, grass and make a mark on the wall. This indicates that I’ve been here already so if I see a brown mark it means I’m probably going in a circle and should change course. Since this is just fake and not reality, there aren’t any stars to guide me north or south or wherever I wanted to go. I’ve been walking around for what seems like hours now and I can’t seem to find a finish line. It’s like every time I turn I see a brown mark so I’m not making any progress. This is the point where I start thinking I’ve been everywhere but that’s obviously not true. Since I’m exhausted, I decided to take a break. At least in this level, my itchy prehistoric dress has changed to a comfortable T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers which are nothing too fancy. I could already feel the damp soil begin to soak the bottom of my jeans. I lean against the wall to support my upper body. All of a sudden, the small of my back begins to seep into the wall. I snap forward and turn around to observe what just happened. It looked like I pushed some sort of large button on the wall when I was leaning up against it. Then, the entire wall I was leaning against begins to disintegrate. This resolved into a passage way to a compartment. Curiously, I crawl through and stand up. Within a blink of an eye, the invisible wall behind me reappears and quickly shuts and closes the small gap I crawled through. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Of course,” I scoff. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Now I’m trapped. The walls and the grass are the same but the difference is that there’s nowhere to walk or turn anymore. I angrily plop on the ground and kick the wall while screaming at the same time. Before I know it, this triggers a response of the ground dissolving under me. Suddenly, I’m falling through the air. I get that tickling feeling in my belly as the air whizzes past me. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t have time to react. Finally, I land on a bed of grass and moss. I look behind me to find the maze that I’m no longer in. Then, I look forward and am greeted by two doors. However, the knobs were locked and I had no key. I keep rattling the knobs of both doors in hopes of one of them just opening. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Careful now darling! That tickles!” A high pitched voice giggles. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Wh-who said that,” I stammer. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Why, me of course! Who else?” The voice responds. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">It seemed to be coming in front of me, but all that was there were the doors. Then, the left door grew two eyes! Actually, I guess the eyes were always there. But before, it’s eyes were closed so its eyelids camouflaged with the rest of the door. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You look confused honey, what is it?” Then, the right door opens its eyes as it says that. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You can talk?” I wanted to know. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I think that answer is pretty obvious,” The left door states. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">As I slowly trudge forwards and approach the doors, I could distinctly make out their faces. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” I gasp. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh sure you have, probably in movies or what not. Remember the doors that lead to heaven or hell?” The right door asks, **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh, right. And I’m supposed to guess which one leads to heaven and choose that door.” I answer. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Yes only we don’t lead to heaven or hell. One of us leads you to Dylan while the other, well, doesn’t,” The right door explains. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Where does the other door lead then?” I ask. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The two doors laugh. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Somewhere you don’t want to be,” the right door winks. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“So am I entitled to a question? You know, like in the movies?” I question. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Yes but only one. Do keep in mind that one of us always lies while the other always tells the truth,” the right door continues. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay.” I grin. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I rack my brain and try to remember the one question that I was supposed to ask and finally thought of it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What would the other door say if I asked it ‘Do you lead to Dylan?’” I ask the right door. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“The other door would say, um, no.” The right door responds. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay so if you were lying then the other door would be telling the truth and it would’ve said yes but if you were telling the truth then other door would lie when it said no which means that the truth would be that the left door really does lead to Dylan.” I smile, pleased with myself. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The two door look at each other with confused expressions. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I made my decision. I choose the left door,” I say. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That’s when the gold box appears in front of me and falls into my hands. I flip the top off and pick the key out. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Are you sure you made your decision?” The left door stops me right before I unlock it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I exhale, “I’m positive.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, without another thought, I unlock the door and push through. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 31 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I’m falling through the air, yet again, and I’m getting the horrible feeling that I chose the wrong door. It’s pitch black and I’ve been falling for a while now. I’m getting use to this feeling you get when you’re falling. It’s an exhilarating but scary rush of a feeling only this time I’m really terrified because I don’t know what is going to greet me when I finally land. I can only hope I chose the right door but the longer I fall the more I feel like I didn’t. Suddenly I land with a splash on my stomach which knocks the wind out of me. As I struggle to reach the surface of the black liquid I’m in I involuntarily inhale the ink black water searching to fill my lungs with air after the traumatizing fall. The more I struggle the more I sink deeper and deeper into the muck. I’m flailing my arms and kicking my feet, trying to grab on to something that will get me out of here but there’s no luck. I’ve come to the point where I sucked in too much water and I’m beginning to feel dizzy. I’m still in a trance when I feel something grip my arm tightly and pull me up. I could only catch a glimpse of blonde hair before I black out. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">* **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I open my eyes one at a time and see a blurry figure in front of me. When I blink I few more times and make out who it is I’m filled with relief and ecstasy. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Dylan!” I shriek and wrap my arms around his chiseled back while he hugs me back. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I thought I would never see you again! I thought you were dead!” I exclaimed, **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I thought the same things,” He whispers into my ear. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">After a long time in each other’s arms he breaks away and holds my hands, “Where are the others?” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “You don’t know? I would have thought Jasper would tell you.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He shook his head, “No I don’t know anything of what has happened. All I remember is when I was last attacked by the dinosaur and now waking up here on this beach.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh, okay I’ll tell you.” I explained the whole story and he just sat and listened without commenting or interrupting me. When I was finished he exhaled. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Wow. That’s quite a long story. All I remember is seeing you drowning in that ocean right there.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I laugh, “Yeah I was like, spazzing out.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I know. I was terrified though. Well, you’re probably tired. Why don’t you take a nap?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay. Only if you get some rest too.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m not tired. I’m pretty well rested. I mean I’ve been sleeping since level 6 to level 8 now,” he grins. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh yeah. Well, wake me if you need anything.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then I lie down on the sand and close my eyes. I’m asleep faster than you can say ‘happiness.’ **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 32 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I’m awakened from a tickling feeling on my stomach and wake up giggling. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Wake up sleepyhead. We have visitors,” Dylan whispers. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I sit up to find Zach, Tais, and Gigi facing me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Well if it isn’t the ditcher,” Tais grins. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Guys? How did you get here? Oh my gosh and I’m so sorry!” The words couldn’t get out of my mouth fast enough. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Relax. Dylan told us everything that happened. We’re not mad. We found the barrier too and we made our way through the maze thanks to Tais and past the doors and landed here,” Zach calms me down. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh. How did you get past the maze? Did you find the secret button too?” I asked Tais. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Nope. Let’s just say I just knew how to get out of there,” she winks. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh,” I grin, “So what’s the game plan?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“We were just thinking of walking around and hoping we find something.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I looked around the island we were on. I didn’t see much but grass, trees, the ocean, and distantly-a volcano. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“And you know I got the funny feeling that we should check out the volcano. I got that same funny feeling when we were trying to find our way out of the maze,” Tais chose her words carefully. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I nodded, “Good idea. I think we should check out the volcano,” I told the others. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Everyone else was apparently not listening to Tais because Zach goes, “Why on earth would we go up to that death panel?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“To explore, duh,” Tais remarked. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“But what if it erupts?” Zach asks. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“It’s not going to erupt, stop being such a baby,” I nudge him. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Alright, but if I die my soul is blaming both of you.” Zach points accusingly at us. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Deal,” I nod my head. “Let’s go.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We trudge up the hill that leads to the volcano and the sun is beating down on us. After only a few minutes I begin to feel faint and there’s a dry patch on my tongue. I’ve never been so thirsty in my life. I’m already panting but I push through. When what seems like an hour has passed I’m moving about as fast as a slug, but I’m still walking faster than everyone else but Tais who keeps at the same pace as me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Can we take a break?” Gigi’s hands clutch her ribs. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“We’re almost there, just a few more minutes,” Tais keeps moving so I do too. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Come on Aiva just one break,” Dylan begs. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I look at Tais questioningly and she gives in. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Alright but only 5 minutes,” She states. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Everyone collapses on the ground and we’re all panting so hard we can’t even hear ourselves think. After what only felt like 2 minutes, Tais snaps her fingers and makes everyone get up to continue the journey. At least I got my breath under control. When we finally reach the crater of the volcano Zach hoots. I look deep down into the magma filled mountain and see reddish orange lava bubbling and smoking. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Look,” Tais points her finger to a raggedy old beaten down bridge. It leads from one side of the volcano to the other and acts like the diameter of the circular opening. I spot the gold box in the middle of the bridge. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’ll go,” I volunteer. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No I will,” Zach insists. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Guys we all know I’m the one that should since I dragged all your butts up here,” Tais jumps in. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I look over at Dylan surprised he hasn’t said anything yet but notice he has a blank expression on his face. When his vision ends I see horror fill his brown eyes. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I will. I’m the smallest. I have the best chance,” Gigi pushes us aside. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Don’t be ridiculous there’s no way I’m letting you go across that. It’s way too dangerous,” I scoff. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“She’s right. She weighs the least so she’s our best bet,” Dylan chimes in. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I look at Dylan with a crazed expression but his eyes are telling me ‘trust me’ and I feel like he knows that she’ll be okay. I mean, what else would his vision be telling him? **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay, but if you get scared just run back here as fast as possible,” I squeeze Gigi’s hand. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I will,” she promises. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I watch her exhale and sprint across the rickety bridge. It creaks when she bends down to pick up the box. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I can’t watch,” Tais remarks and moves away from the scene with her back turned. Zach goes to comfort her while Dylan stays with me. Gigi runs back but right before she reaches us the other end of the bridge snaps and she falls with a terrified look on her face. I quickly fall on my stomach and grab her left arm. She’s kicking and screaming but stops immediately once she looks down. Then, she looks back at me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Don’t worry I got you! You’re going to be fine,” I shriek down at her and she looks at me with a blank expression. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I start slipping, “No! Don’t worry I have you!” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“But you don’t! You’re already slipping. It’s either I die or we both die,” she didn’t have to yell for me to hear her. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m not slipping! Dylan, help me!” I scream at him but he just frowns down at me and shakes his head. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Gigi’s face is overcome with defeat as she shakes her head and throws the box up at Dylan who catches it, “Thank-you Aiva. Thank-you for giving me the chance to love and to know what it’s like to be loved again,” she holds back the tears. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">All of a sudden, she uses her other hand to slide herself out of my grip and I watch her frail body fall to her death. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No! Please, no!” I scream. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She hits the lava and I watch her now lifeless body burn and crumble under the heat. The lava feeds off her flesh and creates the most tragic sight I’ve ever seen. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I can’t seem to do anything but cry and scream at the same time as Dylan lifts me up and pushes me through the door to level 9 along with Tais and Zach. I will never be able to un-see that ever again. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 33 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I didn’t think that it was possible for someone to truly die in this test. I did when I thought Dylan died, but when I got him back, I just didn’t think Jasper would allow it to happen. However, I witnessed the possibility. Unlike with Dylan, I watched the small, frail, bony girl I learned to love die in flames. At least I didn’t see that happen to Dylan, I only assumed he died after vanishing into thin air like that. But this was different, I actually saw her suffer. I saw a spark of ash bubble up from the lava. Those were her ashes-Gigi’s ashes. A warm drop of water slowly made its way down the pocket of my eye to my upper lip. I tasted how salty that one tear was. Why couldn’t it be me? You would think that I’d be grateful she lost her life instead of me. To be honest, whether they admit it or not, most people would be grateful. In most cases I would be grateful too, but not when it’s Gigi’s case. I know she did the right thing though. I was about to fall in any second even if it meant not letting go. It all happened so fast but Gigi had been a quick thinker. I admired her, even if she was years younger than me. If I were in Gigi’s position, I don’t think I’d be brave enough to let go like she did. I wouldn’t have thought of the outcomes that could lead to hanging on. Gigi was wiser than anyone I’d ever met. I know I’ll never forget her and she’ll stay in my heart forever. Now she’s in a better place, maybe even with Hollie if Hollie actually did die. And even though she’s gone, Gigi is now officially my idol. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 34 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Come on, get up,” Dylan tugged on my sleeve. I slowly rose to my feet. Tais was as still as a statue. Her face was as white as paper. Then, I saw her lip begin to tremble. Zach’s stone expression returned. It’s obvious we were all in shock. The only person that seemed calm was Dylan. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Are you okay?” I asked him. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Yeah. So, this is quite a level, huh?” He gestured around the area. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">It looked like we were in a board game. There was writing on the spaces. In the middle, there was a tiny man with a beard and a top hat. The word, “monopoly”, was splattered under him. To the right and left of the man there were cards. I saw a stand with fake dollar bills in it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Welcome children! Welcome to level 9! You may see the familiar game of //monopoly// in front of you, but we’re not playing it the way you know. We’re playing it my way,” Jasper’s voice announces as the cards and the fake money disappears. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“The last person to make it back to start will be eliminated,” he continues. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You can’t do that! You already killed Gigi! Give us a break,” Tais screamed. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I didn’t kill her. She died by her own actions, or don’t you remember?” The flashback of the scene of where Gigi lets go of my hand and falls into the volcano materializes on the wall. I flinch and turn away. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Now let’s continue with the rules: You will all order in a single file line by height from shortest to tallest on the “start” space,” Jasper says. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I gulped. That meant I was first. Then there were Tais, Dylan, and Zach bringing up the rear. We obey him and form a line. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I roll the dice and the space you land on determines the challenge you face. Any questions?” Jasper asks. There was nothing but silence. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I turn to the other, “Good luck.” Tais manages a small smile and Dylan returns the favor. Zach, however, stays in his usual position. The dice lifts in the air and falls down on the board again. Two 6’s race up. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“12 spaces, you’re welcome. And since they’re both a 6, I rolled a double, which means you get another roll,” Jasper says. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I hopped to the 12th space. It said, ‘electric company’ and had a picture of a light bulb. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Ooh you landed on a tough challenge. Well here’s what you have to do: You must hold your hand up and grab the rim of this lamp for 30 seconds. If you fail to do so you will be transferred back to start,” Jasper explains. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">A bright lamp appears in front of me and the rim surrounding the bulb was sizzling. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I could burn my hand!” I yelled. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You probably will. But if you’re smart about it, the pain won’t be so bad,” Jasper says. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I have to grab that thing for 30 seconds! Taking a deep breath, I reach out to touch it but stop an inch before I do. It looked like fire was inside the translucent rim heating it up. I decided to lick my palm so it won’t hurt so bad near the fire filled tube. That’s when I quickly grab the rim before I could change my mind. It seemed warm at first but the saliva quickly dried. The excruciating pain shot instantly to my hand. I felt my body vibrate so I shut my eyes and clenched my jaw tight as I endured the pain. I smelled something burning and began to freak out. The screaming that followed my panic was inevitable. It was as if I could only see searing bright, white, blinding light. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“And time,” Jasper shouted. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The lamp disappeared and I fell to the ground because my legs were too weak to hold me. I curled in a ball and spent some time moaning and squealing. I used my left hand because it was my less dominant hand between the two. It was blazing red and it even had some blood seeping out of the cracked skin. There were blotches and blisters everywhere. Parts of my hand felt completely numb. I was shockingly just electrocuted and my hair was sticking up and singed. I guess my hair caused the burning smell. The tips of it crumbled into ash. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Well done Aiva, very well done. Tais you’re next.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Tais was quivering with fear. I didn’t like seeing her suffer from being scared so I tried to hold off her fate for as long as possible when the next words that came out of my mouth surprised even me, “Didn’t you say I get another roll?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh right! I forgot,” Jasper responded. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Horrifyingly, he rolled the dice again. A 5 and a 3 were the results. Moving up 8 spaces, I landed on a space that said ‘free parking’ with a car on it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Lucky duckling! You’ve landed on a free space which means you get a free turn. No challenge for you this time. Now it’s Tais’ turn.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I sucked in my breath. I didn’t save her much time at all. The dice was rolled. A 6 and a 4 appeared. Tais’ expression changed until she was almost smiling. I watched her stride confidently up 10 spaces to a picture of a jail. However, she was in the ‘just visiting’ zone. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Well, you might not be in jail, but you’ll have to chat with the prisoner until your next turn,” Jasper snarled. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">A cage appeared and in it was a little girl about the size of Gigi with bouncy, gold, curly hair. Was that…Hollie? **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“That’s not bad,” Tais scoffs. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Not everything on this board is bad. Some things are just significant.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“How is this significant?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Just have a conversation with her and you’ll see. Meanwhile, Dylan you’re up.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The dice was rolled. A 4 and a 3 appeared. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Sorry handsome, I only got a 7,” Jasper chuckles. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Uncomfortably, Jasper jumped 7 spaces and landed on a large question mark with the word ‘chance’ above it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You have the chance to win a free pass to go around the board and be the first one back to start. However, you must first choose one of the challenges someone already faced and since the only challenge performed was by Aiva, you must do that challenge.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What about Tais’ challenge?” I asked. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“That’s not a challenge,” Jasper answered. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’ll be fine,” Dylan promised. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Lick your right hand before you touch it. Not your left hand because that’s your dominant one,” I advised. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I know,” he assured me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The lamp appeared in front of him. After following my instructions, he gripped the rim. Dauntingly, I watched Dylan shake unintentionally. His eyes turned white and his floppy blonde hair began sizzling like the rim. After a horrendous 30 seconds, the lamp disappeared and Dylan stumbled to the ground. He looked dazed. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I didn’t know it was so bad,” I heard him faintly say. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Congratlations! You are the first person to complete the game! You will be transferred back to ‘start’ where you’ll wait for two more compainions.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">A gust of wind lifts Dylan into the air as he passes Tais and then me. Our eyes connect for a split second. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Good job! I’m glad you’re safe,” I shout to him as he lands back to start. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Don’t worry you’ll be here soon enough,” he calls over to me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Enough! Zach, you’re turn,” Jasper growls. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The dice rolls and a 2 and 3 appear. Zach moves up 5 spaces and lands on a space with a railroad train on it. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“In this challenge, you will be tied to a railroad track. Only your arms will be free so you can attempt to untie yourself. If you fail to succeed, you will be eliminated immediately and Dylan, Tais, and Aiva will proceed to level 10,” Jasper snickers. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I saw a flicker of a grin flash across Zach’s face for a split second and then he nods. Immediately, the space turns into a railroad station and Zach was tied on the tracks. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You have 30 seconds until the train hits you. Begin!” You can hear the excitement rise in Jasper’s voice. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I see a train appear on the ‘start’ space where Dylan was and it rushes past him. Then, I look at Zach and notice he isn’t moving. In fact, he actually placed his hands behind his head as if he were relaxing. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What are you doing?” Dylan and I shout simultaneously. I look over to Tais for help but notice she’s deep into conversation with Hollie. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Tais!” I shriek. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">She snaps her head up and acknowledges Zach situation. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Zach! What do you think you’re doing?” Tais screams. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“If I get eliminated, the rest of you are safe! That’s what I want to happen!” Zach yells back. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Don’t be an idiot! Untie yourself now! I know you know how to!” Tais shouts. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">That’s when my eyes shift to another scene. I see Tais jump on top of Zach right before the train approaches. Then, the vision is over. It was the shortest vision I’d ever had. I can see that Tais is thinking of jumping to her in her eyes. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Tais, don’t you even think about -!” The roaring of the train cuts me off. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Horrendously, I watch her lunge for him. She starts clawing at the ropes maniacally but she’s too late. In a blink of an eye, the train pummels them and everything there turns to dust, including them. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No! Only one of them gets eliminated! Only one Jasper!” I scream. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“They both wanted to so they both do! Who am I to stop them?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You can’t do that! Enough people were taken away from us!” **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Stop exaggerating, Gigi was the only one that was killed!” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What?!” I heard the little blonde girl shriek. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I almost forgot she was there. Since I was so shocked to hear her speak I didn’t notice the gust of wind fly me back to ‘start’ at first. The cage with the girl and the board game disappears leaving behind the gold box and a door. I don’t move when Dylan unlocks it until he pushes me into the next level. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 35 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I land into a heap of snow. I lie on my back as I watch the tiny flurries melt into my bulky fur coat. At least Jasper had the decency to dress me in appropriate clothes for what seems to be winter. I couldn’t see much but fog floating around me. The gloves I’m wearing are made of leather so the snow has difficulty seeping into them whereas my fur coat isn’t doing so great. I’m also wearing black snow pants and black snow boots. However, even with so much heavy clothing on, I’m nearly freezing almost immediately. I acknowledge my environment even though there’s not much to see. Everywhere around me I see snow. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay, time to explore,” Dylan offers me a hand. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What’s the point?” I decline his offer. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Well I don’t know about you but I want to escape this little game and return to our normal lives.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“First of all, of course I want to finish this. But then again, what makes you think we even will? And finally, nothing about our lives was ever normal.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“True, and what do you mean we won’t be able to finish this?” **

= ***This was the first story I've ever finished and it took me a whole year to complete it. I'm so ecstatic to have the chance to share it with my classmates and I want to thank everyone who helped motivate me through it. I'm proud to say that my novel filled 127 word document pages with 30,310 words to complete it. I've reread it almost 3 times and I can admit that there are many revisions to be made but that's okay because this was my first book ever and my first step to becoming an author which is what I want to be when I'm older. If I do become an author then this story would be a huge impact on my career. Again, I would like to thank everyone who helped me through my very first finished story. (:** =
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;"> “Can’t you see? We’re either going to be kept as Jasper’s prisoners or die like everyone else. That’s always been his plan. He never intended for us to win. It’s not happening Dylan, we’re never going back to our ‘normal’ lives and there’s no way I’m going to be Jasper’s puppet anymore. If he wants, he can kill me. I don’t care anymore Dylan, there’s nothing left for us back in our ‘normal’ lives anyway.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“What about me? Can’t you just imagine a perfect life with each other? A normal one? With our own house, our own kids, and our own jobs just like everyone else?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I can imagine it but imagination and reality are two very different things.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“We’ve already lost Tais, Zach, Gigi, and our parents Aiva! Don’t give up hope because that’s our only key to happiness.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I felt like I was just slapped in the face. Nobody’s brought up my father’s death or my mother’s neglect towards me in years. My stomach twisted and got very hollow very fast. I had to bite my lip in order to fight back the tears. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Sorry,” Dylan’s voice softened. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No, you’re right. We shouldn’t give up hope. We owe it to Tais, Zach, Gigi, and our parents to keep fighting. We’re going to finish what we started for the sake of the only people we ever loved who are gone now.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Your parents would be so proud of you,” Dylan smiled. I got up and we started walking forwards. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">* **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">After about an hour of walking, shoveling snow into our mouths to quench our thirst, and dragging ourselves through the tormenting snow, we eventually found a vast shadow far off into the distance in this isolated area. Dylan and I hobbled as fast as we could towards the mysterious outline of something other than snow. As I got closer to approaching it I could distinctly make out what looks to be an igloo. Soon my guess was concluded correct. Dylan and I wormed our way through the tiny entrance. The igloo was large. It was probably about 20 feet high with a diameter of 30 feet. There was a small hole carved at the top and a small fire in the middle of the room. It was surprisingly warm in the igloo. I saw a small wooden table completed with a small wooden chair and three small fish on the table. There was a lot of empty space in the igloo. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Who are you?” A rusty voice startled me. I turned around and saw an old man with glasses. He was wearing exactly what Dylan and I were wearing but his attire was a bit more worn out. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m sorry, we didn’t know anyone lived here,” Dylan apologized. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Who are you?” The man repeated. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I’m Aiva and this is my friend Dylan. We’re trying to pass this test,” I announced. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“My name is Leonard Walker III and I’ve been stuck in this level for quite a while now. The only way you’re getting out of this rut is if you track down that blasted old beast and kill it. I gave up a long time ago and every now and then it just loiters right past me and I don’t lift a finger. It likes to steal my fish sometimes, the thieving grouch,” Leonard says. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Where can you find it?” Dylan asked. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh it’s usually down by the lake just a mere 50 feet away from my bungalow here,” Leonard answered. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Thanks, take care,” Dylan shook his hand and we squeezed back out of the entrance. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You know you could’ve asked to see if he wanted to continue the game with us,” I nudged Dylan. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“He already seems happy here. Besides, we don’t need to make anymore attachments with anyone else. He’d also be a burden to carry,” Dylan pointed out. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I didn’t like the idea of leaving the poor man alone again but I decided not to question Dylan. Once we arrived at the lake we spotted the beast almost instantly. It looked half man half animal. In other words, it looked like it was supposed to be the abominable snowman, or the yeti. It stood about 10 feet tall and was covered in white fur, or maybe it was snow, or maybe both. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“We should sneak attack it,” I whispered to Dylan. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He nodded, “How should we kill it?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Maybe we could drown it?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Good idea but we should probably wound it first.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">We looked around to find something sharp. Eventually we decided to settle for the long sharp branches we found beside a rock. There was already blood at the end of my stick so I’m guessing the old man used these to get his fish. We found small rocks surrounding the lake and used them to sharpen our sticks even more. We carried many sharp rocks and heavier rocks that could do great damage and put them in the pockets of our coats. The plan was that Dylan was going to stab its leg and then I would push him into the lake. Then, we would keep attacking it with our sticks and pelting it with our rocks. Dylan signaled with his finger ‘1’, then ‘2’, and finally ‘3.’ He jabbed the sharp stick into the yeti’s upper thigh. It whipped its body around with a bellow and I kicked him in the stomach. It fell backwards but not before it strikes me on the flesh of my left cheek with its claws leaving me with three scratches on my face. My cheek was stinging and my left eye began to water and swell up but I continued with the task at hand. I hopped on its chest and pinned its arms against the bottom of the rocky lake. I kept jabbing its chest, neck, and face with my stick until blood occupied the area of water we were in. It roared in pain and tried to shake me off but I persevered. The yeti’s head popped above the surface of the water for a second but to only go back under after a blow to the head from one of my rocks. Dylan swam over and helped to keep its head underwater. Finally, the yeti sank all the way to the bottom motionless. Then, the gold box plopped into the water. I took the key out and swam back to the land when a very familiar door appeared in front of me. Dylan and I proceeded to level 11. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 36 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Something stinks a lot. I gagged once I first caught a whiff of this scent. I looked around to find myself on a ship. I noticed a black flag flying on a pole. It had a skull on it. This wasn’t your ordinary boat: this was a pirate’s ship. I started to stand up when tough rope around my hands and legs forced me back down. I didn’t notice the rope until now. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Stay down!” A scraggly looking man pointed his hook at me. The teeth that he had left were yellow and rotten. He wore a bandana around his head and ripped clothing. I take in my other companions. They looked just like this pirate only some had pegs for legs, others wore hats instead of bandanas, and most wore eye patches. One pirate spit a tooth in his tin cup and then drank from it. Others were also drinking but a few pirates really caught my eye. They seemed to be playing catch with a gold box that I knew all too well. But where was Dylan? **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Dylan!” I whipped my head around the pole I was tied to and collided heads with someone. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Ow! What?” Dylan yelped. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh sorry.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan was tied on the other side of the pole. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“How do we get out?” I whispered. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I don’t know. Think of something.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I cleared my throat, “Excuse me? Can I go to the bathroom please?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The pirate that reprimanded me dumped his drink into the ocean and threw the cup towards me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Go ahead,” he smirked. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then he went to go get another cup. I decided to shatter the cup with my foot and grab a sharp broken piece so I could use it to cut the rope. Once I smashed it with my foot, all of the pirates stopped what they were doing to look at me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Sorry! It fell when I tried to pick it up,” I lied. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“You’re going to pay for that,” one of the fat pirates said to me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Walk the plank!” All of the pirates began chanting. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Another pirate came to untie me while two others held me down. The one that untied me from the pole then retied my hands and legs. They pushed me to a weak looking board of wood hanging off the side of the ship. I was forced onto the plank while one of the pirates kept poking me with a long stick that made me have to shuffle forward or else I’d fall off. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Dylan! Help me!” I screamed. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The pirates chuckled when I reached the tip of the wood. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Jump!” They all shouted. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The pirate was just about to give me one last shove when I hear a cry of pain. I turned my head around to find Dylan beating up all the pirates with another stick. He threw them overboard one by one. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Don’t forget the box!” I yell. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He approached the pirates with the box and stole it from one of them by kicking him in the jaw. Dylan quickly opened it and grabbed the key. After that, he threw the box at one of the pirate’s head. The door materialized right in front of my face. Dylan hopped onto the plank making it wobble. Other pirates jumped on as well. I was about to fall off when Dylan quickly unlocked the door. He gave me a shove forward and I tumbled through the door with him right behind me. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 37 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I floated down to the bottom of what looked like a water filled dome. I could breathe under water again. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Welcome to the last and final level! You’ve been through quite a journey and I’m sure you can’t wait to get out of here. Unfortunately, you do have to complete one more round, and I can assure you it is the most difficult one. I don’t mean difficult physically, but difficult emotionally instead. You are trapped inside of a snow globe with nothing to help you break the glass. Let me just explain to you right now that just your fists can’t help you break the glass. Yes, it’s glass, but it’s strong glass, and even the strongest man in the world can’t break it with his bare hands. Now you’ll have to stand there and watch me murder the ones closest to you. First we have the strong, fearless, and almighty Tais,” one of the guys I recognized from the trunk of that car I was stuffed into a long time ago shoves Tais through the door. She’s trying to fight back but it’s no use with the chains they have on her. You can tell that Jasper learned his lesson with the aluminum chains because these looked like indestructible metal chains. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Now we have the emotionless heartbreaker, Zach.” The other man pushed Zach through the door. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Then we have the mother and father of our loving hero Dylan who abandoned him when he was just an infant.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">The couple was pushed in by the first man who pushed in Tais. Dylan’s face drained of color. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Finally we have the mother of our precious Aiva who neglected her years ago and moved to drugs instead.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Mom?” I couldn’t help but shout. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Baby I am so sorry. Don’t worry, I’ll be in a better place, with Daddy,” she gave me a reassuring smile. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Now you’ll watch as I shoot them,” he pointed the gun at Tais’ head. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“No! Stop!” I pleaded. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Or what? You admit that you really can see the future?” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I was about to say yes when Dylan grabbed my arm and shook his head. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Dig,” he whispered. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan began to dig and I instinctively help him. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Jasper chuckled, “Direct your attention back up to me. There’s nothing down there that’ll help you!” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Oh yeah? Then what about this?” Dylan lifted a heavy rock and chucked it at the glass. It shattered and the water knocked everyone off their feet, except for me and Dylan. They were all knocked out when their heads hit the ground after the water forcefully pushed them down. I quickly ran to the telephone I’d been eyeing and dialed 911. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“911, what’s your emergency?” A woman’s voice asked. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Trace this phone call and the address, we have Jasper Stye.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">* **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">In a matter of minutes, the police crew flooded the room. They carried away Jasper and the other two men into a car while they took the others into an ambulance. Dylan and I hopped into the van and drove to the hospital with them. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Chapter 28 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">So everything panned out the way it should have. All of the prisoners Jasper was holding hostage were released. The police tracked down each one of their families and if they didn’t have any, they were put back into their original orphanages. Hollie was one of those children. Dylan was apparently kidnapped from his parents at birth and left for dead by the orphanage who found him. He was reunited with them after we completed the test. **** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> My mother finally quit doing drugs and claimed custody of me again. We've never been happier and I’m thrilled to have her back in my life. There are just so many words to be said but that’s okay because we have the rest of our lives to share our stories.  **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan and I are still best friends and we have already applied and been accepted to go to the same college. He’s on his way to become a doctor while I’m training to become an author. How was my first story? **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Epilogue **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I opened our apartment door with my keys. I went to our voicemail machine and pressed start. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Hey girl! It’s Tais. Happy 23rd birthday! I’m sure Dylan’s taking you somewhere special. Zach and I wanted to see you before you left to go to the ‘surprise’ place Dylan was taking you but I guess we’ll have to wait to see you. Anyways, happy birthday! And I’ll see you soon enough!” The voicemail ended. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Was that Tais,” Dylan called from the bathroom. He was wearing a tuxedo when he walked out. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Wear something pretty and happy birthday beautiful,” Dylan kissed me on the cheek. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Okay. Wait, please give me a hint on where we’re going,” I begged. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan kissed me on the forehead, “It’s a surprise boobear.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I put on my favorite black dress, combed and straightened my knotty hair, and put on makeup. Then, I walked out of the bathroom. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Dylan sighed, “You look gorgeous. Okay, let’s go.” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He took me by the hand and opened the passenger door for me. Once we were settled, he wrapped a blindfold around my eyes and drove. After about 5 minutes he announced that we were here. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Do I take off my blindfold now?” I ask him. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Not yet,” he laughed. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, he led me from the car to inside some building I guess. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“One, two, three, open,” Dylan said. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I rip off my blindfold when I hear a lot of people yell, “Surprise!” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I almost cried immediately. Dylan brought me to the bowling alley where we first met. I couldn’t stop one little tear escape eye as it trickled down my cheek. I wiped it away and felt the three scars on my cheek that was given to me from when the yeti scratched me there in level 10 of the game. Dylan invited everyone we knew. Tais and Zach were holding each other. They broke away from each other to give me a hug and a kiss. They live in the apartment below us and are inseparable. I turned around to thank Dylan when he grabbed my hands. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“That’s not the only surprise,” he smiles. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Everyone fell silent. Then, in one swift movement, he kneels to the ground. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Aiva, we’ve known each other almost our whole lives, and I want to be with you for the rest of mine,” I was about to burst when he pulled out a tiffany box. He opened it and inside was a diamond ring. The words ‘My Angel’ was engraved on the inside rim of the ring. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“Will you marry me?” Dylan finishes. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">I don’t hesitate, “Yes!” **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">He slips the ring onto my fourth finger. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I love you,” I whisper. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">“I love you too,” he whispers back. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.5pt;">Then, we both lean in for a kiss. Everyone’s cheering and once our lips touch I could see fireworks. All I want is to stay in this one moment, forever. **
 * The End(:<3 **