Alex woke up, gasping for breath and covered in sweat... She'd had a nightmare but she couldn't remember what it was. She stepped out of bed, testing her leg. It stung, just a little. The real problem was her arm. It didn't hurt so much anymore, it just itched. It was driving her crazy.
Alex stepped out of bed, heading for the door.
It wouldn't open.
"What the..?"
She turned the knob. Nothing. It was locked.
"What the hell?" She knocked. "Hello? Grandpa? Leo? Fiona? Hey! Who locked the door?"
She laughed. This was some kind of joke.
"Come on, open the door!"
Nothing.
This isn't right, something's wrong!
She walked over the window, maybe she could climb out and-
Bars. She forgot. There were bars on all the windows. She's seen them many times over the years, but had never given it a second thought before...
She beat against the door. "Fiona! Fiona are you there!? Can you hear me!? FIONA!"
Ha ha ha...
"What!?"
She spun around... she could have sworn she heard someone laughing behind her...
"Heh heh!"
No it was at the door... It sounded like a man... a man she'd never heard before.
"Who's there!? Open the door!"
"Heh heh ha ha ha ha!"
"Answer me!"
The man stopped laughing. "...sorry, I'm afraid I can't let you out."
His voice was condescending, giddy. Alex hated it. "Why not?"
"Father's orders. He told us not to let you out... not until we have the Azoth."
Alex froze. "No..."
That word...
Her head went blank, her heart pounded and her body went numb…
Fiona!
She slammed her fists onto the door. "YOU LISTEN TO ME YOU PEICE OF SHIT! If you lay one hand on Fiona I swear I WILL KILL YOU!"
The man laughed, louder and giddier then before. "Yes! Yes! That's the spirit! You're fun!" She heard his sigh. "But I still can't let you out."
She screamed in frustration and kicked the door, which caused the man on the other side of the door to laugh again.
"...I can't let you out... And I can't tell you about the secret passage either..."
She stopped. "What? What passage? What are you talking about!?"
He laughed as he walked away... then was gone.
She desperately beat against the door.
"Fiona..."
What the hell is going on!?
Fiona ran, she could hear Donegan behind her.
She came upon a split in the hall, she went right, only to realize... it was a dead end! She turned around, frozen in terror. She saw him stop... why did he stop...?
Of course! He's eyesight is failing him! He's practically blind! If I stay quiet... he won't be able to find me!
Donegan's eyes were wide open, unblinking. He looked utterly mad! She could barely believe that was the same man who had cheerfully greeted her barely a few hours ago!
"Fiona."
She was surprised by his voice... it sounded to calm, so sane.
"You can't get away. The estate has been sealed off. Sooner or later you will have to submit your Azoth."
He listened for her, she didn't move, she barely dared to breathe. He continued down the hall, slowly... she didn't move again until she heard the door slam shut. She quietly walked down the hall, peeking around the corner… He was gone.
She fell to her knees and wept.
"No... No! This can't be happening! Not again! Please, please not again!"
She sobbed, silently, in fear that he might hear her and return...
Alex... why did she bring me here...? She couldn't have known... could she..?
"No... No Alex would never do that! Something's gone wrong! Alex would never hurt me! She... she wouldn't..."
It's not possible.
It can't be...