Snow day! Yesh!

I get the chance to update! :D

Yes, I understand that that last chapter was rather….short. Sorry~

When I update on school nights, they tend to be a little shorter then I want them to be.

Anyhow, this chapter should be a littlle longer. ;D

Please enjoy!

The Madhouse

Chapter Fourteen

~Duncan~

I shifted my feet; antsy as I glanced out the kitchen window. The moon was high and bright in the dark skies; illuminating a light white beam on the sidewalks down through out the neighborhood. Courtney was sitting at the table; twitting her thumbs nervously.

"We're breaking the rules, aren't we, Duncan?" She started; her tone sounding nervous, tired, guilty, and even a little excited all at the same time.

"You've got to break the rules in these kinds of places, princess," I replied calmly; not turning from the window. I clenched a fist; waiting for Gwen, Geoff, Trent, and Bridgette to come down stairs.

"But what about the people who've already tried to break out. Maybe they were killed because they braked the rules," Courtney tried to reason; looking at her hands that were placed neatly in her lap.

"Princess, they'll send you to the permanent house at some point. They'll confuse you with meds, and then they'll make up something about you going crazy. Then they send you there afterwards," I explained; turning around from the window to send her a serious look. Tonight I was going to get information on Reid…that mysterious man who created this very madhouse. Damned computers here blocked any website you look up on him. We needed as much information as we could get if we're going to sneak out of this place. Alive.

"Maybe its better that we're dead," Courtney murmured to herself; looking away. I narrowed my eyes in concern at her.

"You shouldn't say that, princess. Just because we have unnatural abilities doesn't mean that we don't have the right to live," I replied; walking over to her, and cupping her chin in my palm- tilting her head up so she could look me in the eyes.

"Promise me that you won't give up," I stated; my voice sounding smooth and intense. I forced myself not to smirk when she flushed a little at the contact.

"I-I," Courtney started; still sounding a little dumbfounded.

"Because if you end up getting yourself killed; I'll never forgive myself," I stated calmly; managing a half smile as I let her chin back down.

"You wouldn't forgive yourself?" Courtney asked; moving some of her bangs behind her ear nervously.

"I owe you my life, princess," I started; remembering that damned night at the warehouse. I would have taken that shot easily; because of my advanced senses. Courtney decided to take the blow instead…We were lucky that she was still breathing today.

"You took me back to the house though…And you fought off all those men," Courtney started; looking away again, "You don't owe me anything,"

I rolled my eyes. "Alright; but you know I still need to protect my princess,"

It was Courtney's turn to roll her eyes. "In your dreams," She joked; rubbing her arms with her hands with a shiver. It was cold out- even in the house. Our coats weren't at this dreaded place either.

Finally Bridgette and Gwen made their way down the stairs. We were all in the best clothes we could manage to find so we would blend in with the crowd at the dance. Trent, Geoff, and I were just wearing casual clothes. I couldn't exactly see what the girls were wearing from the dark; but by the looks of it; they all managed to find a dress of some kind.

I sat at the table next to Courtney as Bridgette and Gwen made their way towards us.

They both sat down without a word; probably afraid they'd be caught if they spoke up.

I rapped my fingers lightly on the table; waiting for Geoff and Trent.

~Courtney~

'Marina Black,' I thought; repeating the name over in my head, 'And she's in the permanent house. That's way too risky at this point…'

The ghost from the other day called herself Ashley Brian. She said that she had visions; she could mainly see the future. Now that she's a ghost though; she can only make small fortunes…Like weather, love, and seasonal types of subjects.

She had lead me to her old area in the closet; were most of her dresses were stored. She insisted that I pick something; so I just grabbed a rather plain grey colored dress that stopped a little below my knees at the hem. I also grabbed two random dresses for Gwen and Bridgette; both of them sky blue and midnight blue- their favorite colors. But I had to make up the story of finding them in my bag instead of telling them that a ghost suggested giving them to me. That would probably be kind of creepy.

Ashley Brains…She was a very annoying and perky girl. And the great thing about it? She lives in our room- therefore talking loudly in the middle of the night can get on my nerves. Apparently, ghosts don't sleep.

I yawned; getting the ghosts off my mind. I wondered what was so bad about talking to ghosts? I mean, they were no harm; they were normal people- even so if they are a little…see through. Does that make me crazy to think that ghosts are normal? Maybe I'm becoming a ghost myself…

But lifting spirits from the dead? That was creepy…I didn't know how I could take something like that. And I don't even know how I did it- I was just mysteriously locked in that room in the basement. And then poof! It happened. Just like in one of those old horror films.

I glanced up from my thoughts when I heard the light 'tip tap' of shoes walking down the steps. Geoff and Trent, yes.

"Alright, let's roll," Duncan stated; getting up from the table and holding his hand out to help me up from my seat. I nodded; automatically taking his hand to get up. I noticed Bridgette and Gwen exchange a knowing glance before I snapped my hand away once I was up. Even though I knew I had a slight crush on Duncan- I couldn't exactly trust my senses yet. I'm not one to give in too easily, you know.

We all headed through the pastime room in so we could move our way through to the back of the house- so we could find the back door. That was most likely the easiest way out at this point. I just hoped Hannah wouldn't catch us…

Though three people were down there- in the pastime room. I noticed their figures lightly in the room. Two females; and one male. Duncan held up a hand to make us stop before we walked into the room.

"What is it, man?" Geoff asked in a low whisper so no one else could hear.

"We shouldn't interrupt this- we need to watch," Duncan replied in a whisper just as low as Geoff's.

~Heather~

I had pinned Noah to the wall in the pastime room. I wasn't getting a lot of answers- and I've decided that the direct approach was better then anything.

I leaned in closer to him; my nose wrinkling.

"Tell me. I've noticed that you've been healing people lately," I snapped in a whisper.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Noah replied calmly; his tone showing a hint that he was nervous, "What's it to you anyway,"

"You're little loser friends have been sneaking out, haven't they?" I asked; narrowing my eyes. Noah turned away to avoid eye contact and stress.

"I have no right to tell you," Noah finally replied; looking at the ground below his hanging feet.

"You know? Your little friend, Izzy is this close to being sent to the permanent house," I snapped; making a small area of space shown between my index finger and my thumb, "And I can make that happen so much sooner then you'd expect."

Noah's eyes seemed to widen a little; and I smirked. Even though he had trouble of admitting it- everyone could tell he had some kind of soft spot for the crazy girl.

I heard a new sound of footsteps behind me; and I froze.

"Let go of him!" I heard Izzy's voice snap; a hiss of a sound so she wouldn't be heard my Hannah or one of the other doctors.

"Heh, not until I get answers," I replied casually; smirking.

"I mean it, Heather!" Izzy exclaimed- still in a whisper. She slapped me hard against the arm I was pinning Noah to the wall with. I let go instantly; finding that the area she hit me was swelling up…and it stung really bad.

She had burned me with her bare hands.

Alright, I decided to add a little more of Izzy's power in there. :D

I know this isn't very long either, but I wanted to get this update in.

Thanks for the previous reviews, and I'd love to get more! :D Please drop one if you have the time.

Apple over'n out