Review Replies:

Guest2: Aw, thanks! I'm looking forward to episode eight as well.

TheLion: Yeah, my brain can be a pretty creepy place. Those were some of my alright ideas. I am actually planning something like that! But it won't be coming up until after episode seven.

kdhorserider: Their relationship in this is entirely platonic. I have stated in previous AN's (multiple times) that there will be no romance between any of the New Order, be it with each other or someone else. I do ship Jesskas, though, and I don't care whether or not people decide to see the hugging and stuff as Jesskas hints. So you can do that if you wish.

kookie1234: Heh, thanks!

Mystery Dragon: No problem!

ChoyofBonk: Yaaaaay! Motivation! Cassie will have a conversation with the others eventually, but I don't think they'll ever be proper friends again. Yeah, a lot of people said stuff about how she hasn't even done anything yet. But hoarding your friends in a giant mansion and killing them off one by one kind of tops the cake.

Random Guest: It's more of a precaution. For all they know, she's been planning on murdering them from the moment she arrived at the mansion. But both Aiden and Jesse say something next chapter.

Savannah-the-Caracal: Glad you're liking it so much!

NoItsBecky: Don't worry, things'll get better for her.

CamronXTheXGamer: This isn't going to be further looked upon in the actual story, but Isa told him.

TheAmberShadow: No problem! Sorry for the spelling mistakes, though, my spell-checker wasn't working for some reason. And I was using my sister's laptop, which kept lagging. Yeah, poor Jesse. Heh, I kinda headcannon that too! Facemeat's not the brightest, but I think he might actually be a big softie. Like big scary bikers talking about their gardens and grandkids (fun fact: when she was nineteen, J.K. Rowling met a biker who began talking about his garden to her, and this was the inspiration for Hagrid in Harry Potter!). Dan might have been a bit occupied with the spiders, actually, but who knows? Ah, yes. Mother hen Axel for life. Yeah, that's a great joke XXD Oooooh, I didn't notice that!

LunarTheMooncake: Haha, gald you liked that part, I liked it too. Sorry about updating while you were sleeping XXD

The Bronipegusisters Studio: You sensing is correct! I wasn't originally planning on Ivor and Jesse adopting a father-son relationship, but I honestly couldn't help myself after reading Hybrid. The idea's in my head now and it's not going anywhere. Yeah, the longer you're around Hadrian, the more you realise that he's not exactly a nice guy. But up until now, everyone they've met has been relatively good (I mean, the pre-Blaze Rods were mean, but not villain-mean until episode five, and even then Aiden apologised... I wrote mean three times.)

andie: Haha, it's fine XXD

purplemint64: Yeah, Jesse's such a dorkXXD I'm so happy you find my stories to be a satisfying read!

Jesseromaeve: I... was unaware of this fact. I wonder if the writers knew this... *whispers* Hadrian's gonna point it out now. Anyway, I'm so sorry to hear that! I seriously hope you get better soon ::( Happy writing!

TheSilentFury: Heh, you're welcome. She doesn't ramble, but she does apologise multiple times.

Ariza Luca: Well, the father-son thing is inspired by Hybrid. Ooooh, you're the only one that noticed Mevia's silence! Well, you were the only one to point it out, at least. I don't think she's going to get as nice as she's getting in HCM, but she'll definitely be rethinking things as time goes on. Yeah, all the Old Builders seem pretty... unhinged, don't they? They're all obsessed with power, some more to than others. Otto and Isa are the least, but they still have a thing for rules, don't they? I actually made a theory about that on Twitter, but I'm not sure if you saw it.


Movie Mode

Episode Six: A Portal to Mystery

Part Fifty-Three: Breathe With Me


The mansion had no proper jail, but this didn't stop them from converting the downstairs bathroom into a makeshift cell. With Reginald and Gabriel standing outside the door, Cassie sat on the toilet, face buried in her knees. They'd taken her cat.

She hadn't said a word since confirming herself as the killer. She hadn't fought back nor protested as they shoved her into the bathroom. She didn't look for a way out. Because what was the point? She was trapped here, in this blasted mansion, even if she got out the room. Maybe she'd die here. Alone. Powerless.

Just like she's always feared.

The doorknob turning tore her from her thoughts, but she didn't raise her head. She half expected to get a sword through the side, an arrow in the back, a pickax to the head. Maybe they'd set her on fire and watch as she screamed and screamed and rotted in an unforgiving hell.

But none of these things happened. Whoever had entered didn't even speak. Didn't touch her. But she could feel their eyes boring into her skull like a pair of twin lasers, drilling into her brain, scratching at her scalp.

Finally, it became too much and, slowly, she raised her head. Goosebumps prickled up her skin, a sting behind her eyes. He was just staring at her, a stone sword forgotten at his side.

Cassie's brain had been a whirling spiral from the moment she'd been left alone in the makeshift cell (how long has it been? An hour? More?). What she'd tell him when she eventually saw him again. How she'd tell him that she was sorry, that she was desperate, that she just wanted to go home.

And yet, now that he was here, her mind was blank. Her tongue was frozen in her mouth.

The silence stretched, shifting into awkwardness. Aiden broke eye contact to look at the floor, confliction and unease entering his green eyes. Cassie looked away as well, trying to regain herself. Her hands trembled, even as she curled them into fists.

"I... did they hurt you?"

The question startled her, and she blinked, taken aback. She must have misheard him, for why would you ask a monster if it were hurt?

"Did... what?"

"Did they hurt you?" Aiden repeated, clearer and with more force. Cassie stared at him for a moment longer, brain struggling to comprehend the question. Slowly, she shook her head. Maybe he was hoping the answer was yes.

"No."

A flash of relief came across Aiden's face, but Cassie was almost sure she'd imagined it. Maybe he wasn't actually here, maybe she was imagining everything. She'd seen people that weren't there before.

"Good," Aiden muttered. He looked down, blinking as though realising for the first time that he had a sword in his hand. He hesitated, looking from her to the sword, before sighing and sheathing it.

They stared at each other. Cassie wasn't sure to what say- hell, she wasn't even sure if he was actually there or if he was just some illusion created by her twisted mind. Aiden- real or not real- didn't seem to know what to say either.

She looked away, bottom lip between her teeth, "I'm sorry."

"Are you?" Aiden's voice was quiet. She expected him to explode, to scream, to shove her away and never speak to her again. She wasn't sure if his timidness was better or worse.

When she said nothing, Aiden sighed, "I... I like you, okay?" he admitted, Cassie's eyes widening, "And- And I thought maybe... you did too."

"I did," she said, immediately, "I do."

Aiden's mouth twisted. He glanced away, to the door, as though wondering if he should leave. But he didn't move.

"You lied to them," he continued, "So easily. You looked Jesse right in the eye and told him you knew nothing. You accused Lizzie and- and Lukas, you framed Lukas and locked him in a frickin' closet-"

"I know," Cassie cut him off, throat tight and a burn behind her eyes, "I know."

Aiden went quiet again. His eyes shone oddly, but it might have been the light. Cassie looked away again.

"I haven't done any of it," she said, voice thick with unshed tears, "Not yet. But I was planning to- I would have done it," she laughed, a dead, humourless laugh, "And I guess that's good enough, isn't it? I haven't done it yet, but I might as well have."

The silence was thick, and while it wasn't suffocating, it stretched for an uncomfortably long time. Cassie was beginning to think that he'd left- be from the door or just simply dissipated- when he spoke again. A single word, a million questions.

"Why?"

Cassie opened her eyes, not remembering when she'd closed them. Her hair had fallen into her face, a red curtain that hid half her face.

"I wanted to go home," she admitted, "I... I just wanted to go home. Back to my family."

She saw his eyes soften and looked away. Wrung her cold hands together.

"You could've asked for help," he whispered. He was closer now, although she couldn't remember when he'd moved. "What you did... what you're planning... it's not necessary, Cassie."

The sting behind her eyes intensified, her throat tightening even further, as though someone had come up behind her and wrapped a belt around her throat, "You don't know that," she croaked, "I- I can't trust people. Not like I used to."

"How come?" asked Aiden, looking genuinely confused now, "What happened to make you so... so distrustful enough that you'd go as far as to murder people who considered you their friend?"

"My life hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows, Aid," Cassie muttered, ignoring the liquid pooling at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over, "Things... happen. Bad things," she glanced at him with her shiny eyes, wondering if he would drive the sword through her gullet if she asked nicely enough, "And a little girl can only take so much."

The door opened, causing them both to jump, startled. Gabriel's eyes widened.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked, stepping into the room and reaching for his sword, "Aiden, I swear-"

"Wait, wait!" Aiden said, as Cassie leapt to her feet, hastily wiping the tears from her eyes, "She wasn't-"

The entire room seemed to tilt, a short yell leaving Cassie's throat as she was toppled backwards. Aiden landed on top of her, forcing the air from her lungs. Gasping for breath, she looked up just in time to see Gabriel gaping at them from the middle of the bathroom, before the wall slammed closed and they were encased in darkness.


Aiden scrambled to his feet, only to stand stock still upon realising he couldn't see an inch in front of him. Blindly, he reached down, hand connecting with Cassie's wrist.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Ye... Yeah," she gasped, as though still catching her breath, "I'm... I'm fine."

He helped her to her feet, keeping a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to help steady her. Aiden looked around again, squinting, but still remained sightless. Despite this, he pulled out the stone sword he'd taken from the armoury, fully expecting monsters to come charging at them.

He'd been in thick darknesses before. But this was like a darkness he'd never seen. It was suffocating, everywhere, it almost seemed living. It sent terror shooting up his spine in a wracking shiver. He pulled Cassie closer, so that they were back to back, fingers entangled in twin death grips.

"I can't see anything," Cassie muttered, "What happened?"

"I'm not sure," Aiden answered. It was cold. Goosebumps prickled up his skin. Had there been a light, he was certain he would have been able to see his breath in puffs of white. "Maybe there's a light switch."

He doubted his own words, and he was sure Cassie did too. But she didn't comment, and they began inching towards the wall, hands remaining interlocked.

With their free hands, they splayed their palms on the wall, the one that had closed behind them. Aiden shivered, startled by how cold it was. Cassie, however, only stiffened.

"Can you feel anything?" Aiden asked, moving his hand up and down in search of a button or a lever or anything, really. Cassie might have shaken her head, but he wasn't sure.

"No. It must be away from the actual trap or something."

Trap. Of course she'd know.

He shoved that thought to the depths of his mind. Now wasn't the time.

"Okay," Aiden said, "Left or right?"

Cassie was quiet for a moment, "Right."

With a nod he realised only a moment later that she couldn't see, Aiden began to lead them right, his hand- which still had the borrowed stone sword clutched between its fingers- never leaving the wall.

It was bare and, if anything, seemed to get colder the longer he touched it. The darkness was unnerving him, his heart thumping in his ears. Surely, in a darkness this thick, monsters would spawn? The only reason they didn't spawn in the mansion was because it was always day, so did that mean they spawned in secret rooms like this one?

"Keep your guard up," Aiden said, voice a hushed whisper, "There might be monsters here."

"I thought they didn't spawn at the mansion?" Cassie whispered back. This room must be big, because they had yet to find a corner.

"As far as we know," Aiden explained, "But we could be wrong. We haven't seen any since coming here."

"They took my axe," Cassie said. Aiden bit his lip.

"Just... stay behind me, then."

They kept walking, feeling along the cold wall. They must have been in a long hallway or something, or a really big room, as they were yet to find even a corner. Aiden was getting colder by the minute, and he could feel Cassie huddling closer, beginning to shiver. How can the rest of the mansion be so warm and yet have places as cold as this?

Abruptly, Cassie came to a stop, forcing Aiden to stop with her. He twisted to look at her, although he couldn't even see her vibrant hair in this darkness, concern coming across his face.

"Cassie?" He whispered. He wasn't sure why, but it seemed appropriate. "What's wrong?"

"I-I'm not sure," Cassie whispered back, "Did... did you hear something?"

Aiden didn't answer, straining his ears, squinting as though it would magically give him night vision. The darkness combined with the silence was almost maddening, and he was relieved for the hand currently holding his own in a death grip. Perhaps a bit more than he should be, when the hand belonged to a masked killer.

"I can't hear anything," he said, finally.

"I could have sworn..." Cassie inched closer, practically huddled against him, "I thought I heard footsteps."

Aiden was silent again, listening intently. But there was nothing but his own heart, a pounding drum in his chest.

"It must have been your imagination," he concluded, "I don't hear anything."

Cassie made a small noise, as though unsure. Aiden returned to the wall, but not without a wary glance over his shoulder, although he remained blind.

They continued inching along, when the tip of Aiden's sword connected with something other than freezing stone, the thunk of wood. They came to a stop. Heart leaping hopefully, Aiden tapped the wood with the tip of his sword, then did it again, a little harder- and the portrait popped off the wall.

Light immediately poured into the passageway, forcing Aiden's eyes shut from the sudden assault. Blinking as his eyes adjusted, he grinned a relieved grin. Behind him, Cassie laughed.

"Thank Notch!"

They stumbled out of the portrait hole, into what could only be the upstairs hall. To their left, out of sight from around the bend, was the birch door to the library.

"We're upstairs?" Aiden gaped, "How? We didn't even touch any slabs," he faltered, turning to look at Cassie, "Did we?"

"I don't-" Cassie cut herself off with a startled scream, a chicken appearing on her head in the flap of wings and a spray of feathers. Aiden screamed as well, jumping out of his skin and very nearly slicing Benedict in half with his sword.

With Cassie's beanie firmly clutched in her beak, Benedict fluttered down from the girls head, leaving her hair a tangled mess and her glasses dangling from one ear.

"Holy crap-" Aiden gasped, hastily fixing Cassie's glasses, "Are you okay?"

"What- Did she just steal my beanie-"

Then, with a joyful squeal, Reuben came bounding around the corner with Winslow clinging to his back for dear life, ears flat against his head. The little piggy ran circles around the two, who were so startled they could only gap, before dashing after Benedict.

"Winslow!" Cassie exclaimed, face immediately lighting up at the sight of her cat, "Oh, my little kitty!"

Aiden lunged at Benedict, grabbing for the beanie, only for the chicken to whip her head around and toss Cassie's beanie towards the rampaging pig with a cat on his back. Reuben leapt into the air, causing Winslow to meow in what sounded almost like a screech, and caught the beanie in his mouth, darting down the hall.

Benedict flapped widely, smacking Aiden in the face and causing him to automatically release her. She ran after Reuben and Winslow, Aiden spitting feathers as he scrambled back to his feet.

"Hey!" he called, "Get back here!"

"Winslow!" shouted Cassie, as Aiden darted after them, "Here, kitty, kitty! Come to Master!"

Aiden lunged at Reuben, yelping when he bounded out of the way with another joyful squeal. He grunted, landing on his shoulder and rolling, hitting a partly open door and causing it to bang against the wall.

Groaning, Aiden pushed himself up, rubbing a sore spot on his head that he'd hit on the floor. Cassie ran forwards, almost tripping over Benedict, and knelt next to him.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Aiden said, ignoring the way his chest was fluttering like a pair of butterfly wings, "Let's just get your-"

Cassie's beanie landed directly in front of them. They blinked at it, startled, and looked up just in time for the closet door to slam closed.

A silence came upon them. Then, at the same time, they sprung to their feet and banged into each other. Cassie struggled passed him and slammed into the door, hand going to the handle in the dim lighting- she twisted it, desperately, and the lock jingled.

Cassie swore, banging her hands on the door. Aiden came up behind her, pushing on the door, but it didn't budge.

"Hey!" he shouted, "Hey, let us out! Let us out!"

They received no answer. The hall outside remained silent.

Once more, Cassie breathed a swear word. It was hard to tell in the dim lighting, but her fists, curled against the wood of the door, almost seemed to be trembling.

Aiden took a step back, pressing his fingers to his forehead. He looked down, blinking upon realising he was standing on Cassie's beanie.

Bending down, he scooped it up, dusting it off. Hesitantly, he held it out to her, "Here's your beanie."

Cassie glanced over at him, face looking rather pale. Swallowing, she nodded in thanks and took it back, pulling it over her red hair.

For what must have been the hundredth time that afternoon, a silence came upon them. Aiden bit his lip, looking around at the cramped closet. Weakly, he kicked the door, as though hoping it would burst open upon contact. Of course, it remained shut.

"Great," Cassie laughed a dry, humourless laugh, "From one cell to another. Trap, trap, trapped."

Her breathing was becoming rather harsh. It sounded as though the air had been forced from her lungs and she was struggling to catch her breath. Aiden sent her a concerned look he wasn't sure she caught.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh, why do you care?" Cassie snapped, causing Aiden to take a step back in surprise, back pressing against the wall, "I'm a goddamn murderer, remember?"

"Yeah, well, so am I," Aiden snapped back. Cassie looked up with a frown, chest heaving. Aiden bit his lip, mouth drying, and took a deep breath.

"So am I," he repeated, slower, "I set monsters on innocent people who didn't even know what they were. You honestly think they all made it out alive?"

Cassie stared at him for a long moment, before giving another huff of a humourless laugh, "That's different."

"How so?"

"You didn't know them," she said, "They weren't your friends. You didn't even kill them directly, you just sat on a throne and listen to them scream!"

"I kicked Lukas over the edge!" Aiden screamed at her, causing her eyes to widen in surprise, "I kicked Jesse, the Founder and one of my oldest friends over the edge fully expecting them to die!" his fist connected with the door, causing it to shudder in its frame and his knuckles to crack. His ragged breathing was loud in his ears, the prick of tears behind his eyes.

A moment passed. Aiden dropped his throbbing hand back to his side, staring at the floor, glowering. It took him a moment to realise Cassie's breathing was increasing, and he turned to see her with her head in trembling hands, hunched in on herself.

"Cassie?" he said, eyes widening, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Cassie shook her head, shoulders trembling. She slid to the floor, curling into a ball, gasping, "I-I can- ca- can't breathe."

"What?" Aiden knelt in from of her, hands aloft as though to touch her, but he hesitated, "What is it?"

Instead of answering, Cassie buried her face in her knees, hands over her ears, as though she was being blasted by a sudden burst of skull shattering noise. Panic was beginning to rise in Aiden's chest, heads held in front of him, but unsure what to do with them.

Abruptly, there was a knock on the door, a familiar voice coming through, "Hello? Is someone in there?"

"Jesse!" Aiden exclaimed, shooting to his feet and pressing himself against the door, "Is that you?"

"Aiden? Why are you in the closet?"

Behind him, Cassie gave another shuddering gasp, trembling all over. Aiden tangled a hand in his hair.

"We- We got locked in. I... I think Cassie's having a panic attack or something."

"Cassie?" Jesse repeated, "What is she doing in there?!"

"Kind of a long story, just get us out!" Aiden said, "The animals shut us in!"

"The... the animals? You mean Reuben and Benedict? And Winslow? What do you mean they shut you in? How did they shut you in?"

"I don't know!" Aiden exclaimed, starting to get frustrated.

"Okay, okay!" said Jesse, "I'll, uh, I'll try to find the key or something."

"Hurry!"

He heard footsteps running in the opposite direction. With that, Jesse was gone.

"Okay," Aiden muttered, more to himself than Cassie, "Okay, okay, okay."

He knelt in front of Cassie, wondering what to do, how to calm her down. He'd never had a panic attack- or anxiety attack or whatever it was she was having (he remembered Maya telling him once that they were actually very different things)- himself before, nor has he ever been in the presence of someone having one.

He briefly considered hugging her, but decided against it. That would only cause her to panic more.

"Hey, uh, Cassie? Cass?" he said, bowing his head slightly in an attempt to make eye contact, "It's, uh, it's okay, alright? We'll get out of here soon, Jesse's going to get the door open."

"Then what?" Cassie asked, sounding as though she'd just ran about thirty miles, "Throw me into another confined space for our rest of our stay at the mansion deluxe?"

"I won't let them," Aiden assured, "Especially when you're this claustrophobic," he faltered, "That... is what's wrong, right?"

Cassie gave another humourless, out of breath laugh, neither confirming nor denying his suspicions. Aiden glanced to the side, in the direction of the door, wondering how long Jesse was going to be.

"I'm here," he said, "I'm right here, Cass."

Slowly, he took her hand in his, causing her to stiffen. He guided it to him, splaying it over his chest, forcing himself to take deep, steadying breaths.

"Breathe with me, alright?" he said, like he'd seen Lukas do with Jesse what felt like a century ago, "Deep breaths, Cass."

Cassie took in a deep, shuddering breath, letting it out slowly like Aiden was. His hand tightened around hers, but not too much.

"Breathe with me."


Aaaaand there we go. Hope I did alright on the anxiety attack, that was my first time writing one. It wasn't from Cassie's perspective either, and I'm not sure if that helped me write it or not...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! They'll be continuing the episode next chapter.