*Chapter Two*
SARAH SNUCK BACK into the quarters room. Alvar, luckily, was still noting things on his paper. Sarah wondered what was so important to write that you wouldn't keep an eye on the prisoner.
He didn't even notice that Sarah was gone! What luck! But she probably shouldn't celebrate right now because she still had to get Alvar's crystal.
What should I do?
Sarah chewed on a strand of her luscious locks as she pondered a way to escape. Closing her eyes, she could remember that morning, when her mother had advised a thin jacket for the slight chill in the air. She fondly tugged on the edge of her plaid jacket. How she missed her family. Sarah shook her head. Now she was all on her own. There wasn't time to reminisce. She had to get to work on escaping.
She looked at Alvar. He was so engrossed in writing that he didn't even notice Sarah. She bit her lip nervously. Should she do this? What if he saw her? What lengths would a kidnapper go to? Sarah didn't know, but she knew she just might find out if she wasn't careful enough.
Sarah took an observant scan of the small room. The three bunk beds, placed side by side with only about a foot's distance between them, several rugs arranged on the rocky ground, ropes and nets on the other side… Finally, she found something useful. She noticed her backpack was stuffed underneath a rug on the other side of the room as she was hesitating.
She'd figured it was left back in the other cave!
Glancing worriedly back at Alvar, she decided she'd have a look and see if the "Neverseen," whatever that was, had confiscated her personal belongings.
Tiptoeing as quietly as she could, Sarah yanked her backpack out from under the rug. She hugged it to her chest and opened the flap. Inside was her phone, lip gloss, bubble gum, and a special sound machine she stole from her little brother Gary, just for kicks.
Sound machine, huh? thought Sarah. Maybe she could use it to her advantage. If she could scare Alvar just enough to jump up a bit, if his crystal was in his pocket, it'd fall out! Perfect. Sarah decided on the loudest noise possible.
She crept up behind Alvar and got ready to kick the crystal under the bunk. She pressed the button and the noise was imminent. Sarah heard Alvar gasp in surprise and leap up to his feet. He did, indeed, drop something on the floor. She noticed a small crystal strung on some flexible coil. She leaned under the bed and pulled it in the darkness.
Alvar, however, did notice Sarah now. "Karcey, what are you doing?" he asked her sharply as she got up from under the bed. Sarah broke into a cold sweat, but she tried to keep her wits. Calm down, Sarah. She scowled at Alvar.
"Do I have to explain what I'm doing to you?" Sarah snapped.
"Yes, in fact, you do!" Alvar snapped back. "What was that noise, anyways?"
Sarah just sighed heavily and squeaked out, "I'm kind of hungry and I think I dropped my granola bar in the other cave. I was just scrounging around for food."
Alvar seemed to swallow the bait. "I'll get it. But you better stay here. Or…" his voice trailed off. He smiled grimly as he grabbed one of the ropes from the walls. He coiled it around Sarah's arms and legs, binding it tight. He practically sped into the tunnel. Sarah shook her head with a light smile on her cheeks.
"Wow. Is the food really that bad here?" Sarah joked to herself as she smiled again and rolled herself over to the bunk where Alvar had dropped the crystal.
But her smile soon faded as her thoughts drifted into the reality again. She knew she had to get out of the ropes. And fast. Before Alvar came back and realized it was all a ruse.
Panic was swarming her senses as she worried how she'd get out of the ropes. She didn't think this thing through.
Sarah felt a sharp sensation overflow her as her panic faded. It was fiery, yet soothing. It told her not to worry, so she didn't. Sarah let her instincts take over and she drew fire from her body heat, the flames making their way through her skin and finally, they danced across the rope, burning it to ashes. "Whoa," she whispered to herself. She grabbed the crystal and made a beeline for the tunnel, pushing through the dirt and finding herself in the same clearing as before.
She heard footsteps from the tunnel so she knew she had to hurry. Her heartrate sped up as she wondered, How does it work again? Then she remembered. Sarah held the crystal up to the sky and light filled every line of her vision.
When she opened them again, she was in a breathtaking place. There were tall, luminous gates lining a castlelike mansion. Several girls and boys ran through the courtyard. Stately trees were aligned alongside multiple pathways. It was extremely grandiose, but Sarah didn't have time to take it all in, for she feared Alvar would soon discover she was gone- along with his crystal!
Acting fast, Sarah decided she had to see if the residents of this stunning home would let her in. Her eyes wide with terror, and her hands wrapped around herself to stop her hyperventilation, Sarah took one look at the cheerful, happy-go-lucky people chasing themselves around the courtyard and knew what she had to do. "Help!" she shrieked.
