hey sorry it has taken me so long to update! life got super busy. i didn't really have time to write for a while but this is Chapter five. I hope you like it!

Elise choked on the yucky air. It smelled like an out-house! The big man who was holding her smelled much better than the room around them. Charlie glared at everything around them. The people and the walls. Even the rats that ran across the floor. His usual kind eyes were definitely not kind now. It scared Elise a lot. If Charlie was this upset; how much more should she be afraid? Suddenly the spiral staircase stopped and the wooden floor beneath them turned to stone. A man in a chair snored noisily as the four of them approached. A ring of huge keys hung at his waist. He looked like the guard at an old timey prison.

Adrian was utterly speechless. An earthquake? Northern Lycroa had never had an earthquake in all of its history. It was the furthest country from any fault line in the word. Was Maisly out of her mind? He couldn't handle imagined earthquakes from lunatic teenage girls. Tomorrow morning he would hand her over to the police to deal with. For now he needed to make sure that he kept track of her.

Of course as soon as he thought that to himself, Maisly announced that she was tired and that she was going to go home.

Panic seared through Adrians whole being. He could not let her leave! But how could he make sure that she stayed? It wasn't as if he could tie her to a chair, or could he?

"No." Adrian surprised himself with the abrupt interjection. He hesitated for only a minute before ensuring himself that he was doing the right thing. Maisly was not allowed to leave.

"You're not going anywhere until we can find out what really happened tonight," Adrian stepped away from the table and locked the front door.

"You're not seriously trying to keep me here are you?" Maisly apprehensively glanced at the door that was now locked.

Adrian realized that he was the only thing in her way from getting to the door. If he played his cards right then he might be able to find a way to get her to stay willingly and then there would be no reason to tie her to a chair.

Maisly was exhausted, she didn't want to have to deal with her least favorite Arcane right now.

Adrian stood before her, a barrier between her and her escape from this confusing and complicated event.

She was afraid of the basement.

Couldn't bear to be here for another minute.

Had to get out.

If her mind frayed any more….

She'd break.

Adrians voice softened.

Her head snapped up.

She wouldn't fall for it.

She lunged for the door.

Adrian pulled her back at the last second.

Her scream was drowned out by a loud groan in the basement.

"Charlie?"

Charlie was relieved that the ebony eyed pair let them stay together in the same cell.

He could hear their muffled conversation but couldn't make out the words.

Beside him, tucked in the safety of her brother's hug, Elise had finally nodded off to sleep.

She had taken a couple of hours of reassurance that Charlie would keep her safe to feel comfortable closing her eyes.

It definitely didn't help that there was a man in the cell across from them who'd clearly gone insane, perhaps from the lack of sunshine and the fact that he'd probably been alone down here for a long time. He was the only prisoner other than Charlie and Elise.

The prisoner across from their cell was staring creepily at Charlie with bloodshot eyes. He was rambling on and on about 'the misunderstoods". Then he cocked his head and asked Charlie in a high-pitched voice, "would it be pronounced the misundersteed?-" the man stick out his tongue and coughed,then continued as if nothing had happened, "because your plural?"

"What did 'your plural' mean?" Charlie wondered.

Charlie had the urge all of a sudden to throttle the crazed man in the cell.

No that wouldn't help anything! He had to think clearly.

He needed a distraction.

Something to get his mind off of the man in the cell across from them. in an old-timey jail cell right after turning up in a field was the coolest thing that had ever happened to him.

Why was he still thinking about this!

It was hard though because meeting a crazy man in an old-timey jail cell right after turning up in a field was the coolest thing that had ever happened to him.

No!

Charlie looked down at his younger sister, and brushed her hair lovingly away from her eyes. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, not even the crazy man in the jail cell across from them would scare her now that she was asleep!

Dang it!

The clomping of footsteps coming their way had Charlie's train of thought run completely off the tracks and he craned his neck to see who was coming towards them. The woman with beady black eyes stomped toward him, unlocked the cell door and glanced to the exit as if to signal that they were free to go.

Charlie was confused, why would anyone lock two unassuming people and then just let them go. The people didn't even do any tests or anything.

Elise got up with Charlie and walked to the stairs. She stopped at the big man.

"Hi," she said tentatively.

The big man's grumpy face went slightly less grumpy at her and he said back, "hiya".

Charlie guided her up the stairs. The lady walked behind them, and when they got to the top she grabbed Elise by the arm.

Apparently the people weren't planning on setting them free. Charlie should have known better. These people obviously had no regard for human rights.

When the woman started to pull Elise along a narrow path Charlie intervened. "Where are you taking us! You can't just lock up innocent people without any reason! I should have you arrested!"

The woman turned her glowering expression onto Charlie, "Dolt! You think we were locking you up?! We saved your life! What do you think all of the shouting and cheering was? There are angry mobs roaming the streets and fine go it alone if you want! Maybe our organization does not need you after all!

Charlie stared after her bewildered, "what did she mean?"

Hooded figures wearing cloaks to disguise themselves stood in an alleyway watching the exchange with the man, the woman and the little girl.

When the woman stalked off one of the hooded figures instructed his companions in a gruff voice, " you, deal with her," the figure motioned to the woman, "You two get the other two their too valuable to lose. We have to get our hands on them before anyone realizes they're here."

well that a wrap! not to the whole story silly just chapter five! as always please comment on the story. constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. as an aspiring author I always love to learn and improve my writing! BTW lycroa is the name of the city that they live in. its made up.