Chapter 9
"Take your pick." Pitch began, gesturing to a long hallway full of doors. "These are my best rooms. One will be yours."
Vanellope slowly walked down the hall, looking at each room. They weren't the nicest, and one had a smashed window, but before she could complain, something caught her eye.
In one room was a redhead girl slightly older than her tied up and gagged.
"Have you found a room?" Pitch asked.
"I have." Vanellope replied before entering the room with the girl and closing the door.
Quietly removing the gag, she realized the girl looked familiar.
"You're a Forrester, aren't you?" She asked.
The girl nodded. "What are you in for?" She asked.
Vanellope groaned. "Pitch wants me to marry him."
The girl gasped. "Quick! Until me fast! That's a fate worse than death!"
Vanellope leaned down and started to untie the girl. "What are you here for?" She asked.
The girl hung her head. "I don't even know anymore."
From outside, Pitch's voice was heard. "Frogslip, Llort... I feel like I need to do an execution... are there any prisoners left?"
"There's the Forrester girl." Frogslip replied.
"Excellent! We'll do it tomorrow."
"FASTER!" The girl screamed, face flushing.
Vanellope untied The final knot and the girl rubbed her wrists.
"Vanellope!" Pitch called. "I'll need you out here soon."
Vanellope turned the lock and turned to face the girl. "Can you build a contraption to help us get out of here fast?"
"Problem." The girl replied. "I don't know how to invent!"
"What?" Vanellope asked in shock, "but you're a Forrester! Aren't you the daughter of an inventor?"
"I am." The girl replied "but the nightmares kidnapped me as ransom so my father would build them contraptions, so I was never taught."
"Unlock this door now!" Pitch screamed from the other side.
"They're going to kill you tomorrow!" Vanellope screamed.
"I'll see what I can do."
Vanellope turned in horror as a loud bang was heard on the other side.
The girl ran to the bed and picked up the blanket.
"Help me tear it into strips." She said.
Vanellope nodded and quickly started to tear the blanket.
"Frogslip! Llort!" Pitch screamed, "pick this lock! Tout suite!"
There was a rattling sound.
"Hurry!" Vanellope screamed.
The girl began to tie the strips together into a long rope.
"Can you smash the window?" She asked.
Vanellope grabbed a footstool. "Duck!" She screamed and tossed it out the window.
"Ready!" The girl began. She tied one end to the bed and tossed the rope out the window.
Vanellope and the girl grabbed onto the rope and started to slide down when the door burst open.
"The nightmares!" The girl screamed.
They ran towards the rope to reel them in.
"We're almost at the ground!" Vanellope screamed.
Once they hit the ground, they took off running.
"We're in trouble..." Llort exclaimed.
"Not if we can find a way around it." Frogslip smirked.
Meanwhile, outside the nightmare boundaries, Vanellope and the girl had paused to catch their breath.
"I'm sure I'll be able to invent better eventually." She began. "But at least we're safe now..."
"But I don't know where we are!" Vanellope exclaimed. "I have to find Dash too..."
"who's Dash?" The girl asked.
"He's my friend." Vanellope explained, smiling to herself.
The girl gasped. "After what just happened, you can still smile?" She asked in disbelief.
"It's just..." Vanellope began, "after sixteen years, I can finally say I have a friend... feels right."
The girl squirmed.
"What's wrong?" Vanellope asked.
"Can you consider me a friend too?" The girl asked, looking scared, "we just shared a very dangerous moment."
"That we did..." Vanellope replied, "and I'm very grateful, my friend."
The girl smiled, relieved. "My name is Penny." She said.
"I'm... Vanellope." The younger girl replied.
Penny's shoulders shook.
"I know, it's funny." Vanellope replied.
Penny leaned over and hugged Vanellope. "We're safe now." Penny said, "And we can look out for each other."
"Yeah." Vanellope replied. "And..." then she looked up. An ominous figure was towering over her. "We're in a lot of trouble!"
Pushing Penny aside, she screamed as cuffs were closed around her wrists.
Penny went to help, but Vanellope shook her head. "I'll escape! I'll meet up with you later!" She screamed, and got taken away.
Penny watched, heartbroken. "My friend..." she sadly whispered.