From the first time I realized what the situation was, I knew that it won't be funny, easy or safe walking in this damned castle, trying to escape. One thing was to play the game, where you could pause it or where you returned to the checkpoint when you died, and one thing was to be in the shoes of poor Daniel, not being able to pause what you're doing or returning to the checkpoint if you died. Now everything was for real. I had only one life, one chance and one thing to do: to get out alive.

I walked cautiously on the long, stone stairs. The sound made by my sneakers was low, but to my ears it seemed to be much more loud. I was walking slow, not wanting to fall or trip. The hall I was now was slightly illuminated by several torches.

''Where the heck do I find a lantern?'' I said in my mind while I opened a door of what seemed to be a small living-room. I left the door opened so the light from the hall could go through it, lighting the living-room a little bit so I could inspect it better.

As I rummaged through the room I found one tinderbox in a shelf and one bottle of Laudanum or Landabum…I never knew how to pronounce that thing. The room was quite beautiful, except the spider-webs that were amlplasated in the darker corners of the room.

''Spiders…I hate spiders'' I said as I looked at a big, big eyed, fur-legged spider '' Lucky you…staying in your beloved web, waiting for your prey…you don't have the worry of monsters killing you…lucky little bastard'' I glared at it, trying hard not to show it my tongue ''Oh, God, I am talking with a spider'' I hit my head with my palm at how stupid I was acting.

I went back to my research, looking at the many bookshelfs. I quite liked to read, so I was interested when I saw the many books. I took one and I read it's title: ''Jane Eyre''. I opened the book, just to be greeted by a cloud of dust. The book was ,indeed, old.

''Ahh, Jane Eyre…what would you do if you were in my shoes ?'' I questioned myself as the action of the book went through my mind. I gently put it back on the shelf, took one glance at the big room, and went to the door.

I put my head through the door and I looked cautiously to the left and to the right. ''We don't want to be face to face with the monster, don't we?''

I went through several hallways, enterd several rooms, some big, some small, some which had the furniture destroyed. I hadn't seen not even one monster. I hadn't even heard one.

''Maby there are no monsters?'' I questioned myself ''or probably they are hiding…waiting to catch me with my guard down'' I said as I entered in a big big room that looked like the main hall of the castle. I could see stwo big staircases, many pictures, tables, bookshelfs, couches, candles and doors.

I was making my way to one door that was on my left when I heard a voice that came from the middle of the room. First, I thought that it was my imagination and continued my walk. Then, I heard the same voice, calling louder than the other time. That made me curious.

''Could it be that I am not alone here..?'' I thought as I approached the place where I first heared the voice. As I arrived near a cristal table that had a pot full of died flowers in it, surrounded by couches.

''Must have been just my imagination..'' I rubbed my forehead with my cold hand worrying that I started to go insane. I took a last look at the table, then turned to the door I first wanted to go. Just when I turned around, I heard the same voice again, calling for me.

''Hey, you! Are you deaf? Don't go!'' said a masculine voice with a very thick French accent.

''What the..?!'' I turned with the speed of the light '' But there was nobody..who the hell is talking?'' I looked worried around me, prepared to run if there was any danger.

''W-who's there?'' I managed to say as my eyes fell on the different things in the room, trying to see the man that spoke.

''Down here! Under the table'' the man said in a worried tone.

I sprinted to the cristal table again, kneeled before it and looked at it. All I could see was a golden statue…but not just a simple statue''Could this be..?'' I looked in awe at the little statue with my mouth half-opened.

''Don't just stay there and stare at me! Pick me up before the monster hears us'' the voice that came from the statue said a little pissed off.

''O-oh..sorry'' I excused myself for my stupidity and gently took it in my hands ''Stephano…?'' I said without thinking.

''That's my name, milady..now if you would be kind enough to tell me yours?'' he asked politely. That French accent pouring with every word he spoke.

''Sure. My name is Catalina, but friends call me Kat'' I responded as I smiled at the tiny statue…it was cuter than it looked in the videos.

''A beautiful name for a beautiful girl'' he said as he laughet a bit.

''Not really beautiful..but thanks'' I said as I looked away, a little blush crossing my pale cheeks. I wasn't used to compliments. I usually was funny, weird, strange looking Kat…not beautiful.

''Now don't be so shy, milady. I am only telling the truth'' he said totally amused by my shyness ''Now, if you don't mind, let's not just talk in a big hallway, where any monster can show up and kill you''

''Good point well made…'' I smiled as I stiidp just to hear a door opening. I freezed in my place, not being able to move. I turned to the door that opened, just to see a hideous thing walking out of the room and looking around. I wanted to run like hell, but my feet wouldn't listen to me. I just stayed there with my eyes wide opened and my mouth hanging opened. The creature saw me and started to make it's way in my direction.

''Run! Run!'' my brain and Stephano yelled at me, but my body decided to be a troll and not obey. The monster approached fastly. I could see his hideous form in the dim light of the moon. His jaw hang opened to its chest, his horrible eyes stared down in my soul, one of his hands had claws and his body was held together by a rope. ''Fuck…. I'm screwed'' I felt the dizziness take over me again as I finally started running like hell, screaming like a dying cow giving birth to a whale, holding Stephano close to my chest.

I am not an athletic person… I am a lazy one: that type of person that is too lazy to reach for the TV remote that is on the table, so he always has a stick on the couch to change the channels with. I run as fast as I could, and, like a lazy person, I started to feel more and more tired. I glanced behind me to see if the monster was still chasing me, but to my horror, he was right behind me and launched it's clawed hand towards me, catching my tank top and ripping a big part of it, wounding me in the process. I could feel a stinging pain coming from my now bare back and some kind of liquid started to come out of my wound. I was bleeding. Bad.

''Fuck! I've barely been here for 2 hours and I am already wounded! Wonderful! Just WONDERFUL!'' Ah, my sarcasm was still with me even in this situation. I gathered all the power I had left in my body and sprinted down the corridor with tears in my eyes, worried that I could die. ''Why is this happening to me?''

I saw a wooden door and as I ran towards it, I opened it and shut it closed, then I hide behind some barrels remembering the famous quote of PewDiePie's: ''BARRELS! I DON'T TRUST YOU!'' and a soft, small smile made its way on my scared face even in a situation like this.

Surely enough, after a short amount of time, the monster started to bang on the door, digging its sharp claws in the old wood, destroying it. The door didn't last too long, of course it broke down, revealing the angry monster. I tightened my grip over Stephano and whispered to him.

''Shhh…maby he will leave us alone if he won't see or hear us'' I said in the tiniest whisper as I looked at its golden face. Then, I closed my eyes and hold my breathe ''Please don't come near me. Please don't see me. Please live me alone. Please!''

The guardian scanned the room with its hideous eyes. When it saw that in the room was nobody, it went away, growling and making other horrible sounds. I slowly raised my head over the barrels and saw no monster.

''Phewwwwwww it's gone'' I said relaxed, weakening the tight over Stephano ''I think I died a little inside'' I looked softly at him.

''Calm down, milady, the danger is gone..for a moment. And ouch…what a strong grip – not that I didn't like it'' Stephano growled.

''O-oh..I am so sorry, but I was so scared and and-'' I started to stutter.

Stephano cut me off ''No need for apologizing. I am a statue afterall. The only bad thing that can happen to me is to break'' he laughed, then stood silent for a moment ''What about your wound? I could hear you hiss in pain when the monster touched you'' he said worried.

Then. I remembered that moment ''Ahh…the wound'' I said as I put my hand to my back and touched it ''Ouch!'' I hissed in pain as I looked at my hand. It was covered in blood.

''Do you have Laudanum?'' asked Stephano when he saw all that blood.

''Yes''

" Drink some and you will feel better''

'' You don't say…It's just a scratch…no need to waste the bottle of Laudanum just for that..'' I said feeling a little dizzy…maby I was going insane.

''But-''

''I am ok'' I smiled as I stood.

''If you say so, milady'' answered Stephano, defeated.

After an hour of searching and hiding, Stephano asked '' May I ask you a favour?''

Sitting on the nearest barrel, I put Stephano in a way that he was at my eye level ''Sure. Go ahead'' I responded him with a big grin on my face.

''M-my friend is t-trapped here too! Would you like to help me find him, please, milady?'' he stuttered a bit.

''Huh? Of course, Stephano! Do you have any idea where he could be?'' I said as my hazel eyes looked in his golden ones.

''Well..he kinda of threw me at a monster in an attempt to save his life – not that I blame him- and I don't know where he could be right now..'' he said, his voice lower with each word he spoke.

''Uff..that reminds me of someone..'' I said as a frown crawled on my face.

''H-huh?''

''Nevermind'' I shook my head '' Now let's go. I'm sure that we will find your friend'' I half-smiled as I stood.

As I walked and walked, an eerie silence popped between me and Stephano. The castle was berely illuminated by the torches and candles. Sometimes I would hear a faint song played by a piano. Sometimes I would hear the sound made by dragged chains, screams and pleads for forgiveness and scratching noises made by rats. That was a horrible place.

''Maby someone will come and search for me..'' I said as I was looking in some drawers from a bedroom ''Maby they just need some time until they come and search for me in this castle''. I still had hope, but something inside me told me that nobody would come for me, that nobody will see that I disappeared and that I will die here, all alone. I glanced at Stephano that was carefully put on the nightstand. ''Thank God that I have him. At least I have someone to keep me company…but what about the other person that is traped here with me? Is he alive? Dead?'' I shook my head, trying to think positive. I walked to the bed and sit on it. I was tired and my back hurt like hell. My head was heavy and so were my feet.

''Stephano?'' I softly asked, hoping that he wasn't asleep..if he could.

''Yes, Catalina?''' he said politely.

''Umm…I am tired, Stephano. I'd like to sleep a little if you wouldn't mind… I am sorry that I couldn't find your friend. I'll try harder when I'll wake up'' I whispered in a sad tone as I looked shameful at the floor, rubbing my hands together.

''There's nothing to be sad about, milady. Please rest. I'll be awake and if there is any danger, I'll wake you.''

And with a soft spoken ''thanks'' I crawled under the blanket. I looked around the room. It was bathed in a golden light that came from a small candle situated on the nightstand next to Stephano. I turned to my left side and looked at him.

''Stephano?'' I asked sleepily.

''Milady?''

''I am glad that you are here, with me'' I mumbled, stretching in the big, old yet comfy bed.

''My pleasure. I am glad too that you found me, took me with you and that you help me find my friend'' he said, his French accent being more sharp now.

I looked at him through my long, curled lashes. Since I found him, I had a question in my head ''Sorry if the question is too personal, but how comes that you, a statue, can speak?'' I asked as I rubbed my eyes, trying to stay awake as much as I could.

''Well…I am not a statue…I mean I wasn't all my life. I was turned into one''

''Turned..into a statue?'' curiosity could be seen on my sleepy face.

''Well…you see, milady…it's a long story'' he sighed.

''I have time…if you don't mind'' I said as I took a stand of my hair and put it over my ear, rolling my wyes in the process.

''If you have…well, I was the bodyguard of a very rich merchant. I met him in France, where I spent my childhood and learned how to fight – that's why I have that accent, if you remarked. He was pleased with my abilities, so he decided to hire me as his personal guard, because he planned to go in Egypt to search for an extremely expensive orb. He needed me because many people wanted the orb too, and they were prepared to attack and kill everybody to have it. So we went to Egypt and started the research. After months and months of searching we finally found it – it was placed on a table in the highest place of a tomb, the rays of the sun that could enter from a whole in the ceiling carrased it's smooth surface, making it glitter. It was ,indeed, very beautiful. It also had some kind of aura…that dragged you to it, to touch it, to have it. The merchant took it with him, and we returned in France.'' He paused as he took a deep breathe, recalling the moments and waiting to see if I still listened to him.

'' Continue, please'' I said as my sleep seemed to go away.

''The week we returned in France…in that week everybody who was with us in the search of the orb died in a mysterious way. They were all found murdered in their rooms, naked, with strange symnols of them.'' He said in a sad, disgusted voice , then continued '' One night, me and the merchand woke up in this very castle''

''But….how did you become a statue?''

''A man called Alexander wante us to do some kind of strange ritual, so he could open a portal, but we didn't listen to him and tried to escape. Alexander was very mad and came to kill us. I tried to save the merchant, but when I launched with my sword at Alexander, he said some spell and made me a statue. The merchant died. Now I've been in this form for many decades. I am cursed to be a statue, never able to walk. I am trapped here…all alone. The only good thing is that I am not aging in this form'' He finished all his speech with a heavy sigh.

''I am sorry to hear that'' I said looking sadly at him '' I promise to never leave you…and I'll try to find a way to make you human again.'' I said as I took Stephano from the nightstand and put him on my lap.

''How old were you when…I mean how old are you?'' I asked innocently.

''24 and I'll be this age forever'' he sounded sad.

''Young…so young..'' I said as I caressed the delicate surface of the statue.

''May I ask how old are you, milady?''

''I am 19''

Then, there was an awkward silence between us.

'' 19…Why are you here? You shouldn't be in this damned castle! You should enjoy life, not run for your life!'' that was one side of Stephano I didn't know.

''Calm, Stephano, please. I am here now and we can't change anything. Besides, if it wasn't the psychopath that brought me there, I wouldn't have met you. And I am glad that I did.'' I said trying to cheer him up.

''I-I…I think you should go to sleep, Catalina.'' He said in a soft voice '' put me on the nightstand si I can watch over you''

I did what he said, put the blanket around me, closed my eyes and drift into a deep sleep.

''Hey, Catalina!'' said Patti, my babysitter, as I was playing in the cristal snow ''Come back in! It is cold outside! You can't just go outside in the cold wind and snow just in your pyjamas!'' she shouted worried.

The 4 year old me looked at her with big, clear hazel eyes behind long, black, curled lashes. Even though I was in the pure white snow, and the freezing wind was blowing in my long, brown hair, I couldn't feel the cold ''Come with me, Patty. The weather is just fine, the snow is perfect. Come let's have fun!'' I said in a child-like voice.

Defeated, she came near me and kneeled ''Ok I am here, dulcico [sweetie]. Can I take you in my arms?'' she said as she opened her arms, like waiting for a hug. I looked at her and launched myself in her warm arms. ''Haha! Gotcha! Now, little lady, you are coming inside with me to warm you up before you have hypothermia '' she said victorious.

''Naaaaaaaa! Put me down or I'll tell mami that you didn't let me play'' I said as I laughed, my cheeks becoming red from the cold.

''Believe me, piticot [little one]. I can deal with your mami.'' She said grinning.

After we entered in the house, she put me on the bed near the stove and wrapped a warm, soft blanket around me. It was, indeed, warmer than outside. It felt soo good. The delicious scent of cookies invaded my nose.

''Are you baking cookies?'' I said in a high-pitched voice, I raised up and started to giggle.

''Yes. I made cozonac [ some tipe of sweet..it is like a cake], your favourite. But I'll give you only if you will be a good girl. Will you?'' she looked at me with one raised wyebrow and a smirk on her face.

''Sigur [ sure]. I'll be a good girl now..but pleaaaaaaaase give me cozonac'' I pleaded with my best puppy-dog face.

After 15 minutes, she came with a plate full of cozonac and other cookies. When she leaned to put it on my lap, I could see her necklace. It had a strange shaped diamond – I think – on it. She noticed me staring at it, took it of, and show it to me.

''This necklace… I have it from my mother. She said that that piece of diamond comes from a very rare kind of orb. You see…it's kind of a tradition in my family..if I ever had a daughter, I would give it to her…but since I don't have, I'll give it to you'' she said as she looked at the necklace, then at me and put it around my neck '' take care of it and don't loose it. It's precious.'' She looked lovingly at me, then said ''Now eat your treats while they are still warm'' and left the room.

I took the tiny stone in my hands. The way the light fell on it was beautiful. I smiled. I ate my sweets, then fell asleep. A strange feeling came over me. It was a feeling of being protected…of being home.

''Catalina…''

I dreamt of white fields, covered by crystal white snowflakes. I dreamt of cozy, welcoming houses where the fire was burning.

''Catalina…''

I dreamt of a round-shaped stone, which was placed on a table on the top part of a tomb…. I dreamt that I went near it, trying to touch it with my little child hands.

''Wake up, Catalina''

I dreamt that I was back in the white field,,,with the stone in my hands…then….everything went from white to red…blood red.

''Wake up, now!''

''I was scared…the white snow was turning blood red…dead bodies appeared near me. I could hear growls and screams behind me. I was too scared to turn around. Tears started to run over my red cheeks as I felt a cold arm on my shoulder and I saw an old man standing next to me, looking in front of him, at the dead bodies.

''Wonderful…isn't it?'' he said as a smile creeped on his face.

I screamed.

''Catalina, wake up!''

My eyes opened wide as somebody was shaking me violently. I was breathing fast as sweat ran onr my forehead, down on my neck. '' That nightmare….again'' I thought as I stood and put my hands over my face, trying to calm down.

''Are you ok?'' I heard a voice that came from where Stephano was, but it wasn't his voice…it didn't have his accent.

I slowly turned my head to my left and there, in the dim light of the candle, I could see a dirty-blonde haired, baby-blue eyed man with a worried look on his face. When he saw me better, his look changed from worried to shocked. We looked at each other for a couple of minutes, time as I looked at his face.

''This man…he looks just like…'' I thought as my eyes scanned his face.

''You...could you be…'' that's the only thing I was capable to say as we stared in each others eyes. Baby-blue to hazel.

I want to thank everybody that reviewed ^_^. I am really gratefull for your good words and support. Multumesc mult!

I will update Chapter 2 as fast as i can.

If there are any grammar mistakes, let me know. Also, review if you'd like [that really helps me, makes me very happy ans motivates me to finish the next chapter faster]

Also, I am sorry if Stephano is Ooc.

And that's it! I hope you enjoy it.

~Kat (=^..^=)