Chapter 12

Isabel

If I were able to move, I'd be helping Neriah. But, as it happens, I'm sort of chained to a wall with Chloe guarding me while Neriah fights with Mr. Carter.

"Let's see how you like this," he says, shoving his fist with the weapon he was given 3 years ago into her stomach. Thankfully, I'm able to heal her from where I am, so she gets up within seconds.

"That was okay," she says, "but this is better." Hers is the only weapon aside from Rochelle's hands that is impossible to get rid of, since it's embedded in the palm of her hand. She shoots a lighting bolt at him.

Once he's away from her, she closes her eyes, evidently contacting someone. Unfortunately, Chloe can see this too.

"Oh no you don't!" she yells, charging at Neriah.

"Neriah! Look out!" I yell, but too late. Chloe's body turns into mist, going inside of Neriah. Neriah has time to scream before Chloe takes total control of her.

Neriah-no-Chloe turns to me. "Your baby is quite cute, Isabel."

I struggle with my chains. "Where is Ophelia and what have you done with her?"

"Whoa," Chloe says, "calm down. Your daughter is fine. The Order may be cruel, but we'd never harm an innocent baby."

"Then where is she?" I demand. "I somehow don't believe a word you say. For all I know, you're secretly torturing her in a different room. Prove to me that she's fine, and I might actually co-operate."

"Fine," Chloe snarls, leaving Neriah's body. Neriah falls on the floor in a dead faint. Chloe leaves the room, and I heal Neriah so she'll get up. She runs over to me and undoes my chains.

"Where's Chloe?" she asks.

"Getting Ophelia," I respond. "Listen, I have a plan."

"You know, you don't have to tell me out loud. You can just think it and I'll know."

I nod. "Yes, but there's no way I'm opening my mind at all in this place. I don' t know how many Order members are Truthseers."

"Good point."

"So here's the plan. When Chloe comes back in with Ophelia, you pretend to still be unconscious. Then, Chloe's attention will be focused on me, so you need to keep Ophelia from coming towards me. Try to tell her that she needs to shape shift into something big. I don't know how well it'll work, since she's barely a month old, but it's worth a try. In any case, it'll provide a nice distraction while you get the others to come."

I sense somebody coming. "Quick! Chain me back up before somebody sees!"

She does so, and lies down on the floor where she was just moments ago.

Chloe comes through the door, Ophelia in her arms. "Here's your daughter, safe and sound. Now you keep your part of the deal."

"Put her down and then we'll talk," I instruct, and she does so. Behind her, Neriah calls Ophelia over to her quietly, and then starts whispering to her. I keep Chloe's attention on me by saying things like "You'll never get me to talk" and classic hero stuff like that.

After a while, I see Ophelia take the form of a tiger cub, and walk over to Chloe. Chloe turns around, and Neriah drops to the floor again. Ophelia sits in front of Chloe, staring up at her with big, innocent eyes. Chloe picks her up. "Where did you come from?" she asks no one in particular.

Then, Ophelia growls and claws at Chloe, making Chloe drop her. Just then, Matt bursts through the door. "Matt! Over here!" I yell to him. He looks at me, relieved. "Isabel! You're alive! Where's Neriah?" I motion with my head to where Neriah lays. "Neriah!" Matt exclaims, running over to her. She gets up and hugs him, and the other four come in too.

The girls are safe! Hooray! The next chapter is the last of this book, and then I'll start on the third one. Do you think I should do what I did for the end of the first? You know, put a note after the next chapter when I type up the first chapter of the last book?