*Author's Note: Hello once again! I have decided to switch things up and use the first person for this chapter. I don't know why, it just seemed easier at the time. Please review and tell me which you like better! Thx signing off

I don't know how long I stayed on that bed, or even what time it was. All I knew was that I must've passed out or something. Someone screaming bloody murder and a thud from upstairs woke me up. After realizing I was awake, I sat up straight in my bed, listening closely; I was trying to figure out what chaos went on above my head. People were cheering or something up there. That's when I realized the chanting had to have been "Rocky, Rocky, Rah-Rah-Rah!" I shook my head. Grabbing my messenger bag, I emptied out the contents onto the bed.

"Let's see," I said aloud, filling up the quiet, empty space. I pulled out my now-dying glow stick, a roll of toilet paper gone soggy from my clothes, a noisemaker, a birthday party hat, the pocket knife and letter in the envelope, a wadded-up five dollar bill, my house keys, and my cell phone. I flipped it open when I pulled it out. Off. I tried turning it on. It wouldn't. The battery was spent. "Oh, wonderful," I sarcastically remarked, "there's absolutely nothing in here that can speed up time. Just a bunch of useless junk." I dumped it all back inside the bag, tossed it back onto the floor, and started walking around the room, looking for something to do to pass the time.

I opened the dresser drawers. Knowing the basics about the castle, I wasn't surprised when I found fishnet stockings, feather boas, and articles of clothing that my mother would otherwise disown me if she found me in them. One drawer had skimpy nightgowns in them. Needing something other than the work suit I was wearing (or so it felt), I chose a peach one that seemed around my size and slipped into it. It covered what it needed to, but I still felt practically naked in the filmy fabric.

I spied the vanity. Deciding there was nothing better to do, I sat down on the small cushioned stool seat and snooped around. The drawer was full of... stage makeup. White makeup base, jet black mascara, and every color costume makeup under the rainbow cluttered the cramped space. I closed it. Makeup wasn't quite my thing. Seeing a brush sitting on top of the vanity, I picked it up and started working it through my matted hair. I worked, slowly, deliberately, concentrating on making my hair as impossibly-silky smooth as possible. I wanted every tangle straightened and every knot undone.

"Do you put that much passion into everything you do?"

Kaydence stopped mid-brush. The voice wasn't hers. It was the one from before, the one that intruded Columbia and her when she was changing into the Transylvanian disguise.

"Because if you do," the voice continued, "then I definitely think we should, uhm, get to know each other better. Nice nightgown, by the way. It lifts me up to see some things around here get put to good use."

She looked into the mirror. She dropped her brush.

It was Frank.

"Oh, don't be frightened," Frank cooed. "I just wanted to meet you, darling. I shook your hand downstairs, no?"

"Yeah, that's me," I replied, trying to sound uninterested. It was harder than I thought it would be. He smiled and crouched down. I could see the reflection of his face in the mirror. "By the way, I'm Kaydence."

"Hello Kaydence. A pleasure."

"Same here." I wasn't quite sure what to say. After all, I wasn't meetinghim, per se.

He suddenly became excited. "So, did you see my beautiful masterpiece?"

"Yeah, I did. He's great."

"Great? That's it?"

"A perfect blend of science and beauty," I further replied, lavishing as much as possible.

"That's more like it!" I could feel his fingers gently brush my bare shoulder, grazing back and forth. I moved my shoulder away from his fingers. "Shy, now, are we, darling?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?" I asked, trying to change the subject. Of course, it did nothing to help me.

"Why not? Afraid of a little pet name?"

What a creeper!I thought. Better than Riff Raff boring holes into my eyes and threatening to rape me, I suppose.

"What's that? Who's raping you?"

"Sorry," I apologized. "I must have been thinking out loud."

"Oh, that's all right. So long as it's not me." He moved his head in closer to the back of my neck. My breaths became heavier. He gently kissed the nape of my neck. He murmured, "Are you ready to give yourself over?"

The whole situation made me uncomfortable. "Not quite." Better to be safe than sorry, even if her emotions were caving in. Perhaps it was the fact that this man was really sixty-some-odd-years old now. And that none of this could possibly be true. Unless...

His lips moved to my ear. He whispered, "Kaydence... come on, darling..."

I just shook my head. "I'm sorry. Not now." He pulled away. I turned around to face him. He was pouting, attempting a look of innocence. Funny. Nothing was innocent in his world.

"Okay, then," he sighed. "I'm off to find Magenta."

"Why?"

"She has some clothes I need to, um, borrow."

I nodded. "Got it."

He squeezed my knee. "See you at dinner, darling."

"Okay. Later." He chuckled as he headed for the door.