Magenta snatched my wrist, hanging onto it hard. I winced.
"Why weren't you as surprised as the others?" she demanded.
I stammered, "Well, I… uh… I–" My mouth shut tight as Riff Raff creeped up next to Magenta and he stared me down.
"You seem somewhat familiar," he commented. "Have you ever been to the castle before?"
"No," I slowly replied.
He paused. "In that case, I suppose, welcome." He turned to his sister. "Dearest Magenta, we better let her on her way, or else we'll all miss the fun upstairs." Magenta obeyed, releasing my wrist. I cradled it in my hand. It was almost white from her squeezing it so hard. I ran out into the hallway, listening to them chuckle as I headed up the stairs.
Now, which door led to the lab?
Oh yeah, that's right – there is no door!
Where's the hole? I scanned the walls. Finally I found it. I ducked under and ran up to the railing, looking down. Janet was screeching "STOOOP!" at Frank, knocking him against the wall. Riff Raff and Magenta were already down the ramp. How did they get here so fast? I wondered. I looked to the side. Columbia and Rocky were watching over the railing as well.
I heard a weird zapping noise. I looked below. Brad had been turned into a statue, fist still raised high. Another zap and Dr. Scott froze into one as well, pointing a nagging finger. Zap! Janet stood, hands grabbing her head in frustration.
"My God! I can't stand any more of this!" Columbia erupted, walking behind me and heading down the ramp. She went off, trying to appeal to Frank. I was proud of her for revealing how he felt inside, but I also knew that whining about it wasn't going to work. Especially with Frank, who clearly disliked the idea of his groupie doing nothing but wasting precious time and air.
"Now ya gotta choose between me and Rocky," she wrapped up, "so named 'cause of the rocks in his head!"
Oh, shit! What a bitch! Quick Magenta, pull the switch!Her sassy stance, hands on hips, was statue-ified into place. Frank looked up at Rocky; he was posed like a bodybuilder. He turned into stone as well. Then Frank scanned the rest of the upper tier. His eyes stopped on me.
I stared right back like a deer in headlights. My arms crossed over my body, grabbing my forearms, as if holding me back from the effects of the Medusa switch. Frank's head snapped over to Magenta, who hadn't pulled the switch yet. She looked at Frank and shook her head. He looked back at me and sighed. I tilted my head, confused. "Even smiling makes my face ache," he commented. He raised a curled index finger and bit down on it. I slowly made my way down the ramp, watching Frank lament Rocky's behavior. Magenta looked up at her brother, who nodded, and the two of them walked over to Frank.
"I grow weary of this world!" she exclaimed, louder than I ever heard her before. Frank calmly handled Magenta's temper. They all seemed to pay no attention to my presence. I walked up to Columbia. Curious, I lightly touched her arm, yanking my hand back the moment my fingers felt the cold stone. My eyebrow rose. I wondered if she was able to see, hear, or feel me.
"Psst," I quietly hissed. I smiled. I whispered "Hey Cols." Nothing happened. I resumed, "Now your head is full of rocks!" My hand flew up to my mouth to muffle the giggle choking me.
"Come!" I heard Frank bark. I whirled around. He was walking toward the elevator, motioning for me to follow. I slid across the room and went inside the elevator. He turned to his incestuous servants, hiding me behind him. His stuck his nose up, looking down on them. "We are ready for the floor show." He closed the gate and we descended below.