AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well good news for you guys, you will be hearing a lot more from me with this story since apparently I stink at dance routines for cheerleading. Bad news, I didn't make the team, but hey, more downtime for writing!
Emmy was getting sick of the shifting of the boat. It's constant rocking was making her head spin.
"How do captains deal with this?" She thought aloud.
Emmy felt like she was about to fall over, when suddenly, the rocking slowed down. 'Are we landing on shore?' Emmy wondered.
She continued her search around the ship, hoping to find an exit to the deck. Several minutes later, she could hear seagulls screeching outside a door behind her. She opened the door and was greeted by palm trees.
'Where are we?' Emmy wondered.
She realized she needed to evacuate quickly before anyone saw her. She found a rope hanging down towards the shore, grabbed it, and swiftly slid down.
After landing on the wet sand, she examined her surroundings more closely. She noticed old ruins in the distance.
"Ruins. Must it always be ruins?" she exclaimed.
Emmy realized her best option was to head to the ruins, no matter how much she hated to, and get out of the ships sight.
"Let's get this over with."
She glanced up to make sure no one was watching, and ran for the trees. There was a small forest blocking the view of the entrance to the ruins.
She hid behind the first tree she saw and glanced back at the ship. A few men were frantically searching the deck. She guessed they must have noticed their missing hostage. One man directed his gaze to the forest and yelled to the others. Emmy took this as her cue to leave, and ran quickly through the cluster of trees, bushes, and thorns.
She had to slow her pace several times to avoid large thorn bushes in her path. She almost ran face first into a spider web, and it's owner gave her an angry, six eyed gaze. She walked a lot slower after this encounter.
After what had felt like hours, Emmy had finally made it to the front of the ruins. It appeared to be a creepy, black castle, or what was left of it.
"This reminds me too much of Descole's castle." Emmy stated nervously.
She ventured inside, hoping for the best.
Emmy barely made it into the entrance, when she heard a familiar voice.
"Emmy Altava!"
Emmy turned. "Inspector Rowland?"
Rowland ran up to Emmy. "I'm glad to see you are not injured."
"How did you find me?" Emmy asked.
"I, well, Professor Layton remembered the salt on the letter I analyzed, and realized your captors must have been near boats. He then deduced that you were taken overseas." Rowland explained.
Emmy looked around the area. "Where is the Professor?" she asked.
"I went back to Scotland Yard to gather a bit more information, but we agreed to meet up later. Follow me, I'll lead you to him." Rowland said.
Inspector Rowland walked into the castle and towards a dark hallway.
Emmy followed cautiously. She did not want to be spotted. All she wanted was to see the Professor again.
The two women had walked for at least an hour down the winding hallways. Emmy had lost count of how many turns they made.
'How long is this?' She thought to herself.
Rowland rounded yet another corner. Emmy became suspicious. 'Where are we going? This doesn't look like an exit.' Emmy thought.
A door appeared, one that was right in their path. It held the same symbol Emmy woke up on in the ship, the crown above the flame. Rowland pushed this door open and walked in. Emmy followed, questioning their current position.
"Are you sure this was the right way? I think we are lost." Emmy stated.
"No. This is correct." Rowland answered.
Emmy gazed at her surroundings. They stood in a large room, underground by the looks of. Emmy also found yet another symbol of the crown and the flame.
'What is that supposed to mean?' Emmy thought. "Wait, where is the Professor?" Emmy asked.
Rowland smirked. "I'm sure he will show, eventually."
"What do you mean? I thought you said..." Emmy began, but was cut off by a new voice.
"Is this the girl?" A shadow was all the visibility Emmy received of their new guest.
Rowland nodded.
An evil laugh rang through the room, bouncing off the walls in a way that sent chills down Emmy's spine.
A hooded figure stepped forward. "Welcome, Miss Altava."
"Look there it is!" Luke proclaimed as he pointed in front of him.
"Is that a ship?" Flora asked, directing her view to the large boat near the left side of the island. Nalah turned her head and joined Flora's gaze.
Layton nodded. "They must have brought Emmy on it." He noticed men walking towards a large site of ruins behind a forest of overgrown trees.
"Emmy must be inside that castle." Luke commented.
"I believe so, my boy. We need to find a way in without being spotted." Layton added.
"How do we do that?" Nalah asked.
Luke smiled. "Quietly and carefully."
The group landed the boat away from the ship's view and ran for the cover of the trees. When they found a decent spot to stop, Layton made something clear.
"We need to find Emmy quickly. We don't know what they may have done to her or if she will even be conscious. If anything happens that puts any of you in danger, run for the boat and go get help." Layton said.
The three nodded in response.
"Let's find Emmy!" Luke added.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Chapter 22 is done! Yay! Oh and I'm going to visit my grandparents in Tennessee, and they don't have any Internet or wifi of any sorts :( I will try to update whenever I find wifi in town, but no promises. I will have chapter 23 by at least Wednesday.