"So how do we get out of here? I remember it not being very difficult last time..." Willa pointed out.
"True, I was able to escape fairly quickly" Charlene said.
"I mean, do we think it's a good idea to just climb out this time? Don't you think they're watching a little bit closer?" Willa asked, mostly directed at Charlene.
"Maybe, although you won't be doing any climbing" Charlene voiced the obvious. Pregnant Willa was not climbing up to the parade route like Charlene once had, or climbing down.
"What should we do then?" Philby asked, worried about what would happen if they stayed there any longer, but not willing to leave Willa.
"What if you two stay here, we'll go get the characters, and with any luck, we'll find out more about this place" Maybeck suggested, "Wouldn't hurt."
"Good idea, now hurry!" Willa whispered, though she didn't know why, as they crawled up out of the cage, and followed the route Charlene remembered as if it were yesterday.
...
"So what exactly happened after the smoke?" Philby asked once they were alone.
"I appeared out of nowhere, not here in the tunnel but a smaller cave type place."
"Ok, then what?" Philby anxiously asked.
"Frollo" Willa whispered.
"Really? Wow, welcoming a newbie" Philby chuckled slightly. Willa's face hadn't changed at Philby's reaction. "What? What's wrong?" Philby asked, fretting now.
"The Court of Miracles...that's where he took me."
"Oh, that's ...ok, I'm not seeing why you're suddenly worried about this..." Philby asked, wondering now.
"Maybe its not a morgue, I mean, I haven't seen that before..."
"Willa, you're freaking me out, what are you getting at?"
"The morgue, with the characters...what if its really a hiding place for the REAL good characters, as well as our Emergency plan B?" Willa asked, know what she'd just said had made a difference in Philby's mind.
"Which would mean..." he paused.
"Would mean, this could be more dangerous than before...Philby, the characters HAVE to hide..." Willa said, sending chills down Philby's spine.
...
"Finn, I know you wanted to go this way and all, but I really don't like this" Amanda said as they were walking down a long, dark flight of stairs.
"It'll be ok" Finn said, trying to get her to relax in their current situation.
"But what if something bad happens?"
"You didn't used to worry this much," Finn interrupted her thought, "you used to be the calms one" he said, starting to realize just how worried Amanda had been the last few days.
"Just being realistic" she shrugged.
"Amanda" he stopped in his quick steps and faced her, "what's going on? What happened?"
"No" she whispered, "I'm sorry" she smiled. "It will be ok" and she kissed him softly.
"You're not going to argue with that are you?" Amanda grinned, not convincing in the slightest. "Come on, we've got a park to save."
...
"Well, this isn't good" Philby moaned.
"Not that it ever is" Willa smiled.
"I don't know what to do Willa, this is usually Finn's job to know what to do next" he sighed, settling down beside her and laying his head in her lap. Willa slowly started to soothe him by playing with his hair.
"Shhh don't worry, you don't need to worry, you always know what to do. Don't live in Finn's shadow."
"I'll try not too, but I'm not gonna lie, I wish he were her" Philby sighed.
"Me too, both of them" Willa exchanged the same sigh.
...
"How much farther honey?" Maybeck asked, as Charlene climbed ahead.
"We'll be there soon, does this sorta look familiar?" she asked.
" A little, but, it's been awhile."
"Yeah" She giggled to herself, remembering that prom was the evening that got them together.
"Reminiscing?" Maybeck grinned, knowing what was on her mind.
"A little, it was one of those life events you don't tend to forget."
"This is true" Maybeck chuckled, "well, I knew I loved you then."
"Me too" Charlene stopped climbing and turned around, causing Maybeck to sway a little as a surprise that she'd halted. "I still do" she whispered, leaning forward and kissing Maybeck, but not enough that would cause him to let go.
"Me too" he whispered back as they continued their journey.
...