Emma Peterson

I just stood there, staring at the boy. There were so many questions that I was itching to ask, but I forced them all to the back of my mind. An awkward silence settled between the three of us but was quickly broken by the boy. He had turned to address Daisy, who had stepped off to the side to observe.

“Ebony, please take Charlie up to her quarters. Then present yourself in my office.” She nodded, and he faded into nothingness.

“Where’d he go?” I blurted out. I was unable to hold my tongue any longer and desperately wanted answers.

“To consult with our father,” Ebony answered. “Now come on.”

I followed her through a plain door on the far side of the grand entrance hall. It led into an elaborately decorated corridor that didn’t seem to end. It was lined on both sides with one door after another, each with its own unique symbol carved into the wood. After about fifty doors, Ebony stopped in front of a door on the left side of the hallway. Unlike all the other doors, this one was engraved with a number instead of a symbol. The number “27” had been neatly burned into the dark wood. Ebony snapped her fingers, and the door swung open.

“This is your door. I will be back in an hour to check on you.” And with that, she too faded into nothingness.

I cautiously stepped through the door. The dim lights immediately flickered on, and the door shut behind me. I tried to stop it from shutting, but I was too slow. I heard the lock click, the sound cutting through the deathly silence. I was alone and separated from the world. No one to call for help. No one to hear me scream.

I ran my finger over the smooth, dark wood of the door like they did in the movies. I found nothing except a tiny peephole set into the upper half of the door. I was the perfect height to see out of it, however, it showed me nothing but the empty hallway. Just in case, I made sure the chain lock was fastened before I turned to face the dim interior of the room. It was intricately decorated with striped wallpaper and gold trimming. The carpet was blood red and fairly short. There was a large bed in the corner opposite me, along with a door leading to a clean and modern bathroom. I followed a short hall on the other side of the room that led into a small but nice kitchen. Back in the main room, I discovered that the wardrobes were full of clothes. Although the room had a dark and gothic feel to it, I didn’t perceive it as evil.

I was just starting to think about my predicament when there was a knock at the door. I was trying to decide whether to open it when the knock came again. I tiptoed across the room and stuck my eye up to the peephole. Just outside my door stood a tall man with long white locks and blank eyes. His blue aurora was faint, and he was dressed in elegant silk robes. I slowly undid the chain and opened the door. When He spoke, his voice had a powerful and important ring to it.

“Charlie. You are needed in the courts.”