Chapter Seven

Zoe always secretly wondered what death would feel like. To not feel pain, fear or love. She thought those were things you eventually become unaware of, but at that moment, she felt it all.

The pain of never seeing anyone you cared about again.

The fear of not knowing what would happen next.

And finally, never feeling loved again.

She felt like her fall was eternal, but in reality, it only lasted a second, but in that second, she could swear her life flashed before her eyes.

But realizing in a minute you are going to die, helps you to find eternal peace.

But if only she died….

Zoe fell but not to her death.

She landed on the ground.

As her body touched the ground, she bounced back to her feet. Standing in shock, she looked at her friends in tears.

Her mouth opened but no words were heard, for in that moment, Zoe was scared to say a word.

Amos, looked down at his girlfriend, when she fell, he knew in that split second he would never see her again. Never hear her laughter or that smile that could make him do anything. Yet, unbelievable she was staring at him. He wanted to hold her, to give her comfort and without a thought he jumped.

Amos smoothly landed on his feet, to him it felt like a dream, a very messed up dream, where the impossible was possible.

He ran to Zoe and without a thought, hugged her. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her hair. He still couldn't believe she was alive, he was so sure he had lost her. He held her close as she cried in his arms.

"I'm here, it's going to be okay". He kept saying, believing if he kept saying it he would believe it as well.

Looking down at her sister, Aria was relieved that she was safe, but she still wanted to hold her to be sure. "I'm letting go of Sawyer Spence".

Spencer looked at her friend, scared out of her mind. "Are you crazy, if you let go, I'm going to fall".

"Yeah exactly".

"I'm going to die".

Shaking her head at her friend, she let go.

Aria and Spencer landed on their feet, and Sawyer joined after.

Turning to her friend, Aria smiled. "See, you are alive".

An angry Spencer pointed a finger at her friend. "Don't you ever do that again".

"Says the girl with the stupid plan, which would have killed us. If not for" … Aria hit her foot on the ground, surprised her leg didn't bounce back, shaking her head at the trick, she faced her friend again. "For whatever the hell this is".

"Yeah, like you could have come up with a better plan". Spencer yelled back.

"I can't believe you're fighting now, we should be thinking of ways to get the hell out of here. I have a feeling what just happened to us is just the beginning".

Agreeing with Amos words, Aria looked away from Spencer. She believed their lives and safety was more important than any disagreement they may have. "What am not sure of, is if this is some kind of prank?"

"I really doubt it. A few minutes ago, we were floating on an invisible ground and when we jumped we magically bounced and landed on our feet, no injury, nothing". Zoe couldn't believe this was a prank. No, she never believed in magic but now, she just didn't know what to believe anymore. If this was real or not.

She was as confused as she was upset, and from the looks of her friends, she was not alone.

Sawyer didn't understand whatever just happened to them, but there was one thing he was clear on.

He was getting the hell out of these freaking woods.

"Come on guys, let's find a way out. Can someone remember how we can get back to the cars?" he asked, half knowing the answer.

When everyone shook their heads, he sighed, expecting that. He began walking and wasn't surprised when everyone followed.

"Where do we go from here?" Zoe asked the question on everybody's mind.

"No clue Zo, we just have to try to find a way out". Amos gently squeezed Zoe's hand to reassure himself that she was truly here. He still couldn't believe she was here.

He looked up and thanked whatever gods out there.

Aria was walking with her friends when a thought occurred to her.

She suddenly remembered a house, a house she passed by.

She could still remember the way to the house and on instinct she led her friends through the woods to the house.

She never said a word, but she felt drown to the house, she never remembered going there but she somehow knew the way to the house.

She gasped as she had a clear view of the house, and from what she heard she wasn't the only one who was surprised.

This was more than a house or castle. The house was old, no doubt. From the structures and design, you could wonder how the house was still standing.

But even with that, the house was exquisite.

The house designs were a mystery. It could be called a true perfection, if it wasn't for the iron bars around the house.

Makes you wonder if it's a joke or it was built to keep something or someone in.

You could tell, the house was built for royalty. Maybe not royalty, but it was obvious the owner was goddamn rich.

"Damn, now that's a house". Sawyer remarked

Agreeing with him, Aria knocked on the door, which surprisingly opened, she calmly walked in and as she looked around, recognition slowly seeped in.

"Shit". She yelled and turned to the door, only to have it lock before she could open it.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit". Aria yelled more loudly.

The teens didn't understand her anger, but knowing Aria, they waited patiently for her yells to be over before asking any questions.

After a few minutes Zoe asked her sister. "What's wrong? And would you please stop swearing so much. I swear one day, mum's going to cut off your tongue if she hears you swear just once".

Zoe tried making jokes but Aria didn't even smile, she just turned to her sister and friends, it was clear she was frustrated but the teens had no idea what she was getting angry at.

"How can you even joke at a time like this Zoe, and is that even a question. I don't know how… well I know how we got here… I led us here… again… why in sweet pie do I keep leading us her. To this damned house".

Aria hit the door in anger but all she felt was a slight pain on her foot. Squatting to the ground, she caught the eyes of her friends, and for some reason they looked at her crazily. "What"? She asked.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Amos asked and everyone nodded.

Aria got to her feet faster than a flash. "What do you mean by 'what the hell am I talking about', like don't you remember?" Aria asked knowing the answer. She knew this was a game to someone, some idiot was twisting their life around. For some reason she was always the one leading them to the house and also, she was the only one who remembered.

Why though?

Why the hell her, why not Spencer, she was the smart one.

"Aria you're scarring us, what's wrong?" Zoe walked to her sister, she held her sister's hand, worry consuming her. "You okay A? Seriously".

"How can I be okay, for fuck sake you guys don't remember".

"Oh shit" she mumbled.