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Jessica looked to Dave, "It was open. Bella opened it first and it wasn't locked." It was ever so slightly troubling that they hadn't noticed ealier that there was no key. No way to lock or unlock any of the doors. "We fell right into this," she breathed.

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Chris frowned, looking down at Bella while he thought. "Bella, your sister has a point. I don't want to leave you either but I know my way around upstairs pretty well. And what if we did get stuck in the library? That'd be no use."

He placed a hand under her chin and pulled her face up to his, planting a kiss on the end of her nose. "Don't worry about me, Bella. I'm a big boy and I can handle myself. Sides, the person didn't really do anything to Manda. Maybe they're just trying to scare all of us."

Dave didn't really believe this but he didn't want to cause further problems. Every time he opened his mouth it seemed to cause either fear or anger so he just gripped Amanda's hand and nodded.

"Right," said Diana, "who's going to go where?"

"I'll go with Chris and Mike to look for any way out. I would feel much better knowing you are safe in the library Bells. In fact I think it's better for everybody to stick together in the library. You are all upset and angry which is no good in a search for a way out."

To herself she sounded very reasonably and she saw Mike nodding in agreement. She only hoped all the others would agree too.

"No! It's only three of you! How can that be safe! Why can't someone else go with you? I don't want anything to happen to you, my sister, Chris, my boyfriend, or Mike, another really good friend! It drives me crazy not knowing if y'all are ok!" Bella said, trying to let them let her come. She was almost in tears again, she was so scared.


"Bell, just shut up already and come to the library with the rest of us!" Alex cut in now, almost shouting. He was tired of all the problems she put up, and wanted to get out of the place as soon as possible.

"I'll go with them," Diana said, untangling herself from Joey. "It's gonna be fine, Bella. Don't worry." His face tight, Dave wondered how she could say that when she hadn't witnessed the horror in the basement.

"Okay," he said. "I'm sticking with Amanda though. He tried to take her before and I want to be there if he does it again." His jaw was set, allowing no room for arguments.

"No way." Joey said, pulling Diana back toward him and hugging her tight. There was no way he was going to let her go off without him while there was someone else in the house.

"It makes sense, Joe," Diana insisted. "I've seen more of the house than you; I know what I'm doing. Please." She looked directly at him, trying to make him understand that she wasn't scared and some of the others were. She knew she didn't really mind going off with the others alone because she was having trouble sincerely believing this.

"Oh, no! If anyone else goes with them it will be me! I'm not ganna sit still in the library without knowing what's going on with y'all. I object to it!" Bella said, literally putting her foot down, arms crossed over her chest. She didn't want Chris to leave her. She needed him to hold her together. Jess wouldn't be much help cause she was with Alex, and her and Alex weren't exactly on the best of terms, ever. "If we spilt up it's either going to be 5 and 5 or 4 and 6!" She said seriously.

Michelle winked Chris and Mike, and walked out of the kitchen.

Pointing a finger to the gang in the kitchen, she spoke to them the way they were used from her. Bossy and not wanting to be ignored.

"Since we really don't have time to argue, we go now. We see you all in one hour in the library. Mike, Chris, let's go."

She stepped out of the kitchen, into the hall and looked around. Outside the night was falling already.

"Better hurry to the library. I bet they have a fireplace there. Light it for warmth and light."
Without looking back she stepped onto the stairs to the basement. Not really knowing where she would go. Taking two steps down she waited for Chris and Mike. When she felt Mike's hand on her shoulder she was relieved. Now only Chris.

Chris looked over Bella's head towards Jessica with a pleading in his eyes. He planted a quick kiss to the top of her head before pulling away from her. "I'll be right back, Bella. Don't worry so much." He flashed her a smile and pushed past the others to follow Michelle and Mike.

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Jessica saw Chris and sighed. Pulling away from Alex she moved to her best friend and grabbed her up in a hug. "It does make sense, Bells. Sides, nothing is going to happen with all three of them together. They'll be fine."

She pulled back from the hug with a small smile. "Lets go check out this library already. Maybe if we find the keys quick enough or something they won't have to go far."

"Be careful." Bella said, watching Chris leave. She returned the hug to Jess, taking that time to compose herself. "Alright, we need to get going." Bella said, still looking at the door, hoping Chris would return, but knowing that it wouldn't happen.


Alex stepped forward and took Jess' hand. He, too, was worried about his brother, but he wouldn't be like Bella and let it show. He didn't want to be like that girl.


"And whatever you do, do NOT shut the door all the way!" Bella said as the 7 headed off towards the library. She thought maybe they could use a book to block the door from closing all the way, which should help them so they wouldn't get locked in, or at least make it more obvious when someone did so they had a better chance of escaping. Although the girl wasn't sure how they would contact the other three if they did get locked in since the cell service was down.

Michelle led them down the stairs. The basement was pitch black and she already regretted suggesting this.

"We need a light," she whispered.

She turned around to keep the light from the hallway in sight.

"It's night soon. Better find some lights before it does or we won't find the way back at all."

Michael took out his cellphone and flipped it open, holding it near the walls. The light was weak but could just give enough light to show a small cabin haning on the wall. As Mike opened it, Michelle saw her sister lead the group out of the kitchen to the library. She could only see the sillhouettes from down the stairs but she counted seven.

When she turned around she saw Mike with a flashlight.
"There is another one," he said, tossing it to her.
"Give it to Chris," was her answer as she tossed it to Chris.
"No need to stay down here I think."

Going down here was only to get the show on the road. Being down here now made her feel cold.
"I'll be right behind you guys, where ever you go," she said, crossing her arms on her chest.

Jessica clung to both Alex and Bella, refusing to let either out of her grasp. She didn't care if they had issues with each other. Right now, they could get over it. Jess let out a nervous chuckle, "The library...anyone else feel like we're stuck in a game of real life Clue?"

She seemed calm on the outside, but the inside was screaming. It didn't feel right to let the others split off from the group. What if something did happen to them? She'd never forgive herself, especially if anything happened to Chris. It had been with her help that Bella even allowed him to go in the first place.

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Chris took the other flashlight, flicking it on and then off quickly to be sure it was working. He looked back to Michelle and Mike, nodding.

"Right. Should we start from the up and work our way down, then? I don't think we have to go in the attic. We didn't see anything while we were up there." He moved to the top of the basement stairs, searching the room around him for anything. A nervous feeling had taken root in his gut and he didn't like it.

But, as long as Bella was alright then everything would be fine. She was with Jess and the others now, so he trusted that they would keep her safe.

Michelle agreed nervously but Mike didn't.

"If there is a way out, a key or something, it would sooner be downstairs than upstairs right."

The dark basement felt cold and dry and he moved his flashlight through it quickly. A chill ran down his spine.

"But I agree to check upstairs first. Lead the way Chris. We start at the second floor than?" He turned off the flashlight and moved up from the basement. He stood next to Chris and waited for Michelle to come up too.

Michelle however was still downstairs inspecting a strange mechanism that seemed like a trap door. When she suddenly felt a gush of wind pass her she let out a shriek and looked back into the dark alley.

"Mike, Chris.. there is some sort of trapdoormechanism here you should see." She stuck her hand out her sleeve and removed some dust. A sticky substance stuck to her hand.

"There's oil on it, it must have been used recently."

Dave laughed bitterly at Jess's comment, still clutching Amanda's hand. "Yeah; like the answer's Mrs Scarlett in the kitchen with the candle?" he said. "And the secret passageways from the basement are also kind of like Cluedo." They reached the library and Dave looked in nervously.

When they got to the library, Bella let go of Jess and went to get a book. She placed it next to the door frame so that it wouldn't be able to close all the way. Then, looking around, she noticed two other doors, one leading into a more private section that was locked, and one leading to an office, and Bella put a book in that door way too so that it, hopefully, wouldn't close all the way.

"Alright...where shall we start?" She asked, going over and locked the windows so that no one could sneak in unnoticed. Since the doors were squeeky, that covered that.

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Alex just pulled Jess in and held her close, not letting her get far away from him at all.