Ira Glass's Story

Ira! Get in here!

Rory could hear someone climbing up the stairs. A figure slowly emerged, his blue-ish skin catching the light of the lanterns everywhere. The man was almost up when his foot caught the edge of the landing. He plummeted to the ground, but he recovered quickly, rushing over to the other man's side.

My deepest apologies sir.

Rory eyed them both, the sitting man seemed to be annoyed with the blue man. As if he was dealing with a naive 12 year old. The blue man held tight to his cloak around his neck.

You worked under Owl until his capture. These kids have questions about the dear ole' Doc. Enlighten them.

Kids?! Rory crossed her arms over her chest annoyed. She was not a kid! She was 22 years old for pete's sake! She wasn't some naive girl that just wondered into an alternate dimension that also sent her back in time. She eyed the blue man, Ira, was his name. He had worked with Owl as well, a past assistant.

"My name is Lorelei," She said to Ira. "We were all sent here on Dr. Owl's orders. We're trying to find his trinkets. The one in this location is the wooden box, with ten blue dyed metal screws. We just want to find them, so we can get back home."

Did he just call her a pig?! Rory felt her jaw set, her eyes glaring into Ira's. He reminded her so much of Owl, the way he threw his words to the wind. Never caring whose feelings he hurt, or what the consequences might be. He continued speaking, as if he din't say anything hurtful at all, his eyes surveying the room. She clenched her fists at her side, her frustrations boiling over.

As Panfor claims it, there are questions you seek answered children.

Without hesitation Rory marched forward raising her fist and slamming it against the side of Ira's cheek. She didn't hit him hard enough to make him fall, but he did stumble back. She looked up at him, he was much taller than she was, but she held her glare. "I am not a child! Stop treating me like I have no idea what's going on, because I know more than you!"

She pointed at Ira and then to Panfor. "I know what's going to happen after this day, what's going to happen to you and all your people the moment Josten's rule takes complete control! Your people are going to suffer, Owl is going to be banished, to never return here, and hundreds of people are going to die. And you have the audacity to treat me like a child!"

She felt her face turning red, her whole body was shaking. She glared down at both men, her breaths coming out shaking and stiff. She turned on her heel and ran down the stairs to the kitchens of the bakery. She took in deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. A small bucket filled with fresh water sat on the counter, she grabbed it and splashed the cool droplets into her face.

She slumped down on the ground, her exhaustion finally taking over. She felt her eyelids droop shut, succumbing to the sleep she had been avoiding.

Hayley watched this Ira guy, stopping herself from laughing at his pig comment. He talked funny and a lot of it went over her head, though who was she to judge this was a different time and place maybe that's how they all talked. Great he had no idea where this trinket was and now they were on a wild goose chase in some unknown city full of people who wanted to kill them. great, Hayley thought sarcastically.

"As Panfor claims it, there are questions you seek answered children."

The children comment turned Hayley's insides black, and she was one of the youngest of the group, besides who was he to talk like he was older than them, he was just as young as them the looks of it. Hayley tried to calm herself down, this guy was helping them and by the looks of it for no cost. Besides he knew the Doc in this world, he had to be of some help, despite how irritating he had proven himself to be. Hayley watched Rory's outburst with a small, lingering, admiring smile, sure yelling at each other wasn't going to get them anywhere, but geez did this guy deserve all that and more. Hayley was sick of this place though and just wanted to get on with it as soon as possible so she plastered on a fake apologetic smile before stepping forward to face Ira.

"Earth, we came through some magical painting thing." Hayley answered his previous, almost forgotten question before continuing with her own question. "What exactly did the the Doc do here? Did he have some sort of lab or home, maybe somewhere we should start looking?" She looked up at him and despite her own feelings, smiled courteously and hoped maybe he had some advice for them.

Ryan observed the man giving information. He was strange, but he looked like he would be useful. The men continued to all them children. Ryan could not care less what they thought of him and his group, he just wanted to get the trinket and get out of here. This boy, Ira, seemed to know what was going on. Unfortunately for him he made another child comment, and was pounished by Rory. Ryan had to hold back a smirk. It certainly seemed that his group was a bit touchy. Hopefully that would keep them alive until they got home.

Rory retired to a corner. She closed her eyes and drifted off. Ryan wished he could do the same... He grumbled. He was going to answer Iras question, whe he was beaten to it by Hayley. Ryan shrugged and slumped over against a wall. He was tired, he was stressed, and he was hungry. Hopefully Ira would be useful.

The group was silent. They were all taking in the events of the day, some more gracefully than others. He had no idea what time it was. Everything was dark, but despie that; there was no way in hell Ryan was sleeing in GlenDock.

Before Ira hada chance to answer Hayleys question Ryan stated from the corner, "Ira, I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from insulting my group. I think it would help tensions all around, ya know?"

With that he rolled hs head back and stared at the ceiling. God he was tired...

"No idea, Alexandra. I have no idea how you even got here from another dimension. It sounds like the tales parents tell their children. Out of a storybook. I don't know."

Three feelings ran through here. Dread, because they were probably stuck here. Anger, because he had just announced her full name to Ryan. And one she wasn't sure how to explain, but it made her stand straighter and made her seem alert. Storybook. Maybe it was just a choice of words. But it still stuck in her mind. She was pretty sure she had that book in her apartment. If she got out of this alive, she would have to read that book again.

"Ira can help you. He is a difficult fellow...but intelligent. Perhaps you should take him with you." Alex looked over at Ira and nodded. They should bring him. He could help.

"I apologize Alexandra. I wish I could help you further..." Before Panfor could finish, a clatter rang through the room, and it fell quiet. She turned around towards the source, but couldn't see anything. Not yet, anyway. She instantly turned towards the man again.

"Do you have a back door? Any way out that that thing won't see us?"

((This is probably going to be a really long post because a lot happened since the last time I posted, sorry ^^))

Aiden stood with his back against the wall quietly, cheek pulsing. Toriko had hit him pretty hard and he probably would've fallen over if the wall hadn't been there to catch him. He stayed quiet while she gave him a little pep talk and he continued looking at the floor while Ryan gave his speech. Didn't they all understand that simply saying that they were going to make it through wouldn't change their chances of living? Words couldn't protect them and asking all these questioned wouldn't help them either. What good would answers do if they were all dead anyway? Rory began asking questions next. Seems Ryan's speech did help a lot, but Zane and Amanda were still dead. That fact wouldn't change.

"I'm not going to say I know Owl. never met him one on one. Shook his hand once when I was nine. But if what people say is true, he is a man of science. And insane man of science, but of science nonetheless. He has a reason for every action. Every little detail of his work may seem insignificant...but in the grand scheme, this little detail could determine life or death. I do not believe he planned for your friends to die, nor do i believe he sent you here out of sheer longing. If he sent you here all the way from another dimension, which is a feat very grand indeed...he had a reason.

Though it is strange that you all say Owl sent you here. Last I heard he had been captured and imprisoned. Not an hour ago."

He looked up a little as Panfor spoke. Owl had a reason for sending them here, did he? Why them? Panfor mentioned that it was strange they were sent here since Owl was just captured on even an hour ago. How was that possible?

He was a little shocked that Rory started yelling at him. She really needed to calm down. Did Rory really think that this was some form of time travel? Time travel doesn't even exist! Of course, they were here weren't they? Suppose anything could be possible up to this point. Panfor then called in someone by the name of 'Ira', who clumsily stumbled in. His blue-ish skin was really strange to Aiden, but he moved his eyes back onto the ground. He'd seen enough already. Blue skin was no surprise to him at all. Rory suddenly walked up to the man and slapped him one in the cheek. This made Aiden's cheek start hurting again. Why are these girls so violent? He thought to himself. That was the second time someone was slapped!

"I don't really know why you're asking about where the objects Doc would wish you to retrieve are, when you could be asking why he wants them and why you're assigned to get them."

It was a good question. That was practically the only question that Aiden really wanted the answer to. Why did doctor Owl choose them out of all the people there was in the world? There was a the loud noise of cracking wood and everyone fell silent for a split second as the snarling of a wolf echoed around the room.

"Head down to the kitchen! There's a sewer access in the back, Ira go with them!"

He quickly turned and followed Alex and Ryan down to the kitchen, the images of Zane and Amanda haunting him. Would the same thing happen again? He didn't want to leave anyone behind, but every instinct in his body was tell him to run.

"Help?"

Aiden wasn't usually the type to make the first move. It was natural for him to step back and just follow everyone else. But now wasn't the time to be waiting on others. He quickly pushed forward and grabbed onto the gate. "Come on!" He said, though he didn't look up from his hands. Even in a situation like this, making eye contact and talking was still terrifying to him, despite his outburst earlier. His cheek was still stinging, and he guessed it must look pretty red too. Though, by now he kind of believed he deserved it, but the girl didn't have to hit him that hard.

Rory was jolted out of her spot on the floor, by the sound of something slamming into the door of the bakery. She looked up at the ceiling wondering what was going on. She heard yelling, some screaming, and then the rush of footsteps upstairs. What was going on?

She pushed herself to her feet, instinctively grabbing the pale from next to her. Just in case she needed a weapon. She had barely moved before the troop rushed down the stairs into the kitchen. They swept passed her, not bothering to explain what was going on. Alex scrambled around the kitchen as if looking for something. She was about to ask what was going on when Alex asked for help.

Aiden immediately sprang forward helping Alex with some sort of gate.

"What is going on?" Rory finally cried hoping to get someone's attention.

The sound of footsteps pounding on the stairs startled her. She turned around to see Ira running down the stairs, Panfor following close behind. They ran into the kitchen quickly moving to help Alex and Aiden. When Rory spotted it, a large wolf slamming down the stairs with such a speed that it slammed into the wall. It regained it's balance before charging towards the group.

Rory reacted immediately, slamming the pale into it's head. It stumbled back, but didn't falter enough to give them anymore time. She watched the wolf charge towards her, she tried to move, but found her feet catching on something. She fell to the side, her arms raising instinctively to protect her face.

The wolf's claws dug into her flesh, she felt a claw catch on a part of her unprotected face, the rest slicing into her arm. She screamed loudly, immediately moving to kick the wolf away. It continued to scratch at her skin, the pain increasing with each swipe. It bit down on her thigh with so much pressure, that Rory thought it had permanently attached itself to her body.

This was it. She was going to die here. She was never going to see her mother or father again. She was never going to be reunited with her siblings. And she would never see Owl. Never be asked for peanut butter. Or to mindlessly copy passages from old texts onto new parchment, to later be rebound.

She was going to die.

Toriko hurried with the others downstairs, disappointed not to have the chance to ask any questions. At least Ira was coming with them. It didn't take her very long to get used to his strange pale skin. She's seen some pretty strange things throughout her years of investigating and digging into things that weren't supposed to be dug into. Seeing someone with skin like that didn't bother her at all. It just had her interested. She felt a little bad for leaving Panfor to fight the wolf, but she figured he knew quiet well how to fend for himself. She stopped with the others at the bottom of the stairs, watching as Alex began looking around for the opening to the sewer passage. Toriko guessed a few of them probably didn't like the idea of walking through a sewer, but she'd walked down sewer passage ways plenty of times before when she went on hunts.

She watched as Aiden and Alex both began pulling at the gate, giving Aiden a small smile. That slap she gave him earlier must've really helped. Or maybe he was just determined to live, which was also nice sense earlier he seemed so ready to die. What a negative fellow. It didn't take long for both Ira and Panfor to come running down the stairs to help with the gate. She heard a scream behind her and spun around, eyes wide. The wolf was attacking Rory. She froze for a moment, not quite sure how to react. She was terrified. Help her! she screamed to herself, instantly pulling out a red can of Wildfire Pepper spray.

"Rory! Close your eyes!" She yelled, pointing the bottle as she ran forward. She aimed straight for the wolfs face, then sprayed. The animal shrunk back, shaking its head violently and scratching at its face as it yelped. She kept the bottle in her hand and grabbed onto Rory's hand, pulling back and forcing her to stand on her feet. "Hurry!"

"Toriko, Ill be right behind you, keep 'em in line."

She pulled Rory down into the sewers, the horrid smell hitting her like a baseball bat, but she was too busy trying to survive to worry about the smell. She kept a hold of Rory's hand, pulling her along. "Everyone stay together! Just run straight alright!" She said, pulling out her flashlight, clicking it on, and tossing it to Alex. She realized she'd dropped her pepper spray back in the kitchen, but she couldn't leave them to go get it. She had a job to do. "You lead the front!" She called to Alex, "Everyone get up on the side where it's dry!"

She was about to start running, taking up the rear, when she felt Rory's hand slip from hers. She stopped and spun around, eyes wide. Rory had passed out. She knelt down beside her, first checking her pulse, then picking up the bag and handing it to Hayley, along with her own bag. "Carry these!" She demanded, then looked at Ira and Aiden. "You two, help me carry her!" She said, putting one of Rory's arms behind her neck and wrapping her own arm around Rory's side. "Aiden get her other side and Ira get her legs! We don't have time to patch her up now, we'll have to get to a safe spot first." She had a very serious look on her face as she stood up with Rory next to her. "Alright move everyone!"

Ryan..please, please be careful! She thought to herself, hoping Panfor would also be alright.

Alex paced back and forth in the sewer, ignoring the line of sorts that Toriko was supposed to be forming. She wanted to go back up and help, but she had no way to help. After all, she had no weapons, and she had no plans. She would just be in the way. Every time she heard somebody talk she would stop, itching to climb that rusted ladder. An agitated moan escaped her lips. She hated the idea of fleeing from the fight.

"Everyone stay together! Just run straight alright! You lead the front!" She turned just in time to catch the flashlight. After one last glance towards the ladder, she jogged to be up front, trying to ignore the image of Rory. She felt bad for the girl, and she wanted to help, but that wasn't her job. She heard Toriko barking out orders, heard Rory pass out. It was nearly painful to not help, but eventually Toriko told her to move, and she did. Shining the light everywhere she could to see if there was a corner a Shadow hid in.

"Come on guys, we're almost there. I can see a door." Alex called out. And it was true. She could see the ladder that leaded up to ground level, and the grate that separated the sewers from the ground. Hopefully, Ryan and Panfor would get here soon. Alive, preferably.

Ryan was panting. Hands on his knees. His right forearm had a decently sized gash from sparky. Panfor was looking around, wondering where his men were. Ryan was sure theyd be alright. This guy was a hell of a leader. Much better than Ryan. He shook his head and stood straight. Panfor gave him instructions. They were partng ways. Ryan nodded. He grasped Panfor's hand. "See you in a bit brother." He said an shook. "Stay safe."

He opened the gate and followed his team.

They were in the tunnel, all safe. He breathed a sigh of relief. They were in a line, quickly heading straight forward, Toriko leading the way. He jogged to the front and walked next to Toriko. They seemed tense, and he didnt blame them. He handed Toriko her spray. "Thank you for leaving that behind." He turnd his head and surveyed the group. Rory was unconscious and being carried by Aiden and Ira. "Thanks for getting them going." he looked ahead at the door. "If Panfor as right this leads to the cliffs. We are gonna wait there for him and his group to regroup with us."

"Thank you for leaving that behind. Thanks for getting them going."

Toriko took the pepper spray and took her bag from hayley and put it away. "Thanks for not getting yourself killed." She said, giving him a smile. "Should we head up then?"

"If Panfor as right this leads to the cliffs. We are gonna wait there for him and his group to regroup with us."

So they were going to come with them. She hoped there was at least a little more light outside, since the only flashlight they had was hers. "Alright, that way we can patch Rory up and rest for a while." She said, her sapphire eyes scanning the group. "Everyone's tired. We can't keep running like this. We need to take a break." She said, turning and facing the group. "Alright everyone! We're heading up!" She then looked over at Aiden and Ira. "We'll help you two get her up the ladder, k?"

((kinda short))

Aiden was a little nervous having to help carry Rory. He wasn't very strong and he was still tired from running so much before, even though they'd gotten a pretty long break. He carried her all the same. He owed it to her after all. If she hadn't gone back for him when he fell before, he might just be dead by now. His hands were still really sore and were pretty scraped up from his wipe out, but the bleeding had stopped. He nearly slipped a couple of times on the slippery stone service of the sewer, but kept his ground the best he could. He wasn't about to drop Rory, not her. They ran for a while and he began to feel really shaky. Finally Alex, who Toriko had ordered to take the lead, stopped and yelled that she found an exit; a rusty ladder leading up to the surface. Wonderful, now they had to carry Rory up the ladder?

They waited a few moments before Ryan finally arrived, thanking Toriko for getting them going. Aiden didn't carry Rory and run because Toriko told him to. He'd chosen to do it. For one, he owed Rory and he was pretty much the only one out of the group that he actually liked, and secondly there were hungry, vicious wolves behind them. Of course he was going to move!

"Alright everyone! We're heading up! We'll help you two get her up the ladder, k?"

Aiden met his eyes with Toriko. He didn't want to take orders from someone who he'd been slapped by, but Ira and Aiden weren't going to get Rory up there by themselves. He gave her a brief nod, then looked down at Rory. He had one of her arms behind his neck and his other arm around her waist while the opposite hand held Rory's hand to keep her arm over him. She looked so beaten up. Though her wounds probably weren't as serious as they looked, he knew it must still be painful. I'm sorry.. He said to her, though he didn't actually open his mouth. He felt really bad about letting her get hurt.

"We have to get up there," Rory said looking up at the ledge. "We'll have to be extremely careful, we don't have enough light to expel all the shadows, but it'll be enough to get the box and get Ryan and Alex out of there."

She looked at the troop. They were all so determined and ready to follow her through this plan. As if she actually had a concrete plan that was definitely going to work. She had half of a plan, even if they did get the box and get Ryan and Alex, there was still no way to know if Owl would pull them back. This was absolutely crazy.

She kept her face straight, gripping her flashlight so tight her knuckles were turning white. "Alright, let's go,"

They moved quietly and quickly across the grass, careful not to make too much noise. The moment the shadows discovered them their entire plan would fall apart. They had the element of surprise as long as they were distracted by Ryan and Alex's life energy. It should give them enough time to get up there and grab the box.

Climbing the cliff side deemed difficult with a badly injured arm and leg, but Rory continued to push herself higher. She wasn't going to let a little flesh wound get her down. They were almost there, she could hear the shadows snickering and cackling as they drained the life away from Ryan and Alex. This was suicide.

All they had were a couple of flashlights, against an army of shadows. It would be like throwing a pebble at a brick wall. She looked at the troop, they were waiting for her orders. When did she become leader? Wasn't Toriko second in command? "Ready?" She whispered?

They nodded, ready to charge into battle without a second thought. She nodded. "One, two.." She looked up at the shadows above her. "Three."

Rory felt almost too overjoyed to see Ryan alive. She pulled back almost immediately, her face turning redder than it's probably ever been. Ryan was immediately moving, despite her protests, but he was on mission. He stumbled over himself several times before finally reaching the box. He picked it up easily, holding it a distance from his body.

"Got it Owl. Now what?"

Nothing happened.

Rory cursed under her breath. "Dammit Owl," She stood from her knees, smacking dirt off her jeans. This was just perfect. Of course it wouldn't work, why would it work? Obviously, Owl had hidden the message somewhere on how to get out. That was the only explanation she could think of. She stepped over to Ryan who was staring intently at the box, hoping the answer would just appear.

"May I?" She asked holding her hands out for it. Ryan reluctantly handed it over. Rory turned it over in her hands several times, the screws inside jingling about, banging against each other.

She must have turned it over several times before giving up. There was no use. It was just a box. They were trapped here, until Owl decided to reveal how to get out, whenever he so choose.

"Dammit Owl," She practically screamed about to throw the box to the ground when her surroundings changed.

They were back in the attic. All of them, including Ira, but Panfor was nowhere to be seen. Owl stood in front of them a crooked smile on his face. He pushed his glasses further up his nose, before holding out a hand for the box. Rory looked down at the small wooden box, it's contents, for some reason, important. She stepped forward, placing it roughly into his hand. "Here's your precious box." She snarled.

"Now, where's my peanut butter and jelly sandwich?"

[ignore Amanda's tag]

Ryan decided to speak up on this aftr Rory stormed off. "Owl. give us a break." he said. He turned his head to scan his group. They all seemed alright. No one was in mortal danger right now. He sighed. There was no way they were gone less than an hour. He looked back at Owl. He was giddy, swaying back and forth and smiling like a child who just got a lollypop. "I'm starving, and I'm sure the rest of us could eat as well." He looked at owl. "We're not going back in today. Just give us a break." He agreed with Rory, but he was too dazed from the darkness to think straight. He was tired. He wanted a nap.

Panfor wasnt there, why did Owl bring Ira back but not Panfor? Ryan had found a connection between them. Panfor was a good guy, hopedully they'd meet agan. He walked forward and dropped his back against a wall. He slid to the floor and let his head dangle between his legs.

(Short post)

((Geeze =.= sooo many posssttssss. This is probably going to be crappy since I'm trying to rush.))

Toriko stood speechless, but with a small smile, as Rory finally woke up and the box was spotted. Relief rushed over her. They could finally leave this place. What would happen when they came back? Would they have to come to another world just like this one to get another one of Owl's trinkets? Why did they have to risk their lives for him? Toriko didn't understand anything, but maybe that was why she wanted to keep going. She wanted to put the puzzle together and get all the answers she wanted. She eyed the group. Everyone seemed so tired. Even with the sight of the box, they didn't look like they wanted to go any further. Then she noticed Ryan giving Rory a kiss on the cheek before running off. Where was he going? He's going to get the box by himself! She thought to herself, clenching her teeth. He's supposed to be our leader! What happens if he dies? "idiot.." she mumbled under her breath before Alex went rushing off after him. Did they want to die?

She stood there trying to figure out a way they could help. She didn't want to let them go to something reckless like that without their help. But, she couldn't think of anything. Her mind was completely blank, which was really unusual for her.

"I understand that you're all tired, but this is not the time to put all the pressure on Ryan and Alex. Just because they are willing to risk their lives for us, doesn't mean we just sit back and watch them commit suicide. We have to help. I have a plan. It's crazy, and almost entirely based on luck, but we have to try. We can't let them die. Not like Amanda and Zane did. We're not losing anymore people. We are all going to get out of here alive."

Rory was the one who spoke up first, making Toriko feel even more ashamed of herself for not coming up with something first. They all went along with her plan, following her even up the cliff. Climbing it wasn't much of a problem for Toriko, but she imagined the others probably had some issues, especially Aiden. He hadn't spoken much sense she'd slapped him, which she still believed he deserved anyway. They reached the top, the shadows already being battled by Panfor and his men. Then there was Alex and Ryan, laying there on the ground. Toriko's heart lurched at the thought of them being dead. No!

The battle was one, but what would happen if they ended up loosing Ryan and Alex? She couldn't imagine losing someone every time they retrieved one of the trinkets. Toriko was a little surprised after Panfor leaned down and kissed Alex. Was that really going to work? It did. It only took seconds before Alex opened her eyes and sat up. Next was Ryan, after Rory kissed him. Toriko couldn't help but smile. They could finally go home and get out of this place for good. She was more than ready to go home. Ryan got up and stumbled over to the box, but nothing happened. It was completely silent. Then Rory picked it up, turning it around multiple times and mumbling under her breath. After seconds of Toriko feeling utterly dismayed, their surroundings changed and they all stood in the attic, along with Ira.

"Good...On to the next? Yes? You've been gone hardly an hour. You aren't tired are you? It is supremely important remember!

He wants us to go into another painting already? She thought to herself. She looked at everyone, but noticed that they didn't have any damage to them at all. She was dry, her hair perfectly straight, clothes clean and she felt fine. It was rather surprising.

"I'm taking a bath. We are not going back in. Not tonight. Tomorrow. And that's if they want to stay."

Toriko for sure wasn't ready to go back already. She needed to get home and get some sleep. Sure she didn't feel any effect from all the things she did in the painting, but it was late and she was tired all the same. "I'll stay." She said, though she gave Owl a glare. "But I'm going home right now and I'm not coming back till' tomorrow, got it?"

Rory sat on the side of her tub, nothing but a white towel wrapped around her body. Her hand circled in the water as it continued to fill. She sighed. Her wounds may be gone, but she could still feel the exhaustion in her limbs. Once the tub was full, she turned off the water and climbed into the tub.

The warm water washed over her skin, releasing the tension in her sore body. She sighed. Although, the bath was doing wonders of easing the soreness in her body, she was still stressed and worried. They still had seven more trinkets to get, and considering how difficult it was to get the first one, the others probably weren't going to be any easier.

She dunked herself into the water, staying there for a while. She never wanted to come out. She just wanted to stay underwater, where the sound was completely drowned out. Finally, she emerged wiping water off her face. Going back in would be inevitable. But this time they would have to prepare. Get more information from Owl, stock on more things. Definitely bring more lights in case of shadows.

Rory yawned. She could fall asleep right here, if it weren't for the fact that she might drown. She tried to keep herself awake by going through what happened in the painting. Two people died. That was the hardest to get over, going back in with the knowledge that they couldn't save everyone, would be the one thing that held them back. They might other worldly beings. Like Panfor. And Ira.

Ira? He had gone through the painting with them, but Panfor didn't. Did Owl make sure to grab Ira so they could discuss their history together? Or did Owl just not notice? He didn't seem to show any recollection of Ira. If they did work with each other at some point, I would think they would remember each other. It's hard to forget someone with blue skin.

And the kiss. Ah, the kiss. Rory dunked herself back into the water. She kissed Ryan, granted he was basically unconscious at the time, but she had done it. And he hasn't really looked at her since. Obviously, everything was going to be awkward now. It would be weird being near each other. She emerged again spitting out water.

"I'm such a loser." She sighed burying her face in her hands.

[I'm going to skip all the things that just happened since Aiden didn't really take much part in it anyway hehe ^^]

Aiden stood in the attic with the others, staring at the ground. They were finally back. Out of that horrid place where death waited around every corner. He didn't pay any attention to the Doctors reaction to getting his box back. The first thing he noticed was his cheek had stopped hurting and his hands were healed. His body wasn't aching anymore and the only reason he felt tired was from staying up late. He realized everyone else seemed fine too. Had it all just been a state of mind? If it was, what exactly happened to Zane and Amanda after they wolves killed them and why was Ira here with them?

"Good...On to the next? Yes? You've been gone hardly an hour. You aren't tired are you? It is supremely important remember!"

He took a couple of steps back and leaned his back against the wooden wall. They wanted them to move on already? Why was he in such a hurry? Everyone else seemed like there was no way they wanted to go back tonight. Rory was the first one to refuse and leave the attic. The next to refuse was Ryan, who then dropped against the wall and hung his head, then Toriko. Why do they want to drag it out? The faster we get this done, the better right? He thought to himself, moving his eyes back down onto the ground. He wasn't as afraid anymore to go after the trinkets. After all, now that he knew if he got injured in the painting, he would be perfectly fine when they came back. So risking his life didn't seem like such a bad thing anymore. He only had one question; why did Dr. Owl choose them of all people to help him?

Rory and hayley had left the room. Doc went off with Ira and the box. The rest stood in awkward silence, with Ryan and Alex in the corner.

She seemed to be taking the ordeal lightly. but Ryan knew it was staged. No one could be chipper after something like that. She asked him if he saw anything after the wolves went away. Ryan turned to her. She was very upset. What could she be talking about. After the wolves went away he didn't see much of anything. It was all darkness until Rory kissed him. He shook his head slowly. "Alex, What did you see?" She wouldnt look at him or speak. He sighed putting his arm around her to comfort her.

"Alex, If you need to talk, Im here." He whispered. He knew he would need someone to talk to about it. No one else had any idea. And he hoped they never would. He looked at the two remaining in the room. Toriko and Aiden simply stood, probably still dazed. Hopefully they would be alright in the days to come.

"They wouldnt understand" he breathed. He tightened his grip on her shoulder a bit. He dropped his head as well. This was too much.