The Playing Fields First Draft

Chapter Seventeen

      The skeleton key led them to the department store's basement. The key was blinking furiously the moment they reached the stairs, and there was an ominous feeling to the basement. Claire didn't want to go down and could tell that Mari felt the same way.

     "Maybe there's another way out." Mari thought out loud.

     Claire shook his head. "No, the fae have definite rules for their game. This is the only way."

    A roar could be heard from the distance.

    Will had gotten free.

     Certain death had a way of making people face their fears, and it was no different for Claire and Mari. They bolted down the stairs, and they hid among the basement trash.

     Claire noticed a box big enough for the two women to hide, and she motioned for Mari to go over to her. Mari quickly moved over to the box, and Claire pulled it over the two of them.

     Will stomped down the stairs, growls heard coming from him.

     Both Claire and Mari held their breaths, attempting to keep silent from the creature that was out to kill them.

     A thud was heard next to them, the sound of the changeling stopping next to them. His heavy breathing could be heard from outside the box.

     The tension was killing Claire, the breathing went on for what seemed to be an eternity until he decided to move on. The sounds of Will leaving became more and more distant, until it became non-existent.

     Claire waited a little longer before he lifted the box, and she checked the key to see if they're still on the right track. The blinking frequency remained. "All right, let's see where the hatch is."

     "Gotcha." Mari said.

     The two walked through the basement, with the key continuing to blink fiercely. Its blinking leads to a door at the end of the basement, and Claire checked out the door to see if there's any traps in the door.

     Nothing.

     Claire carefully opened the door, and looked in.

     Mari closed in. "What's in there?" Mari asked.

     Claire grinned toward Mari.

     "The escape hatch." Claire said, triumphantly.

     The door opened to a hall that led to the escape hatch.

     A roar was heard.

     Will was on his way.

     Claire charges through the door with Mari followed closely. The door was left open, but neither of them noticed as they went to the escape hatch.

     Will appeared, and charged at the two women.

     However something appeared in the door, something that Will crashed into it and stopped him.

     Claire and Mari are surprised when they noticed what happened. To them, nothing's there.

     Go now! Claire heard Rick yell in her mind.

     Claire jammed the key into the hatch's keyhole, and turned it.

     And a light enveloped everything.