¶ Evan was visibly out of breath as he responded, "I don't know, we woke up here". Jamie rushed to my side, she gripped my hand. Lucas's eyes flashed with a yellow hew similar to spark from a flame, "You all put me in here, and now you're using my friends skins to trick me"! He stood up ready to fight. Hastily Evan rebuttled, "No! Reeling was the one who woke me up! I swear!" His eyes darted back to me, in the mangled state I was in, there's no way he saw me as a threat. "I don't know who you are, or why you did this to me, but you better tell me how to get out of here". Every move I made caused more pain, but I still slowly moved my head to his direction. Even I heard my voice quiver in fear, "I don't know". His eyes flashed with rage again, but before he could take another step, Jamie shouted, "This is the real Reeling! After all the time we've known each other you'd really kill one of your best friends for no reason"!
¶ Lucas took a step back, I don't know why her words shook him the way it did, but he tried to argue, "How can you trust it. It probably put us through all of this"! It seemed more like he was trying to convince himself rather then Jamie. I don't know why Jamie trust me so much, I wouldn't have believed my story. Jamie spoke softly, "This is Reeling we're talking about, he wouldn't abandon us, and most of all he wouldn't put us through all of this". Lucas looked at me with remorse for a second, but shook his head, "Believe what you want just tell me how to get out of here".
¶ I head Evan begin to explain the story I told him, but before he could finish his first sentence, I closed my eyes. When I regained consciousness, Evan and Lucas were gone, I felt something dripping from my face then I saw Jamie throw a small puddle of the green liquid on my face. I quickly shut my eyes and got to my feet. The pain had significantly lessened, but Jamie began to squeeze my chest tight enough to bring it back. With a horse voice, I squeaked out, "Where did they go"? Jamie let go, I could see tears streaming from her eyes, "I thought you had died"! I tried my best to comfort her, but I just stood around awkwardly while waving my hands. I stammered, "Don't cry, I'm not dead, see"! Luckily she laughed at my poor attempt.
¶ She sat against Lucas's pod and I did the same. We stared at the backdrop of the dimly lit room in silence for a few minutes. I broke the silence, but kept staring at the wall, "Why do you trust me? I've done nothing to deserve your trust, so why"? Jamie turned her head towards me, "Do you remember our camping trip last summer"? My head tilted slightly, "the one where you and Meredith got lost"? Jamie nodded her head, "Meredith and I were lost in the foliage, my leg was broken from the fall, we sat in a dingy cave for hours, watching the sun slowly set, I had given up hope, but Meredith kept telling me you'd show up. When I looked in her eyes, I didn't see am inkling of hesitation, then well into the night, you showed up. I had heard later that you and Jack were looking for us for hours, longer then everyone else. When I saw you reach your arm out towards Meredith, I decided to trust you". I let out a small laugh, "That's the reason, I thought you had a crush on me". She shook her head, "I know how you feel about Mered-".
¶ Before she could finish her sentence, Lucas interrupted her, "I'm sorry". He and Evan stood awkwardly to the side about a foot away from us. Evan coughed, "The elevator won't budge", while Lucas stood behind him with his arms crossed. Jamie silently waited for my response. I stared at him for a minute, I didn't want to forgive him, after all the years we've been friends, for him to do this... but I can't blame him, if I was in his position I don't know how I would react. With a sigh, I relented, "It's fine, let's get out of here".
¶ The four of us quickly made our way back to the elevator. Lucas cautiously asked, "So how does this thing work"? Right as he finished his sentence, the room rumbled and began its climb. We followed Lucas as he ignored the main room and rushed into the final room. There was a brief moment of peace while we waited for the room to do its typical routine. Evan leaned against the wall and asked, "Did any of you do Mr Collins homework"? Lucas glared at him silently while I laughed awkwardly, "I was going to, but I got busy". Jamie silently shook her head. There was a brief pause, but we all knew to brace ourselves for the inevitable rumble. None of us were to surprised to be sent reeling.
¶ Evan tried to steal control of the situation by being the first to enter the door, but before he could, Lucas barked, "Reeling you go first". I let out a bitter sigh, but made my way out the door. Jamie tried to grab my arm, she offered me pleading eyes, but I dismissed her fears with a smile, "Don't worry, nothing bad has happened so far". As soon as I took my first step out the door, a long elastic tongue wrapped its self around my torso and pulled me further into the room.
¶ Before I had realized it, I was laying in a green puddle inside of giant animal, I wasn't able to see what ate me, but I faintly heard Jamie yell, "REELING WAS EATEN BY A FROG"! I'm assuming I was eaten by a frog. As I regained my bearings, I got a better look at my surroundings. The walls were a pinkish flesh like color, I was on a small incline but surrounding the incline there was an acid like pool with an arm sticking out of the pool holding an Egyptian sword. I felt myself gag at the thought of a human being digested by whatever monster I'm in, but then I realized if I do nothing I'll die like this poor soul.
¶ I crouched down to grab the sword, but when I tried to yank the sword out of its hand, I pulled out a familiar body out of the pool. His face and body were still completely intact. What surprised me more was when he lurched forward and spit out the green liquid. I remained silent even when he picked his head up towards me and asked, "Reeling, is that you"? My voice was trapped in my throat, but I managed to spit out, "Yeah Ancel, it's me..."?