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The group looked at each other once again, hoping somebody would step up, which is exactly what happened. Jackson wasn't really afraid, and he knew that he would be able to fight any effects that occurred in the attic. He was strong enough.

"So no other volunteers?" Trevor asked. Everybody else stayed silent.

"How about Teony?" Marisa piped up. "She's smart, and would be very helpful in helping get the next clue." Teony held her breath, nervous that the others would go along with Marisa.

"She's already risked her life for us once, it seems unfair to put her through it again,” said Fox, who was still cold and shaking. Teony smiled at him, glad that somebody had her back and that she finally had a close friend at Ashwock.

"Fox is right," said Rafe. "Teony and him had already done something risky to help us. It's not right to make them do it again."

"Maybe Marisa should," said Raven. She gasped.

"Me? Why me?"

"Honestly, none of this would have happened if you hadn't said the incantation."

"It was an accident, how many times do I have to say that?"

"Seriously, guys, stop hating on Marisa, she's in the same situation as all of us," said Teony, starting to get a little annoyed.

By each second of arguing, everybody grew more and more tense. They have already fought so much that it seemed like nobody had anybody's back anymore. Tired of it, Fletcher walked away and stood next to Jackson. No, he didn't want to go into the attic, but he realized that he would be forced to do something like that eventually, or the students would turn their back on him, like they did with Marisa and Fox in the beginning.

"Fletcher?" Ella asked, nervous. Everybody turned to look at him, a little shocked. He nodded, trying to look brave, even if he was really terrified on the inside.

"Well, we have two down," said Damien.

"I still think Marisa should," Raven said. "She put us in this situation, it's only fair if she helps us get out of it."

"That is a good point," said Rafe. She looked at Marisa. "I'm sorry, but I agree with Raven." Everybody else nodded.

Marisa gasped, and realized that they would force her to go to the attic, even if she didn't want to. They had a strong enough argument against her, and there was nothing she could do to change that. And now she had to show them that she was truly on their side, or who knows what would happen to her.

"Okay, then," Ella started. She walked over to Jackson and handed him the map, wearing a worried face as well. "Once you are finished, meet us in the sitting room."

“Okay,” Fletcher agreed, nodding. He held his breath, knowing that nothing good has ever happened by separating from the group. Everytime somebody did or almost died, and he didn't want it to happen again, and especially not him.

“Good luck,” said Teony. She went over to them and tapped their shoulders. “You’ve got this.”

“Thanks, Teony,” Marisa smiled a fake smile. The others told them supportive statements and they continued their fake smiles, even if Jackson’s was somewhat genuine, and Marisa, Fletcher and Jackson walked out first with the map. The others followed out, but the trio soon switched paths, looking nervously at them before they left completely.

“Okay,” Jackson started, tracing the path with his finger. “so this map says that the attic should be on the fourth floor. We just have to walk up there, right?”

“I think so,” said Marisa. They found the staircase they had used earlier that night and started climbing up. After finishing the third staircase, Fletcher took a small break to catch his breath, continuing right after that. When the reached the fourth floor, they were extremely confused. For there was no fourth floor there. Instead there was a solid brick wall, cutting off the staircase.

“What?” Jackson exclaimed. “But we followed it exactly.” He held the map up to the group, looking for any errors.

“Why would it just end so abruptly?” Marisa asked curiously.

“Guys, it didn't,” Fletcher explained. “It's just hidden, of course.”

“Then how do we open it?” Marisa asked.

“Do I look like a genius?” She shrugged, pondering of how they could get through.

“It’s probably hidden in a way that dark magic couldn't manage to get through,” Jackson thought aloud. “Not on its own.” He felt the bricks in front of him, trying to find a possible trigger or door. Marisa joined him, feeling for spots that were different than the rest, while Fletcher instead studied the ceiling. He thought he had saw something off about it, some of the cement not even like the rest.

“Guys,” He said. “this ceiling is off. I think there might be a passage up there. Jackson, you’re tallest, try to reach it.”

They went over to where Fletcher and Jackson jumped, trying to reach the ceiling but it was just too tall for him, even standing on the tallest step. They then decided that Marisa, easily the shortest, would sit on Jackson’s shoulders to see if something was there. She reached up, and she was suddenly glad that she had long arms. Jackson strained to keep her in place as she moved the top of the ceiling panel, revealing a hollow passage.

“Voila!” She exclaimed. “I’m climb into it, and then I’ll help you guys, alright?” They agreed. She strained to lift her body up into the attic, since she had low upper-body strength, but Jackson attempted to help her by pushing her feet up off his shoulders. She managed to climb up, leaving Fletcher and Jackson on the ground.

“What now?” Fletcher asked.

“I’ll help boost you up,” Jackson offered, even if it sounded more like an order. Fletcher agreed, thanking him.

“This is life or death, I have no time for thanks,” Jackson replied. Marisa chuckled a little, not letting him see. Jackson cupped his hands, letting Fletcher put his feet on them. When Fletcher stepped onto them, he groaned a little. He was definitely heavier than Marisa, the girl feeling like almost nothing, but still he tried to push him upwards.

Fletcher grabbed hold on the outsides of the hole, and started to pull up, with help from Marisa. Once he was up they looked at Jackson, and they suddenly felt stuck. Marisa reached her arm down, along with Fletcher. He tried to grab onto their hands, noticing Fletcher’s didn't have a great grip because of the amount of sweat but still tried to hold on. Jackson started to use the wall to climb up, but it was no use.

“Hang on,” He said, and he ran off.

“I swear if he doesn't come back, I’m going to throw something,” Marisa said. Fletcher laughed a little bit, but tried to hide it when he saw that she was wearing a serious face, not a joking one. After two minutes he came back with a chair and Marisa let out a breath that she had been holding.

“Is it tall enough?” Fletcher asked. Jackson shrugged.

“Well, we’re about to find out.” He set the chair on the step right below the hole, trying to balance it without it tipping over. His fingers touched the hole and Fletcher backed up, making room for him. Marisa allowed him to use her arm for support and he made his way up.

“There we go,” Jackson said. He looked down. “Where’s this lead to?”

“Don't know,” said Fletcher. “but we’re gonna find out.”

Marisa started to crawl, Jackson following. Fletcher tried to go around the hole, finding great difficulty doing so but managing. They crawled a few feet, not seeing what came next, and suddenly realized that they were going slightly uphill with each step. Not questioning, they followed the passage.

Soon, they didn't even think they were going to get out anywhere. “Guys,” Jackson started. “I think we are just crawling through the vents.”

Right after he said that, Marisa crawled another foot, and the ceiling broke, making her fall down.

She screamed. Jackson lunged for her with his hand and tried to grab hold of hers and she tried to grab his, succeeding. It all happened so fast that they were all still confused. When they realized what had happened they looked down at what Marisa was dangling above. It was dusty, spiders lurking in hidden places, with no door in sight. The attic.

“I’m going to drop you now,” Jackson told her. Before she had a chance to argue he let go, making Marisa fall down onto the floor. Luckily she didn't fall too far, and the other two jumped after her.

They looked around for anything suspicious, but they didn't see anything. It was only an attic from what they saw, an empty attic. But what they didn't realize was that it was a funhouse, masquerading as an attic.

And the show was about to start.

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BTW, I lied. This wasn't the chapter that I was worried about.

That comes next.