As she walks, she notices doors hanging off their hinges, and the rooms beyond are torn apart. Bedding ripped to shreds, shower doors shattered. Her instincts scream to run and hide, but she keeps walking, drawn in the the repeating melody of Charlotte's song. The air begins to take on a metallic stench as she climbs the stairs, the song growing louder, more emotion and power filling it's words.

Finally she reaches the door to Charlotte's room. A scratch mark is on the outside of it, making Lacey shudder. Gently she pushes it open. What typically laid beyond it was horrifyingly different. It was a complete mess, completely unlike what the girl who stayed in it loved. Sitting on the bed was the girl in question. In her hands was a violin, and she was playing it with incredible talent. Her song spilled out over her lips as if she was born to sing it.

With muted interest, she looked over at Lacey. She smiled and continued to play. The lyrics stopped repeating however, and she began a new verse.

Burning ashes, burning flames
Won't they let me run away?
If I'm not meant to die
So you've just got to let me fly

Charlotte's verses are stinging, powerful and, by all means, sorrowful. Lacey knows that her friend can't find her inner peace; she'd like to talk to her, comfort her, make her feel better, but she realizes that she might only make things worse. Therefore, she goes back to bed, even if she's still captured by those magical verses.

***

The following day, everyone is reunited in the dining room for breakfast. Charlotte is still sad, even though no-one yet knows why. Jenny keeps being mad at James, in spite of Iona's and Deirdre's suggestion of letting it go and stopping arguing with him; all while Kaylee notices that Elizabeth is a little down in the dumps.

"Lizzie, what's up?" she asks, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. Still, Elizabeth won't turn at her, even when Kaylee smiles and glances at her.

"Nothing serious." Elizabeth shrugs, leaving her friend confused at her reaction. Meanwhile, Janey is serving tea to everyone, occasionally sighing and groaning as she doesn't seem to want to do it.

Alex notices her and teases her. "Come on, Janey, stop pouting!" he scolds playfully, causing her to scowl at him. He, however, ignores her and turns to his Earl Grey and chocolate chip cookies. They are the only things that have him solace in his lonely life.

Wondering why the atmosphere is so tense, Lacey decides it's time to brighten it a little bit and lift up the other guys and girls' mood. "Why don't we go for a picnic?" she suggests, hoping to garner positive reactions. She, however, is disappointed as no-one, except for Iona, Deirdre and Charlotte, pays her any attention.

Iona says that she has cows to wrangle, so she can't come. Charlotte and Deirdre, on the other hand, are more than excited at the idea of joining Lacey. The former has since grown close to the twelve-year-old, while Deirdre is only looking for an excuse to leave the house and paint another beautiful landscape.

She asks Jenny and Kaylee to join them, earning a warm response from the two of them. "Maybe the others should join us," says indeed Kaylee, only to remember that Iona can't go because she's busy with the cattle, Elizabeth is feeling unwell and James is unlikely to join the rest of the group if Jenny goes.

Lacey hesitates a little bit; then her face brightens as she insists. "Let's ask them anyway! At worst, that'll be just the three of us. After all, there's nothing much to do." She has a point, the other girls know. Since Iona and Elizabeth can't come, this doesn't mean that the others are also out of question.

Charlotte suggests looking for Janey, while Deirdre thinks that reaching out to Emma would be a better solution. Since the two girls struggle to come up with a consensus, Jenny and Lacey decide that they should split up: the two of them will take care of preparations, leaving the rest with the hard task of convincing Janey, Emma or the guys.

Not taking advantage of such a beautiful day would be a waste, everyone knows. So, why they seem so reluctant in joining Lacey and her little group for a picnic is still a mystery.

***

Deirdre knocks the door of the small room on the fifth floor. She notices that Emma stands by her windowsill with something in her hand. Wondering what it is, Deirdre makes two careful steps forward when Emma jumps. "Oh, who's that?"

Deirdre excuses herself. "Sorry, Emma, it's me. I just wanted to pass by and ask you for a favor?"

Emma turns her back at the windowsill. She still holds her camera as she greets the other girl with a beaming smile. "Hi, Deirdre, what a surprise. I was taking a few pictures of the landscape. By the way, what kind of favor? I'm curious."

"Lacey wants to take us all out for a picnic. Charlotte and I are already planning to go. Would you like to come with us?" Since Emma hesitates and can't give her a straight answer yet, Deirdre throws a pleading glance at her. "Please... I promise you won't regret it."

"Since it's Lacey's idea, I'll come with you. Plus, I've been stuck inside for too much. Some fresh air will do me good, what do you think?" Emma turns her camera off and leaves it on her bed as she leaves her room with Deirdre.

After shutting the door behind her, she asks, "Have you asked others to join you? Beside Charlotte and me, of course."

"Iona has already said she's busy with the cattle, so she can't come," is Deirdre's answer. "Perhaps Jenny and Kaylee are interested in coming. The guys might also tag along if convinced."

"Let's go downstairs. Maybe we'll find Charlotte and Lacey there."

"Good idea." The two girls walk down the three flights of stairs to reach the main hall, where Charlotte and Lacey are waiting for other guests to join them. They've already prepared three picnic baskets and a backpack.

Charlotte, as she sees Deirdre and Emma, asks them, "Are you both coming with us?"

"Of course. I managed to convince Emma, so it's five of us unless Jenny manages to extend the invitation to someone else." Deirdre isn't too confident others will join; therefore, Jenny coming downstairs with Kaylee comes as a surprise to her.

Lacey exclaims, "Kaylee! Here you are! Charlotte and I have prepared a lot of stuff for the picnic while you were upstairs. What about Janey, though?"

Kaylee gives her a confused look. "Janey? I don't know. I haven't seen her for hours." She turns to Jenny. "Have you?"

Jenny shakes her head. "Janey doesn't feel like coming. She told me she has a headache."

"And the guys? Lizzie?" asks Charlotte, hoping not to have made too many sandwiches only for a few people to take part in the picnic.

"Alex and Lizzie have some stuff to attend to," Jenny explains. "The others didn't really give an answer, especially James." Her face turns darker as she pronounces the latter's name. There's still animosity between the two of them, which seems to be far from being sorted out.

Fortunately for her, Lacey knows how to revive her mood. "Good! So, that's six of us. Let's go, then." The little group leaves Aliena and makes their way towards the garden, which blooms in hundreds of different hues and new delightful scents.

Jenny points at an arbor where roses have grown amidst the ivy. "Look, Charlotte, the yellow ones have blossomed. Do you like them?" She doesn't get an answer straight away, for which she has to call her out. "Charlotte? Is everything okay?"

"Oh, sorry, I was distracted." She squints her eyes a little bit before regaining focus. "By the way, since when do we have sunflowers? They're not meant to be grown here."

"Yeah, that's unusual," comments Deirdre. "I'm surprised to see orange tulips, as well."

"Oh, I love them!" exclaims Emma. "If only I didn't leave my camera inside. However, if I'm lucky enough, I can get plenty of inspiration for a new painting."

"I'm sure it'll turn out amazing thanks to your artistry, Emma."

Lacey concludes. "Girls, I know you're surprised by sunflowers, tulips and other types of flowers you've never seen here, but that's part of the magic of this place. Do you agree with me?" None of the other five answer as they directly start setting up the picnic area, leaving Lacey to wander among the amazing flowers that make the garden special by herself.