Taylor's POV:
We've been searching so long now for any hope of an escape, but even all hints at answers are ambiguous.
We've nearly searched every room in this gosh darn labyrinth. All the hope has nearly drained out of me... I can see it in Ed's eyes too.
"I think I see something!" Nicole exclaims. Ed and I exchange glances. Let's just say she hasn't been the most helpful being on the planet to us right now.
"Uh, it looks like a brown shelf that has a bunch of colored thingies with letters in it," she explains. "I can't remember what it's called. A... Bootshelf? B-b... Beetshelf?"
"Are you daft?" Ed inquires angrily. "A bookshelf."
"Right." Nicole snaps her fingers.
I interject this seemingly pointless conversation. "Um, shouldn't we... See if it's of importance? I can't see why these thugs would have a use for books. Unless..." I glance slyly at the other two... "It's a secret passageway."
Ed chuckles. "Have you been watching too much Murder, She Wrote?" He thinks I'm kidding.
"Uh, no. And try pulling out the book that says 'Secret Passageway'... Maybe that'll give you a clue?" I raise an eyebrow at him.
I can't believe they didn't notice the book. They're quite something.
Ed heeds my instructions and the wall moves. Literally moves! We all look at each other, then walk into a dank, dark hallway.
We travel for at least a minute in silence; then, all of a sudden, we hear voices.
"Listen!" shouts Nicole a little too loudly. I clamp a hand over her mouth.
"Liz, are you doin' this er not?" A raspy voice rambles. I can hear muffled sniffling.
Ed and I say nothing, but glance at each other.
"Ok, Jasper. I think I'm ready. And how convenient! They're all right there. Wonderful."
Liz opens up the secret panel we're hiding behind. Oh my god.
Ed and I spot the shiny black gun and run for our lives. Liz fires but misses terribly. And somehow, in the midst of it all, Nicole is keeping up. While wearing heels.
I turn around; it'll take too long to run down this passageway. "Stop!" I yell. Everyone listens.
"Liz... Why do you have to do this?" I shout again. "Why did you have to take it this far? C'mon, we could've worked things out!"
"Oh, Taylor, I wish we could've," Liz states sweetly. "But I was held at gunpoint, and I'm simply too selfish to give up my life for yours." She motions to the three of us.
"Just... Give me my phone," I demand. "We'll call the police and get rid of this... hooligan." The "hooligan" is snorting some sort of drug.
"I don't know," Liz trembles. "I just..."
I sigh and turn my head away. How did this mess even happen?
She decides to give in and places my iPhone in my hand.
I dial 9-1-1 and hope that this will all be over. Somehow, this will have to fix itself. Doesn't it have to?