Bane looked at the table, spotted Andie's phone, and picked it up. He was almost tempted to look through it, see what she and Eric was telling one another. But he soon shoved the idea out of his mind. Andie would never forgive him if he did that. He expected her to trust him, so how could he not trust her? And she was hardly the unfaithful type, he knew that. Eric was just an old friend of hers. But he would have been lying if he didn't think that he wanted more with Andie. He had seen her try to keep it quiet, but he'd heard him ask how late he'd been to claim her heart. She probably believed it to be just playful banter, or something along those lines, but he wasn't so sure. But he didn't want it to cause another fight between them. That one they'd had at her house had been unpleasant enough. He knew she had a point, but he felt that she didn't see his. He was just being wary, and at the same time, he did want to at least try and get along with Eric. After all, if she'd meant so much to her as a child, he couldn't be all bad, right?

Oh, you're not that naive, are you? A small voice said in the back of his mind. They were ten! Now they're young adults, they've probably got next to nothing to do with the children they were back then.

Bane rolled his eyes and shook his head. He turned and walked back out. But when he stepped onto the porch, Andie was nowhere to be seen. He looked around, thinking she was looking around the garden or something, but saw no one.

"Andie? Andie, where are you?" he called.

No answer. Frowning slightly, he stepped further into the garden, thinking she had maybe gone to her car. But there it was, and no Andie in sight.

"Andie, if it's a prank, you can come out, now!" he called, looking around.

But still, there was no reply. Feeling slightly worried, now, Bane went back around the house, but still, no sign of Andie. He paused in front of the porch and turned around when he felt something under his shoe. Lifting his foot, he caught sight of something glinting in the grass. Crouching down, he picked it up.

"... Andie's bracelet..." he murmured.

He leaped up, looking around wildly. But there was no doubt about it. Andie was gone.

"Gone?!" Jessica repeated – or rather shouted – when Bane told them what had happened. "What do you mean gone?"

They were back inside Bane's house, away from view and out of earshot, seated in the now quiet living room. It was strange, Bane thought, how lively and cheerful it had been not one hour ago... and now... it was like the stage of a war council.

"I mean gone as in disappeared," Bane said, running a hand through his hair. "I looked all over the place and there was no sign of her. Not outside, or by her car... I called her, but no one answered."

The girls exchanged worried looks.

"Well, she can't have gone far on foot," Jessica remarked.

"... Did you guys fight or something?" Emily asked.

"No, not really... we kind of did this morning, but we were fine last I saw her..." Bane said, though he sounded slightly doubtful.

"Well, if she didn't leave because of a fight, then why would she just disappear...? And leave her car, as well?" Isabelle asked. "It makes no sense."

"That's the thing..." Bane said, producing a small object from his jacket pocket. "I don't think she left willingly."

"... That's the bracelet I gave her!" Isabelle said.

"And that's not all," Bane went on. "Look."

He handed it to her, and she looked closer. Then, she frowned slightly, her clever blue eyes scanning the bracelet.

"It's broken..." she whispered.

"What?!" Emily gasped. "Andie would never have done that!"

"No," Isabelle agreed. "But then..."

Her eyes widened, her face going white.

"No...!" she gasped.

"That's where my mind went too..." Bane said darkly.

"What?" Emily asked, not following. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, use your head!" Isabelle said. "Can't you think of anyone who'd be after us?"

This time, the girls caught up with her and Bane's reasoning.

"You mean Zorak and Zarias took her?" Emily whispered.

Andie felt dreadfully cold. She had never felt this cold. Had Hannah slid the cover off her again? Her hand moved a few inches, trying to find it, but felt nothing but marble floor. In fact, even her face was pressed against cold stone. Groaning slightly, she opened her eyes. The floor was sleek and shiny beneath her fingers. It had intricate patterns of black and gray. She suddenly sat bolt upright, heart pounding. She remembered falling unconscious, but.. how or why... she didn't know. She then realized her hands were bound by thick metal chains. She glanced at her feet. They were bound, too. Her clothes were unchanged. She glanced around, raising her arms up against her chest in a feeble attempt to keep the cold away. Looking up, she gasped and recoiled slightly. Until she realized that the creature glaring at her from above, a fierce-looking dragon, was nothing more than a stone statue. Or gargoyle, or whatever it was supposed to be. Breathing heavily, Andie inhaled deeply. Presently, her heart rate steadied.

Adena? Adena, can you hear me? Are you there?

But there was no answer. Something had to be blocking their connection... but what could do that? And why? More to the point, where was she and what was she doing here? Something about the atmosphere felt familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. And why was she so darn cold? It was like being drenched in freezing water... There was no sound, not even a breath of wind... her heart began going out of control again, her arms covering in goosebumps as she tried not to panic.

Calm down, Adrianna! She scolded herself. Keep it together! Are you the incarnation of fire, or are you a coward?

But she had always had her friends before... being alone, she felt smaller, weaker... and she hated it. If she at least knew what this was about... it would... not make it easier, but at least she would know what to expect... if only she could still talk to Adena! Just then, her heart skipped several beats as footsteps echoed in the distance. She stood very still, listening, trying to determine from the rhythm and volume if they were friend or foe. From what she could tell, they were calm and confident.

all right... foe it is...

She listened carefully, her pulse getting quicker with every step, her body tensing in anticipation of the confrontation she was sure would come, the pressure growing heavier and heavier as the footsteps grew louder... Andie clenched her fists, willing herself not to close her eyes, sweat trickling down her neck. Then, slowly, with an eerily loud creek, the door opened.

"Why hello, Adrianna. Long time no see."

Andie stared, mentally kicking herself for not seeing that coming a mile away.

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Who could this mysterious voice belong to? Is it Zorak as Andie's friends suspect? Or is it someone else? Let's find out in the next chapter!