Jill's POV

As they file down the steps into the darkness, Rapunzel humming the whole way. "What are you humming dear?" Asks Gothel. "It's a version of ring-around-the-rosey. you wouldn't like it." "I'd love to hear it darling."

"Ok😋 Ring a ring a roses, the body decomposes, sh sh sh sh-" Gothel covers her daughter's mouth before she can complete her death song.

This creeps everyone out, and it does not help, when, with a puff of smoke, a man appears at the bottom of the dark stairway. We all scream
bloody murder, and I trie
to punch him. I go right through him, though, and fall flat on my face.

Unfazed, and as though this didn't happen, he says,"Hello. I am glad you have escaped. I cannot tell you how to get out, but I will try to guide you in your escape. I am the spirit of this mirror." Roary starts to walk towards him.

"There is a way out. I assure you, but the only way, is for one of you to die. I'm sorry." In another puff of smoke, the man disappears. "Wait! Wait! Which one of us? Isn't there another way?!" Roary screams, trying to get the man to reappear. But he would not answer her questions.

In a few minutes he, reappears. "Isn-" Roary starts to say. The man cuts her off, and repeats his old message. With a puff of smoke, he disappears again. in a few seconds the man appears again, and relates his message again. Then disappears with a puff of smoke.

Again he appears and relates his message. "Why, it's a recording!" Snow cries. "Well we better keep going then." Roary says, sad and confused. The scared teens (and baby) trudge on.

They walk, jumping at their own shadows, down the remainder of the path. When they finally get to the exit, to Goldy's dismay the land was still made of mirrors! "Guys, it's still mirrors!" Jack shoves past her to see.

"But there's other stuff too. Those look like blackberries-" "I love wild blackberries!" Roary rushes outside and starts to pick them. "Wait! You never know if there actually blackberries!" Wolfie runs out to check.

The mermaids are next. "To bad this pool is just a mirror." Pearl says, stepping on the shiny surface. And falling in with a shriek.

The other mermaids dive in to help Pearl. But they don't emerge again. "Are you guys okay❗️❓" Rapunzel asks. They pop their heads out of the mirror. "We're fine. It's just water, and we're mermaids. Remember?" "Riiiiiight😋 I almost forgot."

"There are lots of fish here. Their scales are glass, but we'd have to catch one to see if their insides are." Aquata adds. "If they are then I have a delicious dinner recipe I can make." Wolfgang replies. "I'll make dessert, if someone will gather ingredients for me." Loretta offers. "I will, but how do I know what's poisonous?" Roary asks. Wolfgang hands her his plant journal.

"I always carry it with me, and I have it memorized. Here." "I'll make tents. We're probably not gonna make it out of here today." Goldy says. "I'll help." Jack replies. Soon everyone has a job, and they spread out to do them.

Eventually, a delicious fish dinner was prepared, with a salad on the side. "Wolfgang passes out equal portions of fish to everyone except himself." "Wolfgang aren't you gonna have fish❓" Rapunzel asks in between bites. "I'm vegan, Rapunzel. I can't have fish."

"Oh😋 You guys should call me Punzy, kay❓" "But you have such a nice name! Why would you shorten it?" Gothel asks. "You nicknamed yourself." Punzy points out. Gothel frowns. She had never seen such disobedience from her daughter before. Must come from being exposed to others. Perhaps this was a bad idea.