Creeping through the halls, I kept close to the shadows, pressing myself into hidden corners whenever I hear footsteps echoing through the chilly corridors.

Though I could see my breath, I was rather hot with the nerves bouncing tirelessly inside me. Just the fact that everything is riding on me not screwing up is immense pressure for a person like me who attracts unfortunate like a magnet attracts metal shavings.

Since I haven't a clue where Clifford might be in this icebox of a castle, I go in search of a destination I'm very well acquainted with- more or less.

Though I wouldn't say breaking out of that tower was an easy feat, I will say that I'm a little surprised Aelita, nor anyone else for that matter, came to check on me (they still might not know I'm gone). I would think after waiting this long, Aelita would be nipping at the heels to reclaim the one piece she needs to execute her plan. This is the first warning that alerts me that something's not right here- I feel like I'm going to be walking into an ambush at any second.

Hugging myself as I near the dungeon, I grit my teeth as I near the entrance, shying off a bit when I see two new additions posted outside of the door.

I can't begin to imagine how cold the others must be down there. "They're probably freezing to death."

But I can't get to them yet. Without the guise of a servant's attire or any believable story, I'm never going to slip past those guards without a scuffle- one that certainly won't end well for me.

I have to think.

Due to my deep thoughts, though, I manage to become oblivious to the sound of approaching footsteps coming straight towards me. I'm only jostled from my brainstorming when a croaky voice speaks up.

"Who are you?"

Unintentionally, my eyes hastily dart between the door where the other two guards remain posted and the young but stern-faced guard who eyes me askance.

"Uh, I'm just waiting for someone."

"Really? That was the best I could up with?"

He stiffens and I can tell he already knows my story is BS.

"I don't recognize you and you're not wearing traditional servant's attire, so I'll ask again," His grey eyes drill into me. "Who are you?"

It's then that I panic.

That's the best excuse I can give to why I knee him in the groin and race off down the hall like a simpleton.

The high-pitched yelp that emits from him draws the unwanted attention of the two guards nearby causing me to flee. With my adrenaline pumping, I race down the winding corridors, slick with ice mind you, to avoid capture- I don't stop running until I finally lose my footing, the slip sending me sprawling on my back. I waste no time hauling myself up and hurry off- though at a more mindful pace- down the halls until I dash into a room to hide in for the time being.

"Smart move, Mal, real smart move."

I might as well just have rung an alarm over my head alerting that I had escaped. Sometimes, I'm my biggest cheerleader, other times, I'm the very reason I keep tripping over myself.

My palms start to perspire as I wring them in thought of what to do. I hope enough time has passed as I rear my head out of the room to look around a bit.

Seeing the coast is clear, I slip out into the hallway, glancing side-to-side just to make sure the coast is clear. I don't know where I'm going since I can't go back to the dungeon the same way.

"Recalculating, recalculating, recal-"

Skidding to a stop, I notice the stone glowing.

"Shit."

My first instinct is to flay around a bit until my brain starts kicking in, allowing me to see the dilemma clearly. Seeing the current situation I'm in now, I'm starting to wonder if it's actually a good thing that Xalale is heading my way.

Okay, call me utterly delusional- along with just plain old crazy- but I still think he can be persuaded to, at the very least, allow Clifford to come back with me. Perhaps it's because I refuse to believe that a person I spent every day with for the last three or so weeks could be incapable of showing mercy- and frankly, reason- that I keep trying to talk sense into him. I couldn't spend nearly every day with someone categorized as evil. Could I?

Pushing that troubling question from my mind, I head into a nearby room to wait for him. I'm placing a great deal of assumption that he'll come alone; I really don't want Aelita anywhere around him, she'll just confuse him more at this point. But hell, the fact of the matter is he's already like putty in her hands and being in this castle is doing nothing to aid me.

I keep careful watch of the stone while it glows. It glows brighter and brighter, letting me know someone is getting closer; I'm already bracing myself for their arrival when, suddenly, the glowing dies abruptly.

Baffled, I pull the stone out to further inspect it.

"Okay? Now what?"

I'm not entirely sure what this means but I'm more than a little agitated, so I wait a few more minutes just to see if it'll glow again, but nothing results from my waiting except more questions.

Finally, I can't take it anymore and I pause by the doors, straining to hear any movement outside in the hallway. When nothing sounds out to me, I cautiously ease open the door and peep into the hall. All is still and empty.

I'm not really accomplishing anything by standing around and waiting for something to happen. Making up my mind, I decide to head back to the dungeons, just to check if the guards have returned to their duty. I'm extra careful this time as I navigate the vacant halls, keeping my eyes peeled for a number of individuals that would like to witness my demise.

Regardless of my guarded movements, the one individual that I'm not prepared to come face-to-face with stands between me and my friends at this moment.

"Your moves are too predictable, dear," Her voice chills me to the bone though it's spoken in such a silky manner.

Shaykh keeps her eyes on me, trying to appear braver than she actually looked- she didn't frighten me. I already warned her of Aelita's tricks, she had made her choice, now she has to lie in the bed she made.

"Mallory," Her brittle voice pales in comparison to Aelita's charismatic authority. "I need the stone."

I stiffen, my stance becoming unconsciously defensive.

"I'm sorry, but you can't have it."

I note the reassuring glance she has to receive from Aelita to continue- as though she's unsure of herself.

"I need the stone or else Clifford may be in trouble."

Now that has my complete attention.

"You wouldn't," I bite, my glare unnerving her a bit.

She wouldn't, but Aelita would in a heartbeat. With Shaykh under Aelita's influence, I can't even be 100% sure what she's capable of.

"I will if you don't relinquish the stone," She says, a tad firmer than before, now making me uneasy.

I still hold the stone in my hand, rubbing the smooth, polished surface between my fingers before staring down for a moment at it.

This stone that caused so much of everything. Betrayal, division, bittersweet memories, it was everything at this point- as it was from the very first time I found it.

The decision remains as it did before. One life versus the lives of countless other ones. Yet, at the end of the day, I made myself a promise: Clifford is my sole responsibility and I would never let him get hurt. I have a moral duty to my fellow man, but I have an even greater duty in protecting an eight-year-old boy who's his mother's only pride and joy left.

So, it was with a hesitant yet firm hand that I tossed the stone down at her feet, my face set- refusing to show any vulnerability.

"Now give me Clifford."

As Shaykh bent to pick up the stone, Aelita gives me one of her signature patronizing smiles.

"I'm afraid that wasn't our set deal."

Though my palms are starting to moisten again and my heart race, I remain unwavering. "Stop with the technicalities, Aelita. Give him back to me and we'll be on our way."

With that said, she gives me a feigned look of surprise, coolly yet calculatingly making her way toward me- I refuse to be frightened by her anymore, I need her to understand that I will never be under her control again.

"You would leave your friends for the boy? From my observations, you don't seem the type to abandon your companions with such dispassionate."

"You don't seem to know me very well then."

She stops just short of me, her eyes studying me in a different light- searching for any hint of fear or possible submission, anything she can break and manipulate to her will. She'll find nothing in me, but that doesn't deter her, she continues her charade.

Letting out an airy chortle, she replies. "It appears I do not, but I know more than you suspect, dear. I will say, the boy has such a spark to him, a shine that warms me. He reminds me of Xalale when he was younger, when he was my amiable Xalale."

She looked so fondly forlorn at the thought yet all it was doing was boiling my blood to the point where I couldn't stop myself from making the curt remark-

"Even more reason for me to take him. You'll ruin him just like you did Xalale."

The act is over. I put a dent in her armor- the lines have been drawn. Now, fire thrives in her eyes with ice colder than frost in her voice.

"I would watch my tongue, dear."

"Don't you get it, Aelita?" I say, bolder than I have been in years. "I'm not scared of you, I see right through you."

"Well, what do you see?" She challenges.

"I see nothing."

Her features become icy.

"You're a space where a person should have been."

I've crossed every line and boundary imaginable with this woman. She doesn't have to bother with any of her games and more, she knows I know the real her- the serpent behind the woman.

The two guards, who were previously lurking in the shadows, emerge at her signal.

I say nothing as they roughly seize me. I don't fight back, I don't protest or hurl insults, all I do is stare at her. I want her to know I've frazzled her, I've pushed her buttons down like she's done for everyone else.

They escort me past Shaykh, who I don't even bother looking at, but Aelita stops me just as I'm about to be sent into the cold abyss.

Her voice has returned to its usual silky cool tone, yet an undeniable sneer lies beneath.

"How low you have stooped, dear. I've always seen such persistence in you. How unfortunate you never learned how to use it properly to your benefit."

Just as one final jab to the side, I venomously cut back-

"Hypocritical bitch."

I gasp in shock only at the unexpected explosion of pain that spreads throughout my face from her assault. Recovering, I fix my face of surprise into a guarded one.

Again, though, my words had wrought fury in her and that satisfies me.

Without another word, she sharply turns on her heels as the guards finally continue to lead me down into the dismal dungeon. The temperature feels even colder than expected, causing the hairs on my arm to stand up and my breath to visualize like a solid before me. Between now and in the past, I'd prefer damp and chilly to dark and freezing- even the guards' teeth clatter behind me.

Thrown into a cell, I'm experiencing another bout of déjà vu. I know I'm probably nowhere close to the others at this point.

Leaning against the thick, ice-coated bars, I take in a cold breath of air that pierces my lungs. I'm scared- there's no point in denying it- I feel like a failure, a foolish failure that's done nothing but run from her problems. All this time and I've got us right back where we started- but in even more trouble. I need to stop running away from who I am.

"I, Mallory Ryders, am a failure, I screw things up, I break them."

Taking in another icy breath, I stare up at the ceiling, or at least what I know to be the ceiling (it's pretty dark down here).

"I, Mallory Ryders, am a failure, I screw things up, I break them."

The words sound so harsh yet ring so true. I rub my hands together to keep them circulating some warmth.

Saying it to myself didn't feel like enough. I need to announce it out loud so everyone can hear. Wherever the others are- Olivos, Sephora, Elle, Coxen- I want them to hear, to know.

"I, Mallory Ryders, am a failure, I screw things up, I break them."

It echoes against the cold bars, sending waves throughout the cell and dungeon.

Again, it still doesn't feel like I'm doing enough.

This time, I make sure God Himself knows it.

"I, Mallory Ryders, am a failure, I screw things up, I break them!"

"Then do something about it."

That was the first time the little voice that usually dwelled serenely in the back of my head became powerful in its presence- never before had I heard it call out so clearly.

"Do what?" I think to myself miserably. "For once, I'm tired of trying. I want an ex machina, a hero, a knight in shining armor to rescue me or fix something or just something."

Drawing my knees up to my chest, I try to keep warm by hugging my legs.

"Get up."

Ignoring the little voice, which is not so meek anymore, I continue to sit there, letting the cold seep into my body from the floor.

"Come on."

It's like I want to yet don't/can't. I feel frozen to the floor, but it's all psychological.

"For once, can't you step outside your comfort zone and try?"

That's all I've been doing: stepping outside my comfort zone- I can't do it anymore.

As I'm hugging myself, my fingers brush against something cold on my right hand. Though, subconsciously, I already know what it is, I look at it anyway, staring at it in silence.

This ring carries weight, perhaps even more than that stone. For a minute, I study the piece until finally, I sigh and lean my head against the bars, my eyes closed.

"Okay."

I say it out loud as though I'm actually talking to somebody.

"I'm doing something. I'm cleaning up my mess."

"That's the way."

Though I'm still uncertain about myself, I know there are other people to be worried about. If I can't do this for myself, I was at least going to do it for somebody else's sake.

Pacing the cell, I try to conjure up a strategy on how to be let out of here, just for a little bit- I only needed a second to seize the opportunity.

With everything made of ice, it makes it that much harder to break out, but I'll think of something.

As I pace the cramped, slippery space, I softly mutter to myself.

"I need to find the others," They should have been able to hear me yelling just a minute ago. "What if they're not even in the-"

Suddenly, I'm interrupted by the jingling of keys followed by the rough friction of the cell door being pushed open with effort.

Then, there she is. Standing there with some look of worry mixed with dismay on her face.

My first, honest to God, instinct is to let out a breath of relief knowing everything is okay, but that instinct flies past me in a millisecond when I truly take her in.

"Mallory, I know what you are probably thinking towards me," She begins softly, staring down at the chain of keys in her hands. "I won't deny you have every right to feel that way-"

"Just tell me why?" I interject.

With my arms crossed over my chest and my gaze critical, she shrinks back, even more, fidgeting with the keys.

"I- I truthfully don't know. Her words, they sounded good but..."

"You know where this leaves us, don't you?" I'm not beating around the bush about how this affects everything.

Her hung head portrays it all, even before her miserable voice creeps out.

"Yes, unfortunately."

Unfolding my arms, I take a different stance but use the same hard edge voice when addressing her.

"Shaykh."

Even though she's a traitor, in her own right, she is at least honorable enough lift her eyes and meet my gaze.

After a few seconds of hard, uncomfortable silence, I speak.

"I only have two questions."

She bites her lower lip, waiting.

"What could she possibly have offered you that drove you to this?"

"My family," It came out hoarse and cracked. "To be able to provide for my family- my mother, my brother, and sister. She made it sound so tempt-"

"Why? Why do this to me?"

Collecting herself, she gingerly dabs at her eyes where tears seem to be leaking.

"She told me things?"

"What sorts of things?"

"About you? About what you were really like, how you really thought about me, and-"

"Shaykh, no one but me can tell you how I feel about you. My actions speak for themselves."

"Yes, but she made me think, she made me doubt whether we were truly...as well acquainted with each other as you were with your other companions...it just made me wonder."

In full retrospect, I know I hadn't dealt with Shaykh in the best of ways, but I never would blatantly push her away so callously- that's the part I'm stuck on.

"I don't have many friends, Shay, but when I do I wouldn't ever do anything to purposefully ruin that relationship. I take my friendships seriously because they're so rare."

With nothing said on her part, I continue.

"I viewed you as a confident, a friend, someone trustworthy," I pause, my voice losing its edge. "Despite it all, you still are my friend."

She looks up at me with some hope alive in her eyes.

"You came back which means you still care."

"Of course I care," She begins, breathless. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't."

"But we're starting from ground zero."

Pausing to take a breath, she nods. "I know. I hope to restore what we once had, maybe appreciate it more."

Finally, I let my walls down a little and sigh myself.

"Yeah, you and me both."

A heartbeat of silence passes before I finally look up, staring at the open cell door.

"I need to find the others. Do you know where she placed them?"

"They should be here in the dungeon."

Hurrying out of the cell into the dark abyss of a hallway, I peer down as best I could. I glance back at her.

"Where are the guards?"

"They're at their post. They let me pass without much question so we must be mindful of them."

Nodding, I face the cloaked unknown. Taking a breath, I turn to look at her.

"Can I count on you with this?"

She nods firmly. "Always."

"Good."

So we start down further to find the others, wherever they were placed.

Though I still winced at her betrayal, it honestly felt good to have Shaykh back by my side. Though our relationship would never be as it once was, I'm accepting that nothing can stay the same anyway- I guess after the first stab in the back, the rest don't ache for as long.

Somehow, it seems to get colder the farther back we go, making my teeth chatter slightly.

"This is as far as it goes," She tells me as we stop.

Without a torch, I have to trust what she's saying is right, but I'm confused.

"Well, why aren't they responding?"

"Because," She brushes past me. "The doors are thick."

"There are doors?" I'm so used to the common bar cell doors that I was unaware that they use doors down here.

Maybe with doors they won't be so cold. I can only hope.

I hear her tentatively knock on the door then wait. Standing by the door, I lean close, trying to make my voice heard from the other side.

"Guys, can you hear me?"

Waiting a heartbeat, I strain to hear any movement or faint voice from beyond.

Relief floods my body when I finally hear a feeble voice respond.

"Mallory, we're here."

It sounded like Elle's soft voice but it could also pass as Sephora since the door was so thick.

"Okay, just hold tight, you'll be out soon."

I don't really have a plan on how to break the door down or break in, but I find plans don't really work for me, therefore I'm winging it from here on out.

I turn to Shay. "You wouldn't happen to have snatched the key, would you?"

"No, I'm sorry."

Of course, that would be too easy.

"Don't worry," I reply, my brain processing this. "We'll figure something out."

Without a key, our best course of action would be to break the door down. Usually, I would scoff at this brutish answer that mainly only works on TV, but the conditions appear to work in our favor. With such extreme cold, most things become brittle and the locks on these doors are already rusted. Just one good slam against them with a significant mass (a.k.a me) might just do the trick.

Aelita's ice might just backfire on her.

"Stand back," I tell Shay.

She shuffles back a bit before asking, "What are you going to do?"

"Watch and see."

"Crossing my fingers my basic science knowledge doesn't fail me."

Bracing myself, I throw my full weight against the wooden door.

I might have been bracing myself for failure because I'm completely surprised when it works and I bust open the door, snapping off the lock.

Collecting myself off the ground, I look over to the corner where Elle and Sephora are huddled in a corner, shaky together as they fight to keep warm.

"Oh my gosh."

They're as cold as the stone walls surrounding them. Though their bodies are violently shaking, Elle reaches up and hugs me.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're safe."

"And alive," Sephora adds, equally relieved.

Even their voices are warped by the crippling cold.

I have to get them out of here and quick.

As I help Elle to her feet and Shay assists Sephora, Elle stutters out-

"Y-you need to get Coxen and Olivos out."

"Where are they?"

"Right across from us. That door." She nods in the direction.

I get her out of the cell first before approaching the door and trying to kick it down. This time, though, I use my foot to kick down the door. After a second try, I succeed.

Though they're not huddled in a corner trying to generate heat from each other, I can tell they're in just as horrid condition as Elle and Sephora.

"Mallory?" Coxen looks up at me, his voice hoarse.

"Coxen," I go to help him. "We have to get you out of here."

"You're not hurt." He seems relieved.

"No, I'm alright."

He looks behind me at Elle and Sephora.

"Elle, everything will be okay."

She nods, "I know."

Though she looks relieved to see her brother out, she looks overjoyed to be reunited with Olivos. They support each other as they make their way out.

Our biggest problem now is going to be slipping past the guards at the mouth of the dungeon- our escape. Shaykh has that covered, though.

"Keep your distance until I tell you," She says as she hurries ahead.

I do as she says, holding back with the others.

"You haven't found Clifford yet?" Elle whispers to me.

"Not yet, but I will."

"Mallory," Coxen gets my attention. "What are you going to do?"

Glancing at him for a brief second, I reply with no hesitation or second thought.

"Clean up this mess."

He doesn't have time to respond before our attention is quickly drawn to the sound of a cry from further ahead where Shay went.

Immediately, concerned about her wellbeing, I tell the others to hang back then rush to where the cry came from, not having a plan or weapon of defense by my side.

When I come across the scene, I can already see Shaykh being held roughly by a boorish guard who disregards her pained expression as he handled her bloody forearm. Two guards stand before her, one stands behind the other who's holding a bloody sword. Piecing two and two together, I cry out, capturing the group's attention.

"Let her go!"

Like a pack of snarling wolves, they turn their sights on me, shoving Shay to the ground where she lies before approaching me with weapons drawn. At this point, I'm all bark no bite. Creeping back slowly, I'm preparing to retreat when an object flies out from behind me, striking one of the men in the head, sending him to his knees in pain.

Looking back, I see Coxen standing behind me- always having my back.

With one of their own down, they're caught off guard allowing me perfect opportunity to blow past them over to where Shay lies. In the whirlwind of action, Coxen retrieves the fallen guard's sword. I'm hardly paying attention to the action, though, as all my focus is on Shay.

"Are you okay?" I ask, worry lacing my voice.

She sits up, "Yes, it's just a minor cut. I will be fine."

Though her right arm is bloody, I trust she's right and simply help her to her feet. Meanwhile, Coxen has been holding his own against the angry pack. He's sent one man to his feet, but the other two are wearing him out.

Acting without thought, I try to snatch a sword from one of the guards but he's too strong and starts to turn to me, ready to pierce me through. In one swift movement, Shaykh pulls out a dagger she'd been hiding and plunges it into his side.

The man grunts then drops with a thud to the floor, writhing as he tries to pull the deeply rooted dagger out, only causing more pain for himself.

The last man, turning to see both his comrades on the floor, gives us plenty of time to disarm and beat him down as well.

"Come on," I take the lead, motioning them forward to run ahead.

Shay leads the group, even as she clutches her wounded arm, while Coxen and I bring up the rear. Though we're out of that icy abyss, we're not out of the woods yet.

"Where are we going now?" Elle asks, still trying to warm herself.

Deciding it's probably not best to hang out in the halls where we just escaped from, I usher them into a room where we can collect our bearings.

Even before anyone could open their mouth, I'm already laying out what's going to happen.

"I'm going to find Clifford. Shaykh will find a way for you guys to slip out unnoticed."

Even before I finished, I knew there was going to be protest- I even knew where from.

"You can't just decide something like that so irrationally," Coxen argues.

"I need you guys to be safe and warm up. I've put you through too much already. Just do this one-"

"Mallory," He looks squarely at me. "Yes, this has been a lot for all of us, but- and I may just be speaking for myself- I'm not going to give up on you, on this, now. We've had our disagreements but I refuse to sway on this."

Before I can put down my foot, Elle's sweet, soft-spoken voice interrupts.

"Please don't treat us as though we are incapable children. We can help. Let us help. It is always better to face an overwhelming task with overwhelming support."

Every time I try to turn them away from this path- this stupid, careless trail of destruction and uncertainty- they push back and continue to follow me. Every snag, every trip up, every downpour and earthquake, they've been here. I don't know why I keep trying to reject the true idea of friendship- maybe it's because I've never fully experienced it- but maybe it's time to start accepting it.

After sighing in resignation to myself, I look up at them and nod.

"You're right. I will stop sitting you on the sidelines like you're fragile. I want your help. I need your help if this is going to work."

They all share a relieved, triumphant smile.

I glance over at Shay even, who looks slightly surprised. "I need all the help I can get."

"We're always with you," Coxen announces.

For once, I smile at the true fact that I'm surrounded by friends.

"And I'm with you."