A Forgery of a Destiny Hufflepuff Only

Arthur shot the other first year a look like that really wasnt helping. "Don't panic," he urged, in opposition to what Laila was now telling them. "Look, we're not going to starve," We'd die of thirst waayy before that, he thought, but didn't say that out loud. Instead, he took a breath, tried to maintain composure, and used the same 'doctor voice' his mother put on when someone was having a medical emergency when he said to her; "Just calm down for a minute and let's take stock"

"It's three weeks without food, three days without water, three hours without shelter, and three seconds without hope. So as long as don't give up, we'll be fine." he said, counting off a common adage they were taught at boy scouts. He tried an optimistic and encouraging smile, but didn't know how well it came off when he was still really worried about how upset the older students seemed to be. "Lucky for us we're not going to die of exposure out here," he said, gesturing around the warm sandy room. Not as long as they stayed within the shade, or unless it got significantly hotter. "That means the next thing need to worry about is finding water. But even then we have a couple of days, so don’t panic, okay?" Besides, he was pretty sure someone would come and get them before then.

First off, still naively trusting of their teacher and unaware of previous incidents, he could only assume that professor Lear had closed the door on them on accident. Or that he was only playing a trick on them, or else this was the plan all along and he would come and get them in a couple of days when the trip was over. But secondly, even if that wasn't true, or of Lear somehow forgot, so many students surely couldn't go missing from school for too many days before someone started looking for them. In either case, he could still only assume that no professor would intentionally trap them somewhere without food or water, and so his first thought was to look around and see if there was any supply of it about.

He had a water bottle in his backpack that should last a little while. "There might be some in here somewhere," he added, hopefully. He was still sticking with Dorothy for now though.

Try to encourage Laila and suggest she search the room for food and water, but stay with Dorothy.

"Sssssshhoot!"  Dorothy hissed as the door they had just entered through closed. She rushed back towards the door as Lear closed it, attempting to keep it open.  The door swung shut, and her fists pounded it moments before it disappeared.  It was an odd feeling, as if she had put her hands through a veil of sand, which had then vanished.  Her hands reached up to grab a handful of her own blonde hair.  Fingernails scraped her scalp as Dorothy turned around, taking everything in.  Breathe.  Freaking Breathe.

There were other there with her.  The same First year student was talking to her.  Comforting her.  It was sweet and all, but really, he had no idea what he was talking about.  Dorothy turned just in time to see Serena and Howard retreat down a passage.  "Listen."  She spoke with a strained voice, eyes still searching the room.  "These events.. He plans them.. To go wrong.   Lear wants to get rid of us.  I don't know why."  She turned stormy grey eyes on Arthur.  "We can't trust anything.  Everything is designed to look nice, but it isn't. I wanted to get him this time, but..."  Dorothy glanced with a small pout at where the door had been. 

"They shouldn't have gone without us."  She crossed over to a nearby window and glanced out.  Frowning again, she gingerly stepped around the room, peering under the bed, under the chairs and table, and around every corner of the room.  "He put us in a sandcastle?"  Dorothy muttered to herself.  This certainly wasn't the adventure she had thought it would be.

Considering they were in a death trap, Dorothy didn't really want to leave the room right away.  She wished to find a way to exit that Lear wouldn't expect.  First, she needed to make sure everyone was prepared.  Dorothy hadn't read any muggle survival books or anything, but she knew what they would need.  "Yeah, speaking of food and water, does anyone have any?"  She hadn't thought of packing food.  Who would?  This was supposed to be a school adventure.  The professor was supposed to bring the food.  

After waiting for an answer, Dorothy nodded and walked back over to the windows.  She studied them curiously.  They could be her escape. She tried to peer over enough to see whether or not they were in a second story building. 

Turning to the others, she spoke with a tone of controlled fear that usually came from adults.  "I don't want to go down the passage.  It seems too much like a trap."  Dorothy paused, glancing from the chairs in the sitting room to the windows.  "I have an idea, but it's really dumb.  Like, really dumb."  A twelve year olds plans were often dumb.  Dorothy was twelve.  Deal with it. 

"Someone help me break this window.  Someone go get a chair.  We're gonna windgardium leviosa this -" 

Reducio

Actions:  Search the room
                 Look out the windows
                 Attempt to formulate a terrible plan of escape

Ayleid didn't hesitate to go to the icy room. She was supposed to stick with Howie but when she had boarded the train she lost sight of him and went for anything that involved snow and ice. She didn't recognize the other. They sure weren't Howie which made Ayleid a bit nervous. She entered the room of ice a bit more happy than she should be. Ice was calming to her. It was like her home, cold. Russia was quite cold. It made Ayleid feel a bit safer. She had always wanted to be in a place made of solid ice.

She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. She pulled her leather jacket around her tighter just a bit. She wasn't cold at all, just highly paranoid. The one other person she trusted despite just meeting him, had chosen the other door before she knew it. She had no one else she knew in the room of ice. It was her second year, and she had never truly met anyone in her house hardly. She walked examining the design of the room gliding her hand over a few ice pillars as she looked for anything that could be a potential danger.

She spotted the other 3 that had entered the room. Two redheads who she had seen at the common room laughing and seeming to have a good time, and then one other girl she had never met. They seemed to have a scroll. "Is- is that a scroll?"

Actions: Ayleid choses the ice room, interacts with everyone else in the room.

Interacts with Arthur and Howard, mentions the back train crew

"They teach you fire to protect yourself from things like Devil's Snare. No one asks you to use it in the middle of a forest and burn all of the Hufflepuffs or try to explode ballrooms. There are clear rules about not using magic like this." Serena replied to Arthur, a little curtly. The ballroom incident annoyed her greatly. That was the fault of a singular student who decided it would be a good idea to hurt his classmates. She had not seen him since but rumour had it that he was expelled as she was definitely pleased with that.

For the other example... She never understood why someone thought it was a great idea to set the forest a light. At the time, it probably seemed like it. There was little they could do, they were hopeless. But Serena did not see the spiders that attacked. She was not aware of it. When she woke, she saw burnt Huffles and no explanation. It was most confusing. She accepted that whoever start the fire was trying to help at the time. However, as time went on, she started to blame them. People got hurt because others used magic carelessly.

With great power comes great responsibility, after all. 

Serena was very specific with her reply. Too specific, perhaps. Arthur would most likely pick up on that. But it annoyed her a little that someone was blaming the professors when it was the students who were at fault. The herbology professor never said to use it to attack people, it was sort of a given that you do not do that.

His words about the structural integrity of sand worried her. He had a point, not that she liked it. But nonetheless, she ran off after the lone child before she could reply. She had to make sure he was okay too.

She nodded as Howard introduced himself, opening her mouth to do the same. However, he knew her name already. She shut her mouth and simply nodded. It was weird when people knew her but over the months, she had started to get used to it. She had been a Prefect - and now Head Girl - for enough time to start getting used to it. "Yeah, it's Serena. This place is uh... it's a little... excessive." She replied, not sure what other word would be best to describe it. Lear's train was certainly extravagent. The amount of effort put in the sand room was unlike what she had ever imagined. This was a train, right? Why was all of this necessary...? It truly worried her.

Howard suddenly spotted a scroll. Blinking, she followed his gaze and spotted it too. The scroll had been in a sandy sculpture before he had picked it up and unrolled it.  "What does it say?" She started as she joined him, looking over his arm and peering at it. There was an image of a dragon on there. "What the..." She started, whispering her words out aloud. Why was there another dragon? What was Lear's obsession with dragons...

The last time had not been bad at all. She had met a talking dragon for a brief time. Mushu. It was rather enjoyable, "Mushu?" She questioned, more to herself as she wondered if she was going to meet her friend again. Yes, the dragon that she had met in the Lock-In was her friend. She asked him that and he agreed so... no takebacks! Of course, she did not think she would see him again but that did not matter to her. They were friends for life now, regardless of whether or not they met.

It seemed okay, if it was Mushu...

But alas, everything was going horribly wrong behind them. The others were not catching up. Marissa, Reid, Arthur, Dorothy, the other girl who Serena did not actually know the name of... Serena looked over her shoulder, "... Where are the others? They should be here by now..." She said to Howard as she started to get worried. They should not go without them... They should all stick together.

They were Hufflepuffs...

And Hufflepuffs, stick together.

ACTIONS:
1. Read the Scroll, spotting a dragon image
2. Question if it's Mushu, the talkative dragon from the lockin
3. Wonder where the heck everyone else went

This was the student's REWARD. A nice sandy beach, a vacation someplace nice far, from the rigors of academia. A dream come true. Of course the other Professors would not understand Solomon's course of action. How could they? They were academics, concerned with one and only one thing and that was their careers as instructors at a prestigious institution. Their ambition and vanity had blinded them to the needs of their students.

...and the students needed to get away. Far away. Solomon was going to make sure of that.

The vast majority of the students would enter one of two rooms: either an ice room or a sand room. Magic had rules and this was no exception, the duality of nature and the transference from a single shared point was necessary. Yes, Solomon was in a way a scientist of magic as well. The Professor also had a number of reasons for doing what he had in secret. The Professors were not complete idiots, the houses had been empty for the majority of the final semesters of class less the first and the second years with whom he had limited access to being that his class instructed only third years and beyond but was also a thankfully popular class. The Professors either were fine with it or turned a blind eye to the 'work study programs' that took several weeks to complete. It sounded good. It sounded 'healthy'. It sounded 'fun' even. And most importantly, it kept Hogwarts clean of any filth or slander. 

Despite the potential political complexity of Solomon's work, Arthur was still overthinking things. Inside the sand castle, his concern was the structural integrity of an earthen structure rather than the fact that he had no idea where he was and no certain means of getting back. The sand castle was unlikely to fall down unless someone started breaking things, like walls or windows (cough Dorothy).

Solomon's work was already done, the kids were transported to a far and distant place. Dorothy's warning would come too late. The doors were not only sealed, but evidence that they were ever there had disappeared as well. There were only a few means by which this could have been done, at least in theory. They just had to figure out where and what they might be so that they can find their way home. 

Outside the window Arthur would see a beach with crystal blue water. Waves would crash against a sandy shore and seashells would speckle the beach. It would be a warm, sunny and bright day. The sort of day one would long for the beach. The salty air had a mild fishy scent. For a kidnapping, they were sent someplace nice. The most gentle kidnapping ever.



=====



This was their REWARD. A cool hotel room, 'cool' in the most literal of senses in fact. This was a far cry from their dorms, their classrooms, their humdrum lives even as wizards. Yes, there was magic and wonder involved but it was hardly the same. This place did not have expectations, it did not scream open your books, complete your assignments, raise your hand, wait your turn. This room said relax... enjoy your time away from school and responsibility. Have a nice non-alcoholic drink and maybe don't tell your parents. 

Yes, Solomon was a kind and benevolent kidnapper. The sort that one would not mind taking them away. Yet there was agitation, anticipation from most of the students. Well, not all. Frost was not very bright. She could not read the room, there was a dire trepidation that filled the air, less herself and Lailaflora who for whatever reason were too excited to notice the danger they were in.

Unlike Arthur, both of these girls were under-thinking things.

That was until the door slammed closed and the passageway back to the train, to the side of the very man that they were avoiding was sealed shut. Yes, they were locked in a icy hotel. Riley would look out the window and she would see evergreen trees burdened by the weight of a layer of snow and ice. The ground itself blanketed in a thick layer of snow. In fact it looked as if it was about to snow again, the sky was blue but there were some clouds coming in. It looked like a storm was coming.



======

The something happened. That moment many of the students had already anticipated. That moment when something would go wrong because something always did. Ami decided that she was not going to fall for it, in fact she was going to assist Lear in whatever cruel plans he had to traumatize the Hufflepuff student body this year. It would have been a good plan if this was a game. Oh how he wished this was a game.

"Haha, Lear."

Solomon had locked the passageways after the students had entered. Well, after most of them had entered. Ami was left back, a purposeful and deviant act. She was being cocky to say the least.  Generally a trait he admired in someone, it meant that they would be willing and capable to act. That they might not panic. Sadly, that was a skill he did not need today.

"Very funny."

The 'good Professor' was deep in thought. This was far from a joke. Right now the students would have realized that they were locked in. That they had no escape, well no obvious means of return at the very least. They were likely scared and confused. He took a deep breath. They would be fine. Yes, they would be fine. Better there than here...

"Hey, Professor"

Ami continued to try to get Solomon's attention. She was the girl left behind. Yes, there she was. He just noticed her. His blood ran cold, what was she doing here. She should have went with the others. He gave her a tired look. How troublesome.

"So, what've you got planned for this?"

"You should have went with the others," he commented as he stared at his wand. It was as if he was looking past the slender length of wood. This was a man that had not slept a full nights rest in months. In fact every sound the old Scottish castle made at night would rouse him from his slumber, agitated he would often patrol the common area and check the doors to the children's sleeping quarters. Count heads, ask the paintings where the errant children might have gone. Yes, he was always checking. He was always looking. "It would have been less traumatic," he continued. He took a deep breath, his lungs hurt a bit as he did so. "But London is a fine destination for a broken locomotive."

Did he say broken?

Solomon would point his wand at the wall behind him and mutter a single word. "Confringo..." The wall behind Solomon would blast off, the metal and glass a flaming, twisted mass that was flung into the fields behind him. The train was still moving and the cool autumn air filled the train as did the searing heat from the blast. The train would not catch fire, only the wreckage left in the field.



"I am evacuating Hogwarts, consider yourself and your classmates the free... you're not the first!" Solomon was yelling over the winds that howled at his back. Solomon had systematically removed the other classes under his care months ago. Many of them on extended "visits" to varied locales all over the word in search of a wondrous beast for their class that they would never find. There is cryptozoology even among wizards, and there are some mysterious creatures that remain relegated to legend for a reason. "The former Headmaster and the Professors have been suppressing the truth for months, you are all in terrible danger and the school should have been closed! Closed the minute they learned that someone skilled enough to break into the Ministry and steal a dangerous artifact had entered school grounds. A dangerous person that is still at large!"

He had further fears, too numerous to list. He did not believe that the mask was gone, if anything that mask was more likely to tarnish and rot away back in the hands of the Ministry. He felt that Ben was an irrelevant. A test. A means by which the user of the glove could test his skill, his dexterity and his power. He could be wrong, perhaps the original was taken back to the Ministry. Perhaps all was well, that was what the other Professors were happy to believe. Their greatest concern being that the boy might be picked on, not that fact that there was a puppetmaster hiding somewhere still behind the scenes. The boy's release from that spell only confirmed and supported Solomon's fears. The criminal was not passing through, they stayed.

And then Ami would know exactly why Solomon wears armor. Gracelessly Solomon would fall back, out of the rushing train. Where Voldermort could fly, Solomon could not. That was what the armor was for... She would hear the distant clamor and Solomon would likely be gone. [Roleplay description next round]

There was however a pair of doors still, perhaps she would join one of the two parties. Perhaps she would adventure on her own. Perhaps she would do something incredibly stupid.

====

Howard would find a scroll down a sandy hallway. It was dark and dim but the scroll stood out like a broken tooth in need of pulling. The curious second year would pluck the note from its resting place and learn the truth. Well, Solomon's truth in any case.

Dearest Students;

Yes, I have locked you away. I am not the sort to apologize, especially when I have done so to save your lives. Yes, I realize that you are disoriented and potentially scared but this is all in your best interest. Hogwarts is not safe, they have knowingly allowed a dangerous individual to roam the school grounds and they are still at large.

It is well known that the 'masked boy' was recovered and saved. That he was 'not at fault' for the mischief that he caused. Yet nobody is really talking about the dangerous part. The fact that he was under the influence of another. I have spent a number of sleepless nights considering what I might have to do to keep you safe. I have tried a number of means, all of which I fear have failed. The only option that remains is evacuation.

First, I feel it is important to tell you where you presently are. You are in the Netherlands. You are safe here and you are far away from any possible threat, I hope. The room is yours to enjoy, it has been paid for the season. You will be safe here, nobody knows where I have sent you and it will be weeks before they find the means by which I transported you away. By then the school should be safe to return.

Second, what is happening in Hogwarts. For that I would need to go back several months. Last year a member from the Ministry had come to the Headmaster and the Professors to notify them that a mask and a glove were stolen. The means by which these artifacts were stolen was likely exceptional and there was evidence of muggle techniques used during the heist. They were able to track the thief or thieves back to Hogwarts. Our security has not been able to detect this intruder but we have been aware of his presence for months. I urged the Headmaster and the professors to warn the student body and I called for an immediate evacuation. They decided against this, I am not here to bad-mouth my peers but they have placed your safety at risk and continue to do so. Therefore, I have taken matters into my own hands.

So, what am I going to do. I am going to let you relax here. I am going to return to Hogwarts and I am going to finish evacuating the student body. Then, I am going to find this criminal and bring him to justice. I will not elaborate on how, sadly due to the power of that artifact and my fear that the Gemino Curse has been used to replicate these items. I realize that a child was found to be under the influence of a mask, however whomever was pulling the strings was not identified. There is a chance that one of you might even be effected now, it is my sincere hope that distance will save you from the glove's grip. It is also my fear that some of the Professors might have been afflicted and that is why they have allowed you to be in danger as they have. Please, if you leave the sand castle... go home, to your parents where it is safe. Don't return until Hogwarts is safe.

Best of Luck; 

Solomon Lear[font="PT Serif", Georgia, Times, serif] [/font]

Solomon was less than elegant when he wrote this letter, his writing choppy and far from perfect. However his worries were laid out for the students. Yes, this was a kidnapping. Yes, this was purposeful. He had a reason but it was likely not a very good reason. But the note also came with a plea -- they needed to RUN AWAY. That they should not return to Hogwarts. They could stay here and live out every kid's home-alone-like fantasy or they could return home to the safety of their parents. 

====

Quinn had found a scroll. The scroll seemed simple enough but there was this assumption that something terrible was going to happen. Something worse than a kidnapping.

The scroll was small and carefully rolled. Quinn with a bevvy of female onlookers would open the scroll and start to read:

Dearest Students;

I know you are likely terrified and you are wondering why I have locked you away in this place. I realize that you will not believe me, the others did not either but I am saving your life. I am saving all of your lives. In a school of indifference and appearances, Hogwarts has chosen prestige and the appearance of normalcy over the safety of the students.

First, where you are. You are in Kiruna, Sweden. They are famous for their ice hotels. The room is yours to enjoy, it has been paid for the season. You will be safe here, nobody knows where I have sent you and it will be weeks before they find the means by which I transported you away. By then the school should be safe to return.

Second, what is happening in Hogwarts. For that I would need to go back several months. Last year a member from the Ministry had come to the Headmaster and the Professors to notify them that a mask and a glove were stolen. The means by which these artifacts were stolen was likely exceptional and there was evidence of muggle techniques used during the heist. They were able to track the thief or thieves back to Hogwarts. Our security has not been able to detect this intruder but we have been aware of his presence for months. I urged the Headmaster and the professors to warn the student body and I called for an immediate evacuation. They decided against this, I am not here to bad-mouth my peers but they have placed your safety at risk and continue to do so. Therefore, I have taken matters into my own hands.

So, what am I going to do. I am going to let you relax here. I am going to return to Hogwarts and I am going to finish evacuating the student body. Then, I am going to find this criminal and bring him to justice. I will not elaborate on how, sadly due to the power of that artifact and my fear that the Gemino Curse has been used to replicate these items. I realize that a child was found to be under the influence of a mask, however whomever was pulling the strings was not identified. There is a chance that one of you might even be effected now, it is my sincere hope that distance will save you from the glove's grip. It is also my fear that some of the Professors might have been afflicted and that is why they have allowed you to be in danger as they have. Please, if you leave the ice castle... go home, to your parents where it is safe. Don't return until Hogwarts is safe.

Best of Luck; 

Solomon Lear

Solomon was less than elegant when he wrote this letter, his writing choppy and far from perfect. However his worries were laid out for the students. Yes, this was a kidnapping. Yes, this was purposeful. He had a reason but it was likely not a very good reason. But the note also came with a plea -- they needed to RUN AWAY. That they should not return to Hogwarts. They could stay here and live out every kid's home-alone-like fantasy or they could return home to the safety of their parents.

====

So what should they do from here?

Some of the students went straight into survival mode. WHAT IF WE STARVE TO DEATH. Apparently no fat kid packed a month worth of cookies to share with the class in either group, shame. As the students looked around the hotel room they would come upon a very strange muggle device. One that most of the wizard children had never seen before.



It was strange and it was sitting on one of the tables. There was also a piece of white cardboard paper next to the red device. It said: Room Service, had a list of numbers as well as list of options. It seemed to be an abbreviated list. A lot of items appeared to have been blotted out with a black marker but there was food items such as cheeseburger, ice cream, tuna sub, cupcakes, etc. listed on this piece of paper.

A strange riddle it would seem.

"Do you really think we are going to find water in a room made out of sand?" Laila asked Arthur. Laila turned around and looked at the other girl "Before you do  anything, are you sure it's wise to break something in a room that's made out of sand?" Laila asked her. 

"I'll go search for food." Laila told both of them. Laila looked around the room. Then, she found something sitting on the table. Laila recognized what it was. It was one a telephone. Something muggles use to communicate with one another. "Hey look at this" Laila said to them.

Laila walked closer to it to get a better look at it. She saw a white cardboard paper which said "Room service" it also had a list of umbers and a list of food. "What's this for? Can we use it to get help?" Laila asked. "It also has a list of food on it. Do we have to find the food somewhere?" Laila asked again. She didn't expect them to have the answers to the questions she was asking, but Arthur seemed smart so it was worth a try. "What do you think we have to do with the telephone? Is there a way we can be able to use it and call the professor?" Laila asked both of them.

Amber. Where was Amber Smith, Marian's best friend?

She had not gone on the trip, so according to the scroll, she was in big danger. So were all her other friends. Did she believe the scroll? Of course she did! It was written by a teacher! But what about the people in the other houses?

Marian was Panicking.^TM

So everyone still at Hogwarts was in grave danger, and she wouldn't see her best friend for a long time, maybe never.

She wasn't scared of Professor Lear, of his trips, but she sure was scared for her friend. She was now who knows how many miles away from Hogwarts, so how could she return? Not that she wanted to, but she was also miles away from home.

What was that strange device in the corner? Another riddle? Realizing how the last riddle turned out, Marian backed away and sat down on an ice chair.

The season. That's how long they would stay there. A long time. Three other people that she didn't know.

Oh, she missed her family. Her family was at Hogwarts too, at least most of them. Her older siblings. They were 5^th and 7^th years, they could deal with most things.

But still, she worried.

Action: sit down and pretty much be a worrywart

Inventory:
Wearing:

Reducio

undergarments (duh)
socks
boots
skinny jeans
belt
yellow sweater
locket
black beanie

Holding:
Wand
Nearby:
Trunk-

Reducio

1 sweater
3 t-shirts
1 cold shoulder top
2 tank tops
2 pairs of leggings
2 pairs of jeans (high waisted skinny, boot cut)
2 belts
2 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of pj pants
1 pair of long black robes
1 pair of short red robes
1 pair of long yellow robes
swimsuit + cover up + towel + goggles
winter coat
herbology gloves
Hufflepuff pin
undergarments
10 pairs of socks
Hufflepuff scarf
straw hat
Sandals
rain boots
sneakers
flats
2 quills
1 inkwell
excessive amounts of paper
sketchbook
3 muggle pencils
1 muggle pocketknife
toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, hairties, ect.)
Sleeping bag
quilt
sheet
pillow

Addressing Serena

Howie squeezed the sides of the scroll as he read through it, his breath quickening as the realization dawned on him. His eyes flickered back and forth between Serena and the parchment, searching her face for some reaction. A mixture of guilt and shock tore through his guts. Oh how wrong he had been. He was convinced that it was Lear that was out to cause harm to the student body. A rogue professor taking out his demons on innocent children. 

Howie’s memories flashed through his mind as he thought it over. The camp out, the lock in. It all made sense now. Lear wasn’t trying to harm them, he was doing what all educators should do, preparing them for the future. How could the other staff members have kept this from them. Yes, they were children, but they deserved to know that they were in danger, and the parents! How could they not be informed. 

“Damnit!” Howie would hiss at himself. What a fool he had been. There was only one thing he could do. He would right his wrong. He stuffed the scroll into his pocket and turned to his companion. “Serena, we must show this to the others. I don’t know how we will get out of here, or back to Hogwarts, but we can’t let Professor Lear face this alone. I know he is a powerful wizard, but he will need support. It’s our duty as Hufflepuffs! We have to stand together! Follow me, please!” Howie would run off, back down the passageway and towards the common area.

Addressing the rest of the group in the sand castle hotel.

Howie ran into the room with the others, snatching the scroll from his pocket. “Everyone! Attention please!” He held the scroll out for all to see. “Professor Lear has left this message for us. Hogwarts is in danger. It says here to stay away, but we can’t let him face it alone. I understand if you won’t join me, but I’m going to try and get out of here and get back to the castle.” Howie would set the scroll down near the red phone for any who wished to read it.

Action: Read scroll, plead with Serena to join him. Present the scroll to the rest of the group and ask for volunteers to join him in trying to return to the castle.

She should have went with the others? What kind of a greeting was that? Ami recoiled back, hurt, staring at the man she had thought of like a guardian angel through wide, distrustful eyes. As much as her carefree, rather arrogant mannerisms seemed to present so much about her, she really did respect the man, and she would've assumed that he was least tolerated her. It seemed, however, that it was not true.

Trauma? That only happened to people in wars. But... Ami's eyes widened at his next statement, her mind and heart racing. "Broken?" she echoed in disbelief. "What do you mean-" The blast of heat that would emanate from the spell would throw Ami backward, staring that the glowering professor in shock and horror. Was he insane? He had just broken the train, and what would they do now? What of the other students- were they alright? "What are you doing?!"

His explanation made no sense. She had heard rumors of a masked man, of course, but had never bothered to educate herself about it. Perhaps it was for the best; perhaps it would be her downfall. Either way, it would be the inconsistent variable that would screw with the results in this wild experiment of a journey.

She had no time to brace herself for what was to come.

Amadea liked to jest at Ami's incredibly loud vocal capabilities- the Banshee Scream, they liked to call it. It had never before been used in too serious a manner, unless you counted that unfortunate encounter with the passageway rats- but no one counted that. The shrill shriek that pierced the air as Lear fell from the train would seem to go on forever and ever, without an end in sight. Birds passing over the train would falter, and if someone were to investigate the source of the scream, they would find a skinny, redheaded girl, curled up on her knees and sobbing.

She couldn't help it. The man had been a godsend to her, and she was here. Alone. Her friends were in different compartments, in an ice palace and wherever else the other door would lead to. They weren't prepared, she wasn't prepared- none of them were. They were a motley crew of first and second years, and they were wholly unprepared to survive on their own. 

But Lear said the train was broken. That they were still going to London. She had to at least try and save her housemates, to at least try and stop the runaway train. Struggling to her feet, she staggered to the new window Lear had blown in the train, glancing outwards.

The door that she had approached previously should've lead to the engine- yet it didn't. It had lead to an ice palace, a world of solid water. How was this train moving? Even if it was all magic, the smoke and the momentum had to come from somewhere. After all, you couldn't create energy; you could only harness it or convert it. Maybe on the roof, she would have a better vantage point of her situation.

Pulling her hood over her hair, she would grasp on to the new ledge, and poke her head outside the window. If there was a ladder, she would climb it. If there was a magical elevator, she would step onto it. If Lear magically popped up again to slap her, she would gladly accept it. She would glance back inside the carriage at its ceiling, to make sure she wasn't missing any potholes or trapdoors, then would return to her vigil out the carriage.

She had to do something.

ACTIONS!
1. Scream
2. Cry
3. Go to the new window and look outside
4. Look back inside the carriage for any trapdoors/potholes leading to the roof of the train
5. Look back outside for any ladders/elevators/Lears to lead her to the roof of the train