Chapter 3

Robert put his knees to his chest, sighing. However, Evelyn scanned every single fragment of darkness, her hope hovering over her. Much of her time was spent running and leaping on the solid, metal door. It was bolted, and locked. She tried throwing objects covered in thick layers of dust, but, obviously that didn’t help either. Exasperated, Evelyn turned to face Robert.

”Sit up you great big lump. You have to do something to help me!” Evelyn said, arms crossed.

”It’s hopeless. We’re doomed, left here to starve. Did you know, 9 million people a year die of starvation? And did you know we are included?” Robert mumbled, sinking down further. Evelyn tugged Robert’s arm, but even that didn’t wake him from his despair. He simply gazed at the floor as if the world had closed on him. Evelyn marched around the freezing room, the cold nipping at her toes. She jumped up to press the highest stones, crawled low to find holes, and took running leaps at the door. It was no use.

”Right, that’s it. Get up. My patience is wearing thin-and, oh no, I sound like Ma! Anyway, you have to help me. If you don’t want to get out, stay there like a potato bag. If you do want to get out, help me.” ”It’s impossible!” cried Robert.

”Impossibility is just a possibility you don’t understand.” replied Evelyn coolly. Robert looked miserably at the floor, muttering to himself. Evelyn stared at him, eyes blazing with silent fury. Perhaps she could climb out the window? She wished she was Arconia, who had probably run out of clogs now. There was a small chimney in the corner, and a sudden thought struck her. She leaned in below it and jumped! She crawled up and up, to freedom. Suddenly, she bumped her head, and her hands automatically went upwards. Her hands felt cement-the chimney was blocked! She plummeted to the ground, and felt pain rippling through her ankle. Sighing, she limped towards Robert and sat down. He glared at her, and turned away.

Evelyn sat there. Maybe it really was over? She sighed, despairingly, but decided that she must keep going. She heaved herself up, and looked out of the window. Outside, the brook still gushed onwards, as if nothing had happened. Evelyn hadn’t seen the stone house before, the one that they were captured in, and certainly didn’t know it was a prison, but she couldn’t forgive herself. Inside, dust had started to fall off the ceiling, which Evelyn supposed was a comfier bed. It was not her lucky day.

Even as the church chimed twelve, Evelyn couldn’t go to sleep, and was restlessly rolling around on the dusty floor. Robert was trying to pretend, and that annoyed Evelyn enormously. The wind howled and slapped against the stone, so loud, they almost didn’t hear the small wings flapping furiously forward. There was a thump, and tiny talons clacked on the cobbled floor.

”Arconia?” Evelyn called into the howling wind. Panting was the only response. Eventually, a small bird whizzed in the window, looking heroic with a look of sheer determination, and bumped into a wall. ”Oof.” Grunted Arconia. Evelyn sprung into action, picking Arconia gently up and winding her. As soon as this was done, Arconia giggled feebly and said: ”I think you’ll need this.”

Arconia turned her head around and plucked a single, vibrant tail feather. ”Try this,” She chirruped. ”To get out.” Evelyn walked slowly towards the door, and inserted the end into the lock. She gently turned the lock, and it clicked. Evelyn let out an excited gasp, then looked towards the others. In a few seconds, they had gone, escaped. The fled across the tangled lawn, but Evelyn slowed down in pain, from when she hurt her ankle. Robert pulled her along, and freedom was suddenly in front of them.

An hour later, all three escapees were sheltered from the wind and rain. Evelyn and Arconia had started building a den, covering it with moss and feathers. Robert had gone to get wood for a fire. When they were all sitting comfortably, Arconia told them about the Lord Goldfly searching for something else, but not finding it, while she hid in plain sight, pretending to be a statue. When he left, she fled, and used the rest of her clogs to find the children. Evelyn and Robert were left speechless, wondering the same question: What was he looking for?