Merlin slouched quietly in the basement, glaring at the concrete floors in despair while Kara miserably searched for an escape, and calling somebody would fail instantly. She knocked on every wall hoping for a secret escape, but nothing moved. Furiously, she grumbled at Merlin for being a lazy bum, “Instead of slouching there like a couch potato, try to help for once!!” However, Merlin acted as if all hope should be lost.

Kara impatiently stood there waiting for a wall to open while spewing with a pot full of anger. There might’ve really not seemed to be a way out, Merlin was still lost in thoughts of someone telling herself that all her trying was for nothing.

As the sun set, the basement became dark and relentlessly cold. Inside, the air froze, stilling everything in its way. Outside, dogs barked and the moon shimmered, casting a glowing layer across Cascade Courtyard. Skipping a beat, Kara heard a scratching sound, Kara got closer to the noise-causing wall and listened closely. A high-pitched meow filled the room-It was Merlin on the other side! Kara banged, calling out to her and Merlin responded, telling her where the button to open the wall was.

Using her palm, Kara pressed the button and successfully got out. Her and Merlin got out of the cold, torturing room. Merlin led the way and they sat down in the living room. When there, Kara lit up the fireplace and Kara explained more evidence found in the basement-questions still remained: As the sun set, the basement became dark and relentlessly cold. Inside, the air froze, stilling everything in its way. Outside, dogs barked and the moon shimmered, casting a glowing layer across Cascade Courtyard. Skipping a beat, Kara heard a scratching sound, Kara got closer to the noise-causing wall and listened closely. A high-pitched meow filled the room-It was Merlin on the other side! Kara banged, calling out to her and Merlin responded, telling her where the button to open the wall was.

Where was the locket and note? What had happened to Delaney Elrod and her hot air balloon?

Kara Elrod tiptoed away from St.Agatha’s All Girls School, clenching onto a poster: her mother,

Delaney Elrod, is missing, and her hot air balloon wrecked. Her loving last words, “Don’t abandon your team under any circumstances,” replaying back and forth in her head, filling her with sadness.

After sprinting down the pathway and down Whimsy & Wonder, she stops and sits down on a bench to regain her breath, when she is pleased to re-unite with Merlin, her clockwork cat. Though appalled from the hot air balloon crash, Merlin is perfectly fine, and Kara winds her up slowly, reviving the memories of their adventures.

Later that day, Kara and Merlin went to visit Echoes of Elegance in search of her mother’s cherished locket. The beautifully golden timepiece, treasured with a painted rose, long ago lay in Kara’s desk, giving a magic touch to her room.

To Kara, the locket is more sentimental than what it is expensive; it is a comforting reminder of her mother’s love and heartwarming things she would say. But Merlin says that the locket must hold clues to a secret that unravels the truth behind her mother’s disappearance, making this a journey that means everything to Kara.

Confused by Merlin’s persistent nagging, Kara has to act fast. “No time to waste!” told Merlin. They planned to adventure through the maze and retrieve their prized possession before it falls into the wrong hands.

                                                   Rain Lily’s sprout 

                                                   like rapid red eel                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                   stretched out stems

                                                 that clench onto close by grass.

                                                   Their anthers flow smoothly,

                                                   like a swish of a skirt in the fields.

                                                   The rhythmic petals point up

                                                   towards the clear blue skies,

                                                   dancing like an old granny.

                                                   Leaves flop in the slowest 

                                                   form they can,

                                                   like people after a tiring day.

                                                   Pointed edges move

                                                   around dangerously,

                                                   like a sharp dagger.

I met a girl of Happiness.

Her voice was calm

and her words were true.

She had the scent of flowers

And bejeweled earrings,

shining like a beam 

of light.

I met a girl called Summer.

Her hair was silky

And her smile was a treasure.

She giggled fairy like sounds

And her eyes glowed uncontrollably.

I met a girl called Sadness.

Her tears were continuous

and her expression never changed.

She sat alone

but no one recognised her pain.

I met a girl called Daisy.

She had soft hands

and a bubbly personality.

Everyone wanted to be her friend.

Her emotions were controlled

and her smile lit up everyone’s day.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I found a perfectly preserved pearl,sitting on the floor of the sandy beach.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I smelt the sweet subtle scent of cotton candy,filling the atmosphere.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I tasted the chocolaty,smooth and creamy icecream,hitting my tastebuds slowly.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I heard the laughter of delightful children with cheerful smiles everywhere.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I touched the soft squishy toy,bouncing around like jelly.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I sang a soothing lullaby,releasing happiness to the people.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I captured a vibrant butterfly,fluttering in the glossy white net.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I saw a mystical cherry blossom,glistening its beauty like a model.

In the land of Endlessbelieve,I smelt the bloomed flowers,beaming out its glorified elegancy.

 3 days later and we both are back to work.We sit in pure silence ,both doing our jobs separately.Outside, a strange smoke fills the city,making people drop like flies.However,Sadie doesn’t seem to notice “Lana,get back to work,we have our own stuff to do.People will come soon.”

 It turns out she just wanted something from me,by her voice and still she just doesn’t look outside.She claimed to see something with muddy footprints,enter the studio room with a squelch each step it took.

Sadie and I lock up the place and make sure that all the windows, doors and lights are closed and locked so no one can break in or see inside.This time I make sure I’m careful with where I walk along with Sadie so she does not push me into the random room like she did on Monday.It is dangerous for her to do that.I know I can’t leave Sadie alone or else, she will cry out for help and follow me until I give up and say yes.

 I can’t believe her attitude and behaviour.The abandoned house has been demolished after it has been left like that for a while and no one said to the council that they can take the house and renovate it.”Hurry up and start walking faster,it’s about to rain and your here walking like a snail!”I have a feeling she cares about me.                                                                                                                                                                         

 The skies are dark like the abyss.It smells fresh after the rain stopped pouring.My heart thuds after I see something moving around like a rattle toy for a baby.Sadie spots it too and asks

“What..is that?”The egg is covered in seaweed,mud and grass,still glowing like a crystal after being covered in stuff.The eaglemander has produced more species of itself.

At that exact moment,I feel a stab of sadness after I killed 3 eaglemanders…..They have produced but I am killing them like there is enough in the world.Something else makes a rattle so I go over to look and it is another egg.It hatches open and it doesn’t sound too pleasing.The webbed feet squelch and the baby eaglemander crawls out of its brittle egg shell.Eaglemander form together around us both;I step back slowly.

 We look at each other in silence,other than the fact that glass shards are drenched in blood.Outside,I hear the cries of the eaglemander.Even before she spoke,I run out to my nail station though she calls for me to stay to help with the eaglemander.

 Half an hour later,we both clean

 up the runway agency,retracing memories of before.I tell her

“I should’ve stayed,I’m sorry.”

All she gives me is a dirty look and a side eye.She is the most sassiest,bossy and rude person ever.All I say is nothing though Sadie still gives me dirties.Rain pours harder and hailstones crash against the window like wondering little kids,throwing rocks at people’s windows for fun.

We both go out and pass Vogue Visions & Glamour Grove.All of them are shut with metal doors.The streets are empty and only a few cars drive,but some stop and ask us for a ride but later left after we said no multiple times.

 Sadie pushes me into a building that looks..abandoned.Muddy footsteps are everywhere and astroturf is all over the floor.I run back out in time before she closes the door on me.The hailstones are now just like huge,painful rocks,hitting me and Sadie.I apologise again but she ignores me.Then, I turn into an alleyway and out of the darkness flies another eaglemander squeaking loudly.Then I hear a load stumble and I trip over another eaglemander.Where are they all coming from?

Hardly daring to breathe,I get up and run to where my house is.At that moment,I feel deja vu from when it already happened,I slam the door shut and it almost breaks.Across my living room is..another eaglemander,screeching loudly as it looks in pain.Scared,I run upstairs and slowly close the door and lock it.Is this really happening?

 Silently I go back downstairs to check if the eaglemander is still there and unfortunately,it is.I get a closer up.It’s eyes are like a mad person,it’s body covered in blood shards.The stench of seaweed and salt fills my house and slowly it turns to me with wide,open eyes,like it wants to kill me.Like a normal eagle it screeches some more and goes towards me.

The eaglemander gets up on its thin feet and tries to fly but fails.It tries again and finally,it leaves with a loud screech and leap.It smashes through the rest of the glass in the window,and bounces,falling into the water.It’s selfish eyes stare at me with disgust and its needle teeth open wide.It screams like a human then springs away like a bunny.