Making their way down - avoiding the screws like the plague, the floorboards wailed beneath them for every step they took. Just like any other basement it consisted of large amounts of dust lingering in the air and on the shelves. Little moonlight crept through the windows revealing glimpses of their surroundings. In the corner of the room lay a stack of cubic, plain brown cardboard boxes, a firm strip of tape sealing them shut, and opposing that stood a narrow couch and quite broad bed, not in the finest condition.

“Guys, there’s something weird and squishy over here!” Liam blabbered, his index finger moving forward and back, bewildered by the substance.

“Liam?”

“Yes Amber?”

“Could you do me a favour?”

“Of course! What is it?”

“Stop poking my cheek!”

“Oh, um sorry.”

A small chuckle escaped Nadim’s lips, glancing around he spotted a bulb on the ceiling with a string hanging loosely from it. Clasping his hand around it he pulled it down with little force leaving bright light to illuminate the room. Spotting the couch and bed they all exchanged looks.

“So, how do we do this?” Liam asked.

“I’ll take the couch, for obvious reasons.” Amber informed.

“I’m sure we can figure something out, that couch looks really, disturbing.” Nadim suggested, observing it with a scrunched-up expression.

“You know what you’re right! I’ll take the bed you three take the floor” She replied, staring at him with a mischievous glint.

“She’ll be perfectly fine with the couch!” Alejandro snapped, glaring at them.

“No, no if you insist, I mean, I must say you giving me that huge bed all to myself is so swee- “

Not letting her finish her sentence, a peanut – brown coat was thrown on her face, sliding of after.

“There,” Liam teased, “You can use that as a blanket – for the couch.”

“Hey! You were keen on doing a favour for me last time?”

“A favour that did not affect my sleep.”

Grunting loudly, she made her way to the couch, laying in the most comfortable position she could discover.

Slight snores entered her ears from the bed beside her. She couldn’t sleep, she was too lost in thought. Sighing, she lifted herself up she tip – toed upstairs, her face scrunching with ever creek that erupted.

Standing outside, the wind blew through her hair as she observed the astonishing view that lay in front of her. Her mind crowded with thoughts, but it was not worry for what happened while she was gone, it was curiosity for why she felt this way, connected. Something called to her, and she wanted to run towards it with all her force, a temptation like a drug, she never felt more at home.

“What are you doing?”

She jumped, startled from the voice. Turning around she was greeted with Alejandro.

“What?” She asked, still slightly shook.

"I said, what are you doing?" He repeated, fixing his eyes on hers.

"Walking outside? I couldn’t sleep."

He took a step forward, the moons light reflecting off him. "What are you up to?"

"Excuse me?"

"From the very start you’ve been acting weird."

"How so? I just came outside for a walk-"

"That’s not what I mean," He said, cutting her off. "You jumped through the portal, intentionally. Why?"

"I told you I didn’t do it on purpose, it just happened."

"You’re meaning to tell me you had no control over what you did?"

"Um, yes?"

"Then how did you know where the village was?"

"I told you, gut feeling." He was starting to get on her nerves, what right did he have to accuse her.

"That seems like much more than a gut feeling." He scolded, taking another step forward.

She was not intimidated. And she most definitely wouldn’t let him push her around, especially when she was telling the truth. Stepping forward and giving him the same stare, her fists slightly clenched.

"I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m just as confused as you, so stop blaming me." And with that she strode of leaving him and his thoughts.

The future scared her. Would she even survive? Would any of them survive? The knob twisted with a faint click coming out, and she stepped down, wary of where she trod. Placing herself on the couch, she didn’t realise how tired she really was, and within a second, she drifted off.

Maybe he took it too far, he thought to himself. But it was all so unlikely, everyone always has control of their actions, don’t they? She put them in danger, and it terrified him. He would never accept that, but he knew they were all he had. He had never been so unsure before on what could happen, but now he was clueless.

Taking a last glimpse outside, he made his way back still decisive on whether he should apologise or not. Creeping down, he turned towards her in hopes of saying something, although he didn’t know what, only to find her asleep, her chocolate - brown hair covering her face. Walking over, he scoffed, pulling the coat over her, and heading to sleep himself.

Next Chapter: CHAPTER SIX - STRAY BEASTS