¶ One by one we crossed through door to marvel at the scene. Ancel gasped, "How could someone make something like this"? We all shared a similar sentiment. It seemed impossible to make something so grand in such a confined room, or at the very least the person needed millions of dollars. Jamie pointed at the unblossomed flower, "It's so beautiful. It's like it's emitting some sort of healing energy". She was right, despite the flower having yet to bloom, it was still the most beautiful thing in this room. The room even felt different from all the others. I was engulfed in admiring the room's beauty.
¶ Jamie shook my arm, "I think we need to get to that flower somehow". My head did a small nod, "Yeah, I think so too". Lucas chimed in, "Got any ideas how to get over there"? I shrugged, "Maybe we could use the vines". Jamie laughed, "Reeling, that only works in movies". I tried laughing, but I felt my ears burn. Evan shook his head, "If we wrap them together like a rope, it may work". Seeing as it was my idea, I grabbed a handful of vines and tightly wrapped then together. After a deep breath, I jumped off the tree and swung to the next treetop. Mid-swing, my vine snapped. I felt time slow itself, and felt myself falling. While I stared at Jamie, the world glitched.
¶ Jamie shook my arm, "I think we need to get to that flower somehow". I took a step back, "I was falling. My vines snapped". Everyone looked at me as if I was crazy. I shook my head, "Nevermind, anyone have any ideas how to get to the flower"? Evan chimed, "Maybe we should try swinging on the vines. All we have to do is tie them together". I felt my eyes widen, "No! I mean, that only works in movies, right, Jamie". Jamie's head did a soft nod, "Of course". Lucas sighed, "well do you have any other ideas"? She shook her head softly. I scratched my head, "I'll try climbing the branches". Lucas sighed, "you're going to kill yourself if you do that". I grabbed a branch and slowly inched my way to the trunk of the tree, "you don't need to follow me".
¶ Luckily, the branches between the trees intersected, I climbed the braches to the next tree all the way to the flower. I stood in front of the unblossomed flower and took a second to marvel at its beauty. I placed my hand on the pink bulb, a golden powder fell from the air, and the bulb blossomed to reveal a beautiful girl that I instantly recognized. She wore the same jumpsuit we all wore, but she looked stunning all the same. With her eyes closed, she floated down from inside of the bulb and fell into my arms, in a hushed voice, I said her name, "Meredith".
¶ Her eyes slowly fluttered open. She had a soft smile and tired voice, "Good morning Reeling". I felt my eyes gleam with tears and my cheeks burn red, "Good morning, Mere". As she noticed that she was laying in my arms, she quickly broke free and stammered, "Why did I wake up in your arms"? Despite her ignoring her beet red face, her evergreen eyes never broke from mine. "We didn't do anything... did we"? I turned a darker shade of scarlet and stammered, "No, no, no! Take a look around"! She shifted her eyes beyond my face and noticed the scenery.
¶ Her eyes sparkled while she looked around the space, "am I dreaming"? I shook my head, "im afraid not", I explained the situation to her to with a grim expression. Her eyes darkened as I explained. She closed her eyes and silenced her fears. I noticed her chest slowly rise with a quiver only to fall with a small gust of air from her nose. She smiled at me, "well at least you're here with me". We stood in silence until she asked, "So why is everyone else on that other tree"? I beamed, " I had to climb all the way here by myself because it would be too dangerous to risk everyone's lives". She pointed behind me, "Why didn't you just take the bridge"? I laughed, "There isn't a bridge". As I turned around, I saw a beautiful petal bridge held up by branches. I felt my cheeks burn, "That wasn't there before". She grabbed my hand, "Well it's here now", and she dragged me as she ran to our friends.
¶ From half way across the bridge i saw everyone's expression. Lucas had a smirk plastered on his face, for a while now I've known he's had a crush on Meredith. Ancel's expression remained indifferent, while Lucas held a somber smile. From where I stood, it seemed like Jamie seemed sad. Before I knew it, Meredith immediately hugged Jamie, and giddily asked, "you're here too"? Jamie warmly accepted her embrace, "I've been the only girl for so long, I'm glad you're here with us, but I'm sorry you're stuck here with us". Meredith shook her head, "Don't be sorry, I'm confident we'll be free in no time". Meredith looked over to the rest of our members and happily hugged everyone, though it didn't last as long as her hug with me or Jamie. She stopped in front of everyone with her chest puffed out and her arms on her hips, "So where to next"?
¶ Before I could say anything, Lucas and Evan said at the same time, "we go to the next room". For a second, they stared at each other with a bit of worry, but they quickly laughed it off. Once we entered the elevator, Meredith hovered her hands over the walls and her eyes showed a bit of wonder. She began to ask a question, but before she could start it, the elevator rumbled. I quickly tried to grab her arm to try and stop her from falling. As I saw her cheeks burn red, I felt myself get flung to the ground. I got onto my knees, but it wasn't until the elevator stopped that Meredith offered me her hand, so I could get back on my feet. Jamie rushed to my side and studied my face, I felt my cheeks blush when she asked, "how are your knees, are you okay"? I nodded my head, on my way out of the room, I heard Lucas and Ancel snicker at my failed attempt at chivalry.
¶ Meredith marveled at the room, she stared with glee at the pure white walls and white floor. She asked a myriad of questions about the room that we couldn't answer. Nevertheless, I happily maintained the conversation. When we entered the elevator, Meredith asked, "so what happens now"? Lucas explained, "the elevator takes us to the next room". I smiled at her, "Don't worry, there will only be a short rumble then we'll be at the next room". We all braced ourself for the inevitable rumble. To our surprise, the floor fell open. For a brief second before we fell, I saw Jamie's terrified eyes and Meredith reaching out her arms. Then all the light in the room vanished. The fall couldn't have been longer then a minute, but it felt like a lifetime until I finally felt myself land against a foam pit. The room was dark, I felt my nerves growing. Despite knowing no one would hear me, I squeaked, "is anyone there"? I crawled out of the foam pit and tried looking around, but it was pointless.