(Most of you will understand the reason behind the first few paragraphs of this instalment.)
The Internet is Dead – Chapter Four

It happened as Ollie rushed down the stairs that led to the main hallway they had started off in. Busy as she was with her thoughts of rescuing Alex from impending doom, she had changed back to her Olliegami form, unaware that even though the majority of the group had followed, Liz had John backed up into a corner, she had pulled what could only be described as a wand from somewhere on her person and was pointing it threateningly at John.

“You belong back in that room.” She taunted evilly. Her eyes were flaring, and she looked a little crazy if anyone watching might have said so themselves. Only a whimper escaped her prey, and she cackled crazily.

“You will hurt her in the future, maybe you’ve already hurt her already but I will end it now. I have control over this world, and therefore control over you.” Her lips were curling into a sadistic smile, and her body seemed to stretch taller than she stood, looming over the boy who had fallen into the corner and was cowering.

“AVADA KEDAVRA!” She yelled with as much meaning as she could muster. A flash of green.

She walked away, wandless, smileless, no emotion in her eyes.

“She’ll thank me later.” She muttered lowly, not turning back to look at the door that was now closed. Seemed he WOULD stay there for eternity.

Ollie had arrived at the door Darren had opened before they learnt as much about the place as they had done at that moment in time. She sat cross-legged in front of it, staring up at the plain white door in vague thought. She was waiting for the others for many reasons. Not wanting to explain what she found was one, not being able to comprehend what was behind the door was another, fear of not being able to fight off what was inside was second to last, and then came the fact that she just didn’t like being alone.

When everyone except Liz and John arrived she smiled, until Liz walked up from behind everyone else. She pushed past the smell group and leant down to kneel on the floor, her mouth easing it’s way to Ollie’s ear. The frown left Ollie’s face, and she showed a look of intense concentration, before her eyes widened and she leant back to look Liz full in the face. A smile was all she saw. She felt her head nod, and then stretched her arms up to the taller girl, who took the invite and picked up Ollie, cuddling her close to her chest. A look in Liz eyes appeared that had never been there during any other part of their stay in the House. The others looked a little confused by the situation, but it seemed they had no questions about the missing party member, and in fact it wouldn’t surprise me if they have all forgotten about him being with them at all. Darren spoke first.

“So, anyway I opened this door, and it was all just plain white, with this little monster, stood staring at me…” He stopped and frowned, stepping gingerly out towards the door cautiously. “Shall I open it?” He asked quietly, eyes roving over the others. This was becoming sort of interesting. Whenever he took ‘charge’ of the group, no one seemed to mind. Well, that is if he ignored that pained look in Rob’s eyes, but whilst he was being stroked, held onto… and god knows what else by two members of his fan club, Darren had nothing to do but take charge, right? Right.

His hand twisted and he felt the door move forward against the weight of his grip. A silence covered the group as if everyone had stopped breathing. Darren quickly hauled the door open, stumbling back slightly.

“…” Was the general response from the others. The room behind the door was complete whitewash. Liz moved past Darren, Ollie held calmly in her protective arms as she looked back at Darren with a smile.

“What are we waiting for then, come along.” She chirped, obviously happy now she had the only thing she ever cared for (Shut up, Liz. I can dream. P) safely in her arms, away from any harm. “I think we’ll need to look for whatever is supposed to be in this room.” She said with an air of knowing. The others moved into the room, and Ollie felt sure that when Liz looked at the door it closed behind them.

Light green eyes stared up into Liz’s and a sudden feeling of understanding flicked through the smaller girl’s mind. Throughout all the emotion she felt, she smiled up at Liz, and felt a pair of soft lips nuzzle into her hair, whispering something only she could hear. ‘You’re safe with me, Olliekins.’

“Split up and search for whatever’s here…” Rob repeated dully. He wondered if he could go with Darren, he didn’t want to be laboured with Becky OR Jak. Darren looked up at the other leading personality and nodded slowly.

“Well, I wonder whether we can’t make our own decisions about who we want to search with. If we go in groups of three, I think that’ll be wise…” Darren’s eyes surveyed the group, and he realised you can’t split ten into groups of three. A sigh escaped him, and he decided for the best part of him, that he really didn’t want to get himself into more trouble than he was already apparently in.

“Liz, Ollie, Rob. What do you say to joining a group with me?” He asked with a rare smile, as if it would win them over. Liz nodded, and Rob was already at his side before he needed any more encouragement. Darren’s eyebrows rose, and he looked to Ollie as if she might protest, but the little mite’s eyes were closed against the soft stroking of her hair. Liz’s lips were full of a smile. Darren wondered for a moment if it was wise to bring the ‘couple’ along. A shudder ran down his spine.

“Right, How do you two want to pair up?” He asked the rest of them. The minute he said it, Kerry clung to Rena’s arm like a leech, and Jak and Becky took several steps away from each other. Chris was stood on his own, one finger in his mouth as if searching for something, and Chell quietly resigned herself to shuffling next to the nearest person, who was Becky. He shook his head and sighed, looking over and Rob who just looked happy that Becky and Jak were nowhere near him.

“Chris, Go with Becky and Chell? Then Jak, Rena and Kerry?” He muttered, because the others were still just stood around lazily staring up at him WAITING for his orders. He wasn’t sure if he enjoyed giving orders or not. When no one said anything, he sighed heavily. Rob had grabbed his wrist though, and began dragging him away from the group.

“We’re going to start by going this way, you guys go wherever you want. Split up.” He raised his voice to make sure the others heard him, and without looking back to check that they were moving, tugged Darren with him into walking. Liz followed suit, leaning over Ollie in her arms and cooing in her tiny ear. Rob and Darren looked over their shoulders at their friend, and shared a worried glance.

They must have been walking for hours, at least he Darren and Liz were. He looked over at Ollie almost longingly. Now the girls were conversing quietly, intermittent giggles escaping their lips. As he was watching, Liz stopped, and leant more meaningfully closer to Ollie. Whatever it was she said had brought Ollie’s attention to whatever was in front of them. Next to him, Darren had stopped, but he realised this too late, and tripped over a body on the floor that he swore wasn’t there a few seconds ago.

For the first time since they’d entered the room, Ollie leapt down from Liz’s arms, and Rob swore he heard a sharp intake of breath from the one who had been holding her all this time.

“Alex!” came a small cry from the Olliegami, as she ignored the fact that Rob had managed to fall on top of ‘Alex’ and was now laid adjacent from him, in a sort of daze, staring up at the ceiling. He shot up to sit, and felt Darren kneel next to him, his hand finding its way to his shoulder as if to ask if he was all right. Rob nodded and let his legs fold under him.

As it happened, Alex was laid on his back, two pale hands covering his eyes, cupping widely over them. He was very still, and even when Ollie bounded onto his chest, the body didn’t flinch.

“You think he’s still alive?” Darren asked, much to the annoyance of Ollie, she gave a high pitched squeal which made even Liz twitch, and grabbed one of Alex’s hands in two of hers proceeding to pull hard. Darren’s fingertips were at Alex’s neck, and he smiled as he felt a vague pulsing against his skin.

“He’s alive.” Darren concluded, but the minute he’d said it a soft whimper escaped Alex, and he leant up, causing Ollie to tumble down his chest before being scooped up into Liz’s arms. Obviously for Liz the time apart from her dearest Olliegami had been much too long.

“NO! IT CAN’T BE ALIVE. NOOOOOOOO.” He screamed, his arms thrashing now, eyes closed once his hands weren’t safeguarding them. “MAKE IT STOP. MAKE IT STOP!” He yelled loudly, and his body convulsed, before he collapsed against the floor again, breathing heavily. Somehow he’d knocked himself out.

As if explaining it all, the monster that Darren had seen many hours ago when he had initially opened the door appeared at Alex’s feet. Liz sighed, and curled one arm around Ollie so that she was still safe at her chest; reaching over Alex she let her free hand press into the floor to support her.

“Alex, you need to conquer your fear, and it will disappear. I promise you.” She whispered in his ear, although it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Alex’s eyes shot open, and Liz jumped back slightly.

“It’s still there… I can see it out the corner of my eye.” Alex whimpered helplessly, his voice trembling almost as much as the rest of his body was now. His hands lifted, and met Liz’s shoulders. Her eyes widened as she felt his fingertips curl in with the fabric of her jacket, turning into a full grasp. He pulled her back down, nose to nose. Ollie gave a squeak.

“Make. It. Go. Away.” He stammered intentionally as he spoke, and their gaze remained unbroken for a number of minutes before Liz hitched Ollie up to grab her neck, letting her own hands lift to her shoulders, she prised the taught fingers away from her shirt and began to stand. The way she towered over Alex seemed to mimic the way she had stood over someone else earlier. She patted her shirt, just close to her right breast, before letting her arm curl round Ollie so she could lower herself into Liz’s grasp.

“I told you. It’s your fear, you have to conquer it.” Her voice was soft, but full of meaning, she turned around so that her back was to Alex. Aware that Ollie was craning to peer over her shoulder.

Alex leant up slowly, his eyes trying to close as he searched for the monster.

His eyes met with those of the monster, and…

-End of Chapter Four. -