For a minute, everything froze. Nothing was moving in the entire world. I couldn't breathe and I doubt the others were either. There was no sound throughout the mansion. Not one of us moved a muscle. I can't imagine my other friends were thinking straight. We were paralyzed with fear. I couldn't find the words to say; I don't think there was anything I could have possibly said to make this situation better. When I finally was able to take a breath, my mouth and throat were dry. Someone had put us six into their sick game. The only question was, what are the rules?

"This isn't a joke." My voice cracked.

"I know." Kai whispered.

"W-What are we going to do?" Lumina started to sob lightly.

"We HAVE to get out of here!" Rock screamed, jumping up to try to pull the door open again. He pulled and twisted the knob to no avail. The door wouldn't budge. Rock sighed and slid down the wall, back into a sitting position.

"Getting out might not be the best idea!" I blurted out.

"W-Why?" Kai asked.

"I saw round one painted on a window in the party room. It was from the outside."

"Oh my god." Lumina gasped.

"We have to think of a plan, or something." Marlin suggested.

"Like what? I doubt anyone can think right now!" Celia argued.

"Well, we have to try." Marlin said.

"I-I honestly don't know what this person means by game!" I cried out.

"Shh, don't worry, Claire. We will be fine," Kai slid next to me and put his arm around me. He hugged me tightly from the side. "It's just a game and I always win games! Remember when we used to play Monopoly?" Kai chuckled.

It was true. Kai was the master at all games. Board games, sports games, carnival games. Kai was good at and won them all. Kai was smart and thought critically. He wasn't fooled easily. Maybe he could get out alive during this one.

Lumina was crying harder now and Rock rubbed her arm, trying to calm her down.

I began to analyze all of my friends, wondering how they would cope with this kind of pressure. Could they survive if they were really put to the test? Lumina was smart, but sensitive. She might just crack in this kind of intense situation. Her grandmother continually presses her to be a perfect young lady, Lumina has a different outlook on life. She loves to be outside. Maybe her knowledge of nature could help us.

Now, Rock. Rock is completely arrogant, obviously. I guess you could say he is a "dumb blonde". He is flirty, but rarely if ever succeeds in charming the ladies. He can be pretty convincing though. Maybe if we come face to face with this psycho he could persuade them out of killing us.

Celia, sweet, innocent, Celia. If there is one person who shouldn't be in this situation, it's her. She has never done a mean thing in her life. She is generous, caring, and the best listener. She is very smart though. Unlike Kai, who is street smart, Celia is very book smart. I'm sure she could figure out loopholes in the rules of this twisted game. She could help us get through these rounds, or whatever.

Marlin. Marlin is the one who going to keep us sane. We might all have cracked without Marlin. He is quiet, but he never loses his cool. I'm sure he would be able to calm us down when necessary. I can't remember him ever getting scared, but this is a whole different situation.

All that's left is Kai and I. Kai, the guy I secretly love and my best friend. He was smart and creative. He could easily win any game. Kai knew how to find all the loopholes. He could also keep us grounded during this fiasco. I was scared, but I knew Kai would be here to comfort me. I wish I could just tell him how I feel and not be distracted by it.

"Claire? Claire! You are dazing off on us!" Kai snapped in my face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking." I responded.

Kai looked into my eyes and tried to smile. I read his eyes and it was almost as if they are saying 'Don't worry, everything will be okay.' He placed his hand on my knee and rubbed it in a caring way. He always knew what to do and say that would make me feel better. I knew this wasn't a good situation, but I wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else.

"What do you think we are going to have to do?" Celia whispered.

"I-I don't know," Kai stuttered. "But we won't hurt each other."

"Of course not." Lumina was almost cut off by the dreaded sound of my phone vibrating. All of us jumped a little at the loud sound. The twisted person called again at the perfect moment. As if he or she was watching us.

Kai picked up the phone, clicked answer, and held the phone up to his ear. He shakily said hello.

"Hello, Kai," the voice said evilly. "Would you like to know the rules to this game?"

"Y-Yes." Kai answered.

"There are twenty bedrooms in this house, one of which may hold the key to your survival. You must find the first key hidden somewhere in one of the bedrooms. You have until six a.m. to finish the game. I will be calling back when you find the first key. Oh, and good luck." The caller abruptly hung up so Kai placed the phone in his pocket.

"How are we supposed to find a tiny key hidden in ONE of TWENTY bedrooms in a mansion?" Rock whined.

"I think we should split up." Marlin suggested.

"That's not safe!" Lumina cried.

"But it's more efficient!" Marlin argued.

"We have no way to contact each other!" I responded.

"Screams." Kai said.

"We are going to scream at each other?" I asked. Kai just shrugged.

"Let's just do it. In couples. Simple." Rock stated.

That means its going to be split up the same way it always was. Kai and I, Marlin and Celia, and Lumina and Rock. If we ever were separated this is somehow how we always ended up. It's like we were destined to be with the person we always got split up with. In my case though, we were always just friends. I was always hoping when we were alone Kai would make his move, but he never did. I have never told anyone this, but I haven't even had my first kiss yet, while Kai has had plenty.

"Let's go, Claire." Kai command.

"There are three floors in this house, which means every couple will take a floor." Lumina said. "Rock and I will take the third, Celia and Marlin the second, and Kai and Claire, you stay here on the first. Remember, look carefully and throughly, but also fast."

"Alright, let's go." Rock said running up the stairs, dragging Lumina by the hand.

"See you guys in a jiffy." Celia tried to smile. She looked at me with sad eyes and ran her fingers through my hair. Marlin nodded at us as he placed his hand around Celia's back, guiding her up the stairs.

"Then there were two, just like I like it." Kai pursed his lips and stared into my eyes for a quick second. Kai gently grabbed my hand and we walked into the first bedroom. This bedroom was just another one of the fifteen guest bedrooms. Nothing special, almost like a hotel room. One window, two beds on either side of a small table with a lamp, and a small flat screen tv propped up in front of the beds on a bookshelf.

"Alright, if I was a sick murder where would I hide a key?" Kai scoffed.

I had to let out a tiny giggle at that one. It was completely true. I ripped open a pillow off the bed and all that fell off was feathers. I did the same for the three other pillows and got the same results. Kai looked under the beds, table, tv, and bookshelf. We found nothing. We tore the bedspread off and looked through all the blankets. We looked in the drawers, lamp, and the window sill. Absolutely nothing. Kai even threw the tv on the floor and inspected the inside of it.

"Why does Lumina need twenty bedrooms in her house?" Kai rolled his eyes.

"Because she can. Better get to looking a the next one." There are six bedrooms on this floor and seven on the other two. It was already midnight which meant we have six more hours before whatever happens at 6a.m. Kai and I throughly examined the next four bedrooms to no avail. We tore apart the three guest bedrooms and even the master bedroom on the first floor. Nothing.

Kai and I walked into the last guest bedroom on our floor. I gasped as I saw a shiny metal key lying in front of the lamp on the table in the middle of the two beds.

Kai, look!" I said running over to the bedside table.

"STOP!" Kai screamed. He ran up behind me and pulled be back by the waist.

"What?" I asked, angrily.

"It could be a trap for all you now!" Kai whispered. Kai was still holding me tightly around my waist. I felt his warm chest on my back. His hands were placed firmly on my hips. I turned to look into his eyes. He was already looking at me. At this moment, when our eyes interlocked, everything was okay. Nobody was in danger and we weren't stuck in a sadistic game. Everything was at peace and everything was quiet. His hands interlocked around my stomach. His dark chocolate eyes made me feel safe. My head was turned in an awkward angle but I leaned into him. My neck was stretching to even get near his face. I closed my eyes and placed my hand on his cheek. I could almost feel his breath on my face. His lips didn't even brush against mine when he pulled back.

"W-What?" I said barely audible and fluttering my eyes open.

"I'm so stupid! Why didn't I think about it before!" Kai said frantically looking through his pockets. "The phone! We can call, right?" Kai shouted dialing on my phone.

"Oh! We didn't try before.." I agreed disappointed at my almost kiss. At this rate, I will never get a kiss. Why am I thinking about kissing at a time like this? I should be focused.

"It doesn't work." Kai's voice cracked. "I can't call anyone." Kai sighed. He threw the phone against the ground in anger. It was no surprise to me, but Kai was very upset. Its weird Kai would let his guard down like that. Did he really think this guy would let us off so easily? Kai furiously continued to dial numbers from my phone, but the phone wouldn't call. Kai began to cry, the first time during all this chaos. Kai's eyes were bloodshot and wet. Tears were streaming down his face as he tried to wipe them quickly. He sniffled and wiped his mouth. I hugged him tightly and he sunk his face into my shoulder. I crushed my body with his, trying to comfort him as much as possible. He quietly sobbed on my shoulder. He must have finally realized this was real and now he was just breaking down. I had only seen Kai cry once before, when he fell down playing basketball and broke his arm. This was a different side of Kai he likes to keep hidden under his jokes and charm.

"Kai, everything will be okay." I promised.

"Thanks, Claire." Kai sniffled into my shoulder. "Let's check out that key." Kai pulled away and tried to smile. He walked over to the small, wooden table and touched the key lightly. When nothing exploded, Kai picked it up. Just as he took a closer look, the phone began to vibrate on the floor.

"That must be the lovely rule maker." Kai said sarcastically.

Kai picked up the ringing phone and clicked the green answer button. No to surprise, it was the voice calling to congratulate us on finding the first key.

"Now you must find two more, these two will be slightly more.." the voice trailed off. "Difficult."

"Great, where are they?" Kai demanded.

"There are ten bathrooms in this house. There is a key, just like the one you a holding, hidden in one of the bathrooms in this house. This time it will be slightly more tricky to find it. Look wisely and good luck." the voice snickered and hung up.

"Alright, better alert the others and keep this key safe." Kai placed the key in his pocket. He turned to walk out the room, but before he grabbed my hand. He held my hand as he led the way. His warm palm against mine comforted me. Kai must of been sweating because his hands were moist and soft. He tightened his grip as we climbed the stairs to the second floor. We shouted out for Marlin and Celia. They both came running towards us.

"What's going on?" Celia asked, looking concerned.

"We found the first key. The next one is hidden in a bathroom according to the person." I responded.

"Okay, bathroom. We will keep looking. Thank goddess you found it because we hadn't up here." Marlin spoke.

"Yeah, well get to work. We will go tell Lumina and Rock." Kai said.

Marlin and Celia turned away and quickly ran into the first bathroom to start searching for the next key. You could hear them throwing stuff searching for the key. Kai took my hand without looking at me once again. He kept his stare forward and continued up the stairs, not looking back once.

We screamed for Lumina and Rock, but nothing on the third floor answered. We yelled their name and screamed we found the key. No answer. Everything was quiet, too quiet. I looked at Kai with fear, but he was just looking straight with wide eyes filled with fear and regret. I began to think once again. Who? Who would do this? There were no serial killers in Forget-Me-Not Valley. No one who would want to harm anyone or anything. Except for that one person. He kept to himself and always looked like he was uncomfortable. He looked angered by other people and never wanted to socialize at festivals and almost never left his house. He lived in Forget-Me-Not Valley, but you wouldn't know. I was afraid of this man, could he be the one?

"Come on, Claire! We have to go! We have to move!" Kai demanded.

Kai was dragging me by the arm and pulling me down the stairs. I couldn't control my legs and I just let Kai guide me thrown the stairs to the second floor.

"What is going on?" I cried.

"Lumina and Rock are missing. For all we know, the kidnapper could still be up there." Kai said looking deep into my eyes. "I thought I heard something move up there, I'm not taking any chances."

We called for Celia and Marlin and to my relief they came running out to us once again. We told them about what happened to Lumina and Rock. Celia was scared, we could see it in her face. Marlin tried to hold it together, but he was beginning to lose his cool. Anyone would. We tried to search for the key, but it was much harder now. Without Lumina and Rock a part of all of us was missing and we couldn't focus on ourselves. What if the mysterious voice killed them? We couldn't think it. We just had to keep going, for them.

After what felt like hours of tedious searching for a tiny key in ten bathrooms we finally found it in the second to last bathroom we searched on the first floor. The small, silver key was hidden in a bottle of shampoo in the shower. Luckily, Kai had seen the bottle we missed and emptied it out, because we would have left it. The caller called, right on que.

"You found the the second key. Good job. Now, you just need to find your friends." The caller chuckled. "Those two keys are exactly the same."

"Then why would you make us find both of them if they are exactly the same?" Kai shouted into the phone.

"LET ME FINISH." The caller screamed back at Kai, frustrated. "Those keys are exactly the same and either one will open the door to where your friends are." The voice paused for a second. "Oh, and Kai, I made you find both keys for my own pleasure." The voice laughed. "Give the phone to Claire, too. Now." He commanded.

Kai handed me the phone, but the call was already disconnected. I placed the phone in my skirt pocket safely.

We all looked like messes. My white shirt had stains and spots and my skirt even had a tear in it. All of our hair was messy. Both Celia's and my own makeup was smeared and dirty. We didn't care though. Looks were the least of our worries. We really did need to pull ourselves together.

"We only have three hours until 6 a.m., when he is supposed to come for us." Marlin said.

"He is already here." I sighed.

"He didn't tell us where they were hidden." Celia said.

"I know, we have to find them." Kai answered.

Thank you for enduring one more chapter with me! :) I really hope you liked this chapter.. I'm on summer so I will have WAY more time to write! This chapter took me forever to publish! I'm sorry! I promise chapter 4 will be out soon! Thank you for reading! I'm not going to beg for reviews.. BUT PLEASE REVIEW! XD You have no idea how much it means to get feedback from my readers! :') Constructive critism is always welcome! Also, thank you to the wonderful and one and only Floridapanter28 for BETAing my story! (: It helps me so much, thanks Florida! *hugs* And to everyone who reviewed :D Feel free to PM me too! :) xx.