You lie down

Chatterbox: Inkwell

You lie down

You lie down on your bed, opening up your favorite book to re-read for the twentieth time, when you hear a knocking on your house outside. Curious,you go to your window to see what the matter is. You see a kingfisher with a letter tied to its back pecking on your wooden wall, then flying in fromt of you expectantly. You open the window, and the bird flies in. You untie the letter and read its contents:

Dear Letter Recepitent,

Congrats! We at White Oak Lab & Motel have picked a handful of lucky younguns to live with us, and you are one of the lucky few! We will give you all a complete tour of our grand institution, as well as showing you our top-secret lab. Our scientist work all day to harness the powers behind superstitions, for we at White Oak believe that the magic behind these can be used for both good and evil. Rest assured, we have taken all known precautions to prevent any bad luck from cursing our beloved guests. In fact, we promise to treat you with utmost care, giving you gourmet food and first- - class bedrooms! If you wish to attend, please fill out the form below:

Name:

Gender:

Personality:

Appearance:

Are you a part of Black Cat Establishments, associated with Black Cat Establishments, or are in any way connected to Black Cat Establishments *On this section, there are the words "Say No or Die!" in messy handwriting:

Favorite Food:

Favorite Superstition:

How you would like to die:

please have any companions (no maximum) fill out this sheet as well. 

We look forward to seeing you,

Estella O. Opafru

What an odd invite, you think to yourself. How could something be both superstition-centered and scientific? Were these people mad? And most importantly, why send such a superstition - centered letter on Friday the thirteenth?

submitted by Estella O., White Oak Lab & Motel
(September 13, 2019 - 6:10 pm)

What an interesting fact! Where did you learn it?

submitted by Estella O
(January 24, 2020 - 3:11 pm)

Uhhh, I dunno. Probably from another ski lodge thread, I guess... *nervous laughter*

submitted by Summer, age pi, Nowhere at all
(February 19, 2020 - 8:35 pm)

WHOA! I’M IMPORTANT!!

But why...? 

submitted by Agent Winter(Fleet), age Classified, WOAH
(January 22, 2020 - 9:12 pm)

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Every head snapped towards the doorway. There stood a heaving Estella, veins bulging out of her neck. Wren snuck under her right arm and waved her hands frantically in Estella's direction.

 "WELL?!" Estella ignored Wren, who pulled her hair before turning around and smiling apologetically.

 "Sorry, ma'am," Alex stood up, "A little fight happened between some lab workers and some guests, and, as you can see, it escalated-"

 "She started it." Atlantis pointed to Alex.

 "I did not!"

 "Calm down, everyone," Wren laughed nervously, "No need to fight. Again. It doesn't matter who started it-"

 "Yes it does!"

 "No, it doesn't, Estella." Wren clenched her teeth.

 "But who's going to clean up the mess?!"

 "We'll settle that later! Right now, we really need to have some peace. So, we're going to an amusement park-"

 "Amusement Park?!" The childish guests gasped, while the more mature ones sighed and held their faces.

 "Yes!" Wren clapped her hands giddily, "And the sooner we get on the bus, the more time we have! Now c'mon," she began a dance-like combination of snaps, claps, and gestures until the guests were lined up and out the door. Sighing, she pivot-turned to see Estella investigating a piece of iceberg lettuce.

 "This came from a salad bowl," she noted exasperatedly, "We weren't serving salad. Who would go out of their way to order a salad?"

 "Starly," Wren sighed, "Why'd you do that?"

 She turned her head towards the shorter girl, a questioning look upon her face. "Do what?"

 Wren gestured to the doorway. "That." Upon Estella's confusion not disappearing, she added, "Lose your cool, for Pete's sake!"

 Estella rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Wrenny dear, my anger is rare and uncontrollable. I keep it in so often, I should be permitted to have my off days!" she tossed the leaf over her shoulder, "Besides, why does it irk you so?"

 "Because..well..." Wren pinched the bridge of her nose, "You become...sort of...odd when you're mad."

 "Odd?"

 "An...an idiot, Estella. You become very idiotic when you're angry. And childish."

 Estella cocked her head to the side. She hesitated, then laughed her irritatingly posh laugh.

 "Aah, that's why I like you, Wren," she strutted towards the door and patted the girl's head, "Not afraid to say what you think. Now, come along. We have a bus to ride. I can't wait for the park. Perhaps I'll win a toy at the fishing game!" She stopped. "Or perhaps..." she gave Wren a sideways glance, a mysterious smile creeping across her face, "I'll receive an even bigger prize."

********************************************************

 Spring sighed as Dusk knocked her sling bag to the floor for the fifth time. Out of all places, why did the first field trip have to be an amusement park? Really, why would they ever go to an amusement park? What were they, five? 

 "SLING BAG MISSILE!"

 "C0W4BUNG4!"

 She narrowly dodged Atlantis' sling bag as it crashed through the window, Apollo's soon following suit. Oh yeah, they were. 

 The bus screeched to a halt. Wren sprinted to her row and checked Spring for injuries as Estella called the others out of the bus. Convincing the Medic that she was fine took about fifteen minutes. By the time she exited the bus, only Atlantis, Apollo, and Estella remained. 

 "Don't get too excited about the fortunate placement," Estella scolded, "You may have been sitting together, but you were also across from the impact zone. Don't think you can get away so easily." The two grimaced. Before Spring could say anything, Wren pushed her past the scene faster than Sonic with a Red Bull.

 "Here!" she finally screeched to a halt, "I-think-this-is-the-last-place-I-saw-" She paused to heave a breath, the last word unintelligible through her breathlessness. She then muttered some more gibberish and sprinted away. Spring huffed and puffed for a solid minute at minimum before turning to the building in front of her.

Saltmarsh's Maze of Marvelous Mirrors.

 Odd name. She remembered Naomi saying something about the word Saltmarsh. They were a species of sparrow. She groaned and climbed the steps of the hall. Suddenly, she tripped, flying into the room as the wooden door slammed behind her.

 "What the..." Spring noticed a small card on the floor. She knelt down and read its contents by the light peeking under the door.

 "Crow?" She pondered aloud, "How'd I get Kanib's card?"

 The room was pitch black, not a single 'Marvelous Mirror' insight. Maybe it was out of order. She jiggled the doorknob. It was locked. Deeply sighing one last time, she stepped forward. Her steps, each carefully thought through, made no echo. The tap of her shoes against the floor became rhythmic. Spring held her arms out and touched the cold, smooth mirrors. The tips of her fingers graced the glass, but no turns or twists became known to her.  

Creak.

 Spring stopped. For a few moments, she stood still, eyes wide. Then, she shook her head and continued her journey.

 A short while in, she felt cracks upon the glass. These cracks became more and more frequent as she toiled on. She became numb to her surroundings, losing herself in the repetitive sequence. Her mind wandered to work, the past, the future, old memories she had lost long-

PAIN.

"ShhhhhHHHH-" Spring clutched her right hand against her chest, gritting her teeth in pain. A small buzz arose, and a gray light illuminated the hallway. Spring's eyes widened. She straightened up and observed her surroundings. Her eyes landed on a sharp fragment of glass with a red tint and the point. She turned to the back. The hallway curved, swiveled, and looped in every which way. She squinted, but the flickering of the cheap lightbulb snapped her out of her trance and propelled her forward.

 The floor creaked under Spring's feet. The hall became a true mirror maze: mimic routes, dead ends, and heads bonked into reflections. She might have had a bit of fun if it were not for the ominous buzz of the light and the persistent pains. Every time she looked behind her, the halls were contorted into a completely different shape than she remembered. And every time she took a step, it echoed behind her.

 Wait. That wasn't an echo. Was it? It surely didn't sound like one. It sounded like...

 After about five minutes of these thoughts, Spring tested her theory. She stopped dead in her tracks, not even daring to breathe, and waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited.

 "You're not supposed to leave me behind, you know."

 Spring dashed down the hall, the other's footsteps pounding behind her. The light strobed as Spring swung and whirled down the hallway. All the while, her perpetrator sounded as if they were right behind. Unable to contain her questioning, her head swiveled back. The halls twisted and contorted as the person's smirk glimmered in the strobe. She slammed into a mirror and crashed to the floor. Gritting her teeth, she looked up and realized why she had the crow card.

 Six reflections of her.

 Six crows predicted death.

 Those were Spring's last thoughts.

submitted by Estella O
(February 9, 2020 - 6:05 pm)
submitted by Top
(February 9, 2020 - 9:11 pm)
submitted by TOp
(February 11, 2020 - 12:44 pm)

Anyone there?

submitted by Top
(February 14, 2020 - 4:30 pm)

Yeah Estella, I'm still here! I'm not even IN the lodge, and I'm invigorated!

submitted by Ella Starburst, P.W's Buffet
(February 14, 2020 - 5:55 pm)

Wow!

I didn't see this for a while, but AAAAAAAAAAAAA

What is going on?

Spring got killed!

AAAAAAAAAAA

*stares at hands* I don't see any cuts. I'm fine. And glad to be rid of those five-year-old mischief makers.

What I don't understand is, what does six crows mean? And since saltmarsh is a species of sparrow, the mirror house must have been made specifically for Spring to die in, since that's her code name. But what about everything else? 

submitted by Summer, age pi, Nowhere at all
(February 18, 2020 - 9:02 pm)

I have to wonder if talking to Fleet would help... I could learn what she knows about Nyx, as it said in that weird letter in the trash bin. If I could control my character, I would do that.

On a side note, @Estella, are you Nyx? I know she's in the ski lodge but that doesn't entirely rule her out. I'm just kinda losing track of who we've already guessed you as. 

submitted by Summer, age pi, Nowhere at all
(February 19, 2020 - 8:41 pm)

OOOOOOOKAY BUSTER 

Thanking the Lord I'm not dead yet, but... THE HECC BOI

Orion says, omkrf. Home turf??? What the hecking heck...

submitted by La’Crosse, Trolling in freakin Japan
(February 20, 2020 - 9:36 am)

I am not. On the subject of Nyx, there is still somthing you're missing on that note. Specifically, where did you find out that Fleet named her phone Ace?

submitted by Estella O, White Oak Lab & Motel
(February 20, 2020 - 1:06 pm)

Oh, I couldn't possibly think up a ski lodge this good. I do have a ski lodge, though. I don't believe you're in it though, Summer. 

submitted by Nyx, age 12 years, earth
(February 20, 2020 - 3:33 pm)

I think I found out on another ski lodge. I don't remember which one. Is that important?

submitted by Summer, age pi, Nowhere at all
(February 21, 2020 - 6:47 pm)

Colder you venture, but you cannot stop,

Chirp for an answer' that's been recently topped! 

submitted by Transcript
(February 22, 2020 - 10:07 am)