The first thing we did as soon as we stepped outside was grab the bear and mosquito repellant. Those would sure be useful.

"So, where are we going?" Will asked.

"I think it has something to do with the lake. 'Go where there's water in blue and green', the doll said. But I'm sure whoever did this wouldn't make it that easy." Staci put her hand on her hip and shifted her weight, scanning the area as far as her flashlight would shine.

Then, I had an idea. "Do you think it could've had something to do with the waterfall?"

Staci gasped. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that! You remember the color of the water, don't you? It was that pretty aquamarine color, right?"

"Yeah." I agreed.

"Then that's where we're heading." She decided.

We trudged past the lake and then the campfire. I remembered that just a few nights ago, it was there where I had shared happy, memorable moments with Emma. I pictured her smile, how she laughed at the simplest of things. Tears began to dwell in my eyes, and I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when an owl hooted above us. Will noticed me jump and smiled. "What were you thinking about?" He asked me.

"Oh . . . Nothing." I said, and we continued our journey, now gradually heading uphill towards the waterfall-cave place that had taken our breath away when we'd first arrived.

Our flashlights lit the way pretty well, since Staci had just put fresh batteries in them, so that wouldn't be a problem. None of the animals seemed to pay any mind to us, so we were good on that (hopefully). All three of us had at least a couple occasions where we would trip and fall, but then we'd just get right back up again and carry on.

I didn't know how much time had past once we'd started panting and couldn't go any further.

"We should make camp, it's 12:21." Staci said, glancing at her light-up wristwatch.

"Yes please." Will said, taking a sip of his water.

We found a mostly evened-out area on the side of our path and decided to roll out our sleeping bags. I opened up mine and got right inside, using my backpack as a pillow. Just before I turned off my flashlight, I noticed the pattern of the sleeping bag: Dora the Explorer.

"Seriously?" I asked Staci.

"Wow, nice, Staci." Will chuckled.

"Hey, I was in a hurry. Besides, it's not mine.  Whatever Kyle's aunt kept that in the closet for." She laughed.

"Man, I had nothing to do with that! I swear!" I replied.

They both gave me weird looks, and I admitted. "Fine. My mom thought I was going to be a um . . . girl. So Aunt Ellie had gotten it for my mom to use it as my play mat for whenever I was old enough . . . But after I was born, she just stuffed it in the closet and left it be."

"Oh, that makes sense. I thought you were going to say you had a secret cousin or something." Staci said.

"Yeah, same. Let's go to sleep guys, I'm exhausted." Will whined.

"Alright, night guys. Keep the weapons close to you just in case a wolf decides to have their nightly meal a little early." Staci cautioned.

That worried me slightly. Remembering what Will had said before we left gave me jitters. Who knew what kind of wild, blood-thirsty creatures were out there?

"Goodnight." Will said.

"Night." And I don't think I ever fell asleep.

~~

The next day, I immediately got out of my sleeping bag and packed up my things. I wanted to find Emma as soon as possible. "Guys, wake up!" I said, giving each of my friends a shake and lightly slapping their faces. "C'mon!  We only have a little bit more to go!"

Staci woke up and yawned, then began to gather her belongings as I did. Will soon did the same, and we each shared a few crackers just so we wouldn't continue hiking on an empty stomach.

When we got to the top, the whole sight was just so amazing I couldn't put it into words. But of course, there was that strange little house blocking some of the view . . . No, not house. Hut.

My friends and I looked at each other, confused. "Do you think it's the next stop?" I asked.

"Yes." Staci said quickly.

"But it's a trap." Will said.

"Obviously," Staci and I responded in unison. "But we have to follow the prophecy. This must be the next line." Staci finished.

I frowned. "What was the next line, anyway?"

"I think it said something about fighting two battles."  Will scratched his head.

"Yeah, I think so." Staci agreed.

"So, shall we go in?" I asked.

"I guess we have to," Staci said. "But prepare your weapons. And don't fall for any tricks or spells or anything."

"Well, yeah, duh." I said.

We walked up to the little purple house, our weapons at ready, and Will knocked on the door.

At first, there was no answer. Then a sweet woman's voice cooed, "Come in!"

We braced ourselves, then turned the knob and pushed.

It was a cute but simply decorated room we had walked into. Pictures and paintings scattered about the walls, and half the room was left alone for an upright piano with a few missing keys. The other half, however, had all different sizes of rocking chairs and one small sofa. An older woman (probably in her late sixties or early seventies) sat in one of the largest rocking chairs and quietly hummed a song to herself while knitting a pink sweater.

"Come on in dearies, don't be shy now, Grandma won't bite." The woman had a glossy-like glare as she slowly rocked back and forth and continued humming a tune that sounded like "Ring Around the Rosie."

Yup, definitely not creepy at all.

We stood there awkwardly as she finished her sweater. "Eh, you, clever girl, come here and see if it'll fit. I can make you another one if it doesn't, don't worry dear. Time has stopped. It's been two o'clock for . . . many, many years now." The woman glanced at the clock—which was shaped like a cat—just to make sure.

Did she not know about batteries? How could she believe that 'time has stopped'?  Unless, maybe it had . . .  Just, only in here?

Staci nervously walked over to the old woman, who put the sweater up to her body to see if it was the right size.

"Perfect! Do you like it?" She asked Staci.

"Actually . . . No." Staci said.

Will and I exchanged looks: what is she doing?!

The lady froze for a moment. "No?"

"No." Staci simply said.

"Put the sweater on, dear."

Staci backed away slowly, and then the woman began to change form: into some sort of hideous . . . Monster.

"You shouldn't have done that!" The thing screeched.

"Run!" Staci yelled. I tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"Haha! Don't you know this place has a magical border? You'll never escape without defeating me, which is IMPOSSIBLE, children!" The monster started going after Staci, who ran down the hall into the basement.

We followed them.

I had my club ready to strike as we hid around one corner. The monster was banging on the basement door, causing the wood to split. Staci didn't have much longer unless we jumped in right now.

"Come out, dearie, Grandma just wants you to try on your sweater!"  The monster screamed.

I looked at Will and counted to three. Then we charged, whacking with all of our strength and confidence, which wasn't much.

"Ow!"  The monster howled, then turned around and snatched my golf club, bending it in half and tossing it aside, like an unwanted toy. "Ah-ah-ah, Kyle Stevens, you don't—"

Staci suddenly burst the door open and smacked the monster between its yellow eyes, causing it to slowly shrink out of existence.

"Phew," She said, her expression relaxing. "That was intense."

"How did you—"  I began.

"I don't know, honestly. Let's just get out of here. Please."  She begged, heading towards the door.

It opened. "Thank God." I said.

And we watched as the house suddenly went poof, and was nothing but some pink yarn lying in the grass.

We figured we'd seen enough weird stuff for one day, so we traveled as far away from it as possible, and planned out how we would get up into the caves.

Little did we know this was only the start of it all.