I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and met my father at that same painting to teleport me to the human realm, Earth.

"Ready?" He asked I just nodded my head still a little scarred from yesterday's events. All I know is I never want to see that awful woman ever again.

He placed the knife on his palm and sliced it open before smearing it in a specific pattern that represented the human realm on the painting. Each realm has their own type of symbol which is how portals can be created like this one.

"Remember everything from last time, the entrance is in the same place to get back. Don't come back unless you've completed the task. Now go." He told me. Wow, that was like the best father of the year speech. Note the sarcasm.

I stepped through the now glimmering black portal feeling the same rush of dizziness as last time as I crashed into the maintenance closet in that bar.

I gripped the rusty door knob and pulled it open stepping out I immediately heard the chatter of voices. I slowly walked towards them and saw that the bar was almost completely full. Completely different from last time.

I got a few weird glances but just ignored them as I headed outside the bars heavy glass doors.

First I needed to figure out what state I'm in if I plan on even finding this lab. I glanced at the windows of the shops I passed to see if I could get any clues about where I was but there was nothing.

I kept walking down the sidewalk of this silent street, it almost felt too silent for me to be comfortable. I heard a clicking noise which freaked me out, I practically jumped out of my skin at the high pitch squeak that came from the trees that decorated this sidewalk. I glanced up and saw a small thing that was furry with a long tail. It was holding this small nut looking thing, while making chittering noises.

I looked at it confused when I heard a chuckle.

I jumped even more than that and raised my hands out protectively. A boy with dirty blond hair and hazel eyes stood before me. He was giving me a puzzled look.

"Squirrels are annoying little guys, believe me when I say my dog thinks they are plotting the end of the world." He laughed. I laughed along not really sure what to do in situations like this one I mean I've never talked to a human before, an alive one.

"Going to a costume party?" He asked referring to my outfit. Something I've noticed about this realm was that cloaks didn't seem to be worn by anyone. Probably should have thought my outfit for today through more. Cloaks are practically mandatory in hell, you don't have a cloak your status is considered low like the poor peasants that serve around the castle. I don't think I've seen any of them wear cloaks.

"Um no, or uh yeah, maybe?" I mentally screamed at myself. Father was going to have my head for this. I've been here five minutes and am already drawing this much attention to myself. I can't even come up with a decent lie.

"Well, I don't know if I should take that as a yes .no or maybe." He laughed.

"I should go?" I questioned awkwardly. Why was I asking? I could already feel my cheeks heating up.

"What's your name? I'm Noah." He spoke reaching his hand out for me to shake.

I warily stuck my hand out interlocking it with his.

"I'm Laylah." I spoke. "Can I ask you something?" He just nodded motioning for me to continue.

"Where are we?" He gave me a confused look.

"We are on Cedar Street? Why are you lost?" He asked genuinely looking concerned.

"Um what state also?" I asked and now he was giving me a look like I was dumb.

"New York? Are you alright?" I just nodded to that.

"I have decided that we are going to be friends." He stated.

"I'm sure you would be a great friend to have but I can't stay here." I frowned, no one has ever said they wanted to be my friend before, I know it's silly that in the midst of all of this that's what I'm concerned about.

"What's your favorite color?" He asked me out of the blue.

"Probably green." I smiled.

"Mines red." He laughed. I could never like the color red. That practically resembles hell, plus I see that color way too much staining the stone floors and walls of the castle. Usually wherever my father is you can expect to see that wretched color.

"Is there an area where you usually spot scientists walking around?" I asked feeling ridiculous for asking it, but I mean he's asking me questions.

"Is this how all your conversations go?" He laughed.

"You'd be surprised." I smiled.

"Not gonna lie you sound like your up to something sneaky." He laughed.

"There is this area I've been looking into with some of my friends. I can show you where it is if you'd like?" He asked. I immediately nodded my head and followed him down the sidewalk.

"So what's with the cloak?" He asked me, he looked like he was trying to hold back a smile.

"It was cold tonight and this was just lying around so I decided to change my style up a bit." I said hoping that my lie sounded convincing enough.

"Hey, I'm not criticizing your style, hmm let's just say that it's a fashion statement." He chuckled. He led me to a cool looking car I'm assuming. I read about these in my mother's journals.

I opened the passenger door and sat down. I watched what Noah was doing and copied. He reached and pulled this strap looking thing that clicks into this other piece in the opposite seat, keeping you in the seat.

He started the car and I immediately reached out and held onto the inside of the door.

He gave me another confused look.

"Sorry." I mumbled letting go after I began getting used to being in this car.

We stopped outside a path leading to a building closed off by a chain link fence.

"How did you come across this place?" I asked out of sheer curiosity.

"My friends and I were bored and went on a mini adventure I guess you could say. We just wanted something to keep us busy, and I don't know I guess nothing ever seemed right about this place."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" I asked him usually I have to threaten people to tell me the stuff I need to know.

"I know this may sound weird but I kind of have this weird gut feeling to trust you." He told me.

I nodded and asked, "Do you know how I can get in there?" He gave me a crazed look. It almost seemed like if his eyes opened any wider his eyeballs might pop out.

"Why would you want to go in there?" He asked me looking at me like I was totally insane.

"I need to stop them." I told him kind of truthfully. I don't trust people that quickly.

"Yeah and we need to stop world hunger. Why are you really going in there?" He asked not buying the truth.

"I really am." I said. "I just need to get in there first and I don't know how I'm going to do that." I told him.

"I have the schematics back at my house with my friends, if your alright with that I can probably help you the most if we get them first. Plus I would be murdered if I didn't bring them along to actually infiltrate the base." He said sounding way too excited. And as for the friend thing how would they want to go down there. They will find nothing but terror as they continue whatever it is they are planning likely to corrupt hell and kill my father and I.

"It will be too dangerous." I told him.

"And? We've been waiting for something like this to happen forever." He said driving away from the fence.

After about twenty minutes we got to his house. It was fairly small but seemed inviting from the outside.

He unlocked the door and pushed it open, holding it open for me.

I stepped through and almost immediately I felt 3 pairs of eyes watching me.

"It's a girl." I heard one of them whisper.

"And?" I asked. Their faces turned beet red as I glanced around the house quickly.

"I need to get there as soon as possible." I told Noah. He nodded and filled in his three friends who I figured out were named Oliver, Lance and Ty. Oliver had dark curly hair with mesmerizing grey eyes, Lance had dark hair as well with light brown eyes and Ty looked similar to Noah with the dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes.

"You were planning on going in there by yourself." Ty asked.

"Yes?" I said, I had to keep reminding myself that they didn't know who I was or what I was capable of. "I need to get in the lab and shut down what they are working on."

"Oh we are so in." Exclaimed an overly excited Lance.

"It's too dangerous, I can't let you guys go with me. I just need to know how to get in." They seemed like super nice people and I wouldn't want them to suffer because of me.

"Nonsense we are coming with or without your permission." Lance said.

Noah walked back in the room holding rolls of papers with layouts on them.

"Well here are the schematics, I'm not sure if it is perfect but it's all we have on the layout of the compound." I picked up one of the papers and the outline immediately caught my eye. It almost looked familiar but I just couldn't pin point why.