5 Days till the fall of Almadel

Three days later, Trix saw the key again.

They were in history class, and Jeremiah was leaning down over his desk when it slipped from within his waistcoat. It was attached to his neck by a gold chain and swung there glittering for a few moments before his hand took hold of it absentmindedly and stuffed it back inside his clothes. It had been white, and Trix thought she saw a design on its surface picked out in red lines. She cornered Emma after class, pulling her into a side corridor where they could talk alone.

"I saw the key, the one he used to open that door. He has it around his neck, did you notice it drop out during class?"

"Nope. I was far too distracted by who was sitting next to me", she bit her lower lip and raised her eyebrows. Trix guessed she was talking about Wilbur again. Dean had visited their dorm room the morning after their attempt to enter the locked door and had brought his roommate Wilbur. Emma was smitten. Wilbur was a tall, unaffected young man. He had short black hair and exceedingly pale skin. As soon as he had left, Emma had spent at least five minutes talking about how nice his hands were, how well proportioned, how looked-after his nails, how strong his forearms. She had been throwing glances his way for the last few days and taking any opportunity to spend time with Dean and Wilbur. Trix had avoided the subject of the door while they had all been together, for she was certain that Dean would not approve of their plan to open it again.

"You are obsessed" said Trix, "I really don't see the appeal."

"Oh, I'm not obsessed, just horribly attracted, and impatient, and you have awful taste." said Emma, "it has been three days already, why won't he take the hint, I'm bored of waiting. A day waiting is a day wasted." She swung her arms out and began doing oblique stretches in the center of the empty corridor. "So how are you going to get the key if it's hanging around Jeremiah's neck?"

"I'm not, am I. I think he'd notice if I just tried to lift it off his neck." said Trix.

"If only it were on a piece of string, we could snip it off, he would be none the wiser. He must take it off sometimes, though" said Emma, "when he's changing, maybe, or sleeping?"

"He might I guess"

"I bet he does when he's having a bath, no way he would soak in the bath with a key around his neck. It might rust." Emma had put her foot up on a hard little wooden bench that had been left against the wall, and was stretching out her hamstrings as she talked, her curly hair falling down over her face and muffing her voice.

"You're probably right." said Trix, clasping her hands together nervously, "Not that this helps us. We can't exactly sneak into the boys' bathroom and grab it."

Emma giggled "No, I think that's an excellent idea. We could make fake mustaches. Nobody would know."

"I'm think they'd be able to tell if it were you" said Trix, "but I could probably pass as a boy, you're right".

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At this moment, Wilbur and Dean appeared from around the corner.

"You are far too pretty to be a boy, Trix" Wilbur said, "also, what on earth are you girls talking about?". Trix flushed.

"What are you doing eavesdropping on us?" said Trix

"We weren't eavesdropping, we could hear Emma's giggles from two classrooms away" said Wilbur, "I was curious".

Emma sprung off the wall, "we have a daring and exciting plan" she said, "but it requires the help of a brave male hero."

Trix shot Emma a glance, "we were just joking around" she said, "there's no plan".

Emma grabbed Wilbur and Dean and dragged them over to the bench where she had been stretching and sat them down, side by side, addressing them like a teacher addressing a class, "no, don't listen to her, a plan is forming, and we need help" she said, "Trix, do you have a better idea, or do you not want to get through that door?"

Dean had appeared rather confused up to this point, his expression changed at the mention of the door. He looked gravely at Trix, "what door?" he said, "not...?"

Trix covered her face with her hands, "Oh for fucks sake, Emma. For fucks sake. This was our thing. You can't just tell everyone."

Emma cocked her head at Dean, "he knows?" she asked Trix.

"Dean was there, the first time I saw behind the door."

"So much for 'our thing', then" said Emma raising her eyebrows, "well, then this is perfect, we are all on the same page already. The plan is to borrow Jeremiah's key and penetrate beyond the mysterious locked door, discovering the secrets hidden beyond."

"There is nothing good behind that door" said Dean, "I think it would be best to just forget it exists." he slumped back against the wall behind the bench.

Trix marched over to the bench and stood next to Emma, facing the two boys . She waved a finger at Dean "Look. We heard the teachers talking about the door, and there's definitely something going on. Don't try and dismiss me again on this, ok. It's not a cat, it's not a toy, it's not my imagination. I'd rather find out what's going on and get hurt or expelled than sit here like a good little girl and wait for whatever danger there might be to jump out at me." she let out a long breath. "So, if you don't want to participate, that's fine, but just don't tell anyone about this, ok?"

"Gosh Trix, calm down. I wouldn't do that." said Dean.

Wilbur spread his hands "Uh, no fighting you two. I think it sounds likes fun, Bea. I'll be happy to help out. So where is the key?"

"Don't call me Bea" said Trix.

"Thank you. My hero." said Emma, "It will be fun. The key is conveniently stored around Jeremiah's neck, so we will need you to get it from him when he takes it off while bathing."

"Maybe this is more of a Dean job, after all." said Wilbur.

Dean punched him in the arm, lightly. "Trix, Emma, if you get caught, they're going to assume I'm involved, you see that right? You would be stealing from a teacher , in order to break in to a forbidden area of the school "

Trix nodded once, her face stern.

"Ok, I just wanted to make sure you understood. Oh god." he closed his eyes for a second and sat there against the wall, silently. "Fine" he said finally, "No offense, girls, but I think you need someone who thinks through the consequences before rushing in. I imagine there is more chance of this not going horribly wrong if I'm involved." he sighed.

I guess he is right thought Trix. Emma probably just hasn't thought that far ahead, Wilbur doesn't seem to care about much at all, what about me? I know the chances but want to do this anyway. Why am I so obsessed, anyway? She was shaken out of her introspection by Wilbur standing up and putting his hand on her shoulder. "So, how about me and Trix team up. We can hold watch outside the target door, make sure the coast is clear for when you have the key."

"And what about me, then?" said Emma.

"You can keep guard outside the boy's bathroom" said Wilbur, "make sure nobody disturbs Dean."

"So do you know when Jeremiah has a bath?" asked Dean, "and are you sure he takes off the key? And do you know that he doesn't hide it somewhere when he does?"

Trix and Emma were silent.

Dean stood up "This is clearly a well thought out plan" he said dryly, but I think I have a better one..."