Night had loomed over Ouroboros.
Asher had waited for Rowan to fall asleep before he snuck out of his dorm.
He passed some prefects on his way and pulled little stunts.
He headed for the Clocktower and entered through the back door.
"Where did she say the door was again?" Asher thought.
He recalled, "It was the floor," he said, tracing his footsteps.
He tapped his foot on the floor until he heard a sound, like there was a hall underneath.
He was able to open it after enough effort, and inside was a dark staircase that led downwards.
He brought out his torch and went down the staircase.
Not long after, he reached the bottom of the hidden vault.
The lanterns flicked on, the halls screamed like they remembered him.
Suddenly, he heard a sound, like something closed shut, and he hopped in fear before getting himself together.
"What is this place?" he asked.
The place looked like a prison; it had cells, some with chains and dried blood. In the forefront was a clock that was still ticking.
"Why would Elara lead me to a prison?" he asked.
"You've been played, my friend," a voice called.
Asher turned around to look. It was Yul.
"Why are you here?" Asher asked, stunned by his appearance.
Yul smirked.
He tossed Asher a key for his Chrono wristwatch.
"Open it," Yul said.
"Why?" Asher asked.
"How long have you been following me?" Asher continued to ask.
"I hope your scared. I've been watching you since Morgan set his eyes on you," Yul said, smirking.
Asher stood in shock.
"One thing is sure: if you want to get out of here, you'll have to fight me. Now," Yul said, moving slowly toward Asher and folding his sleeves.
"I can't fight you," Asher cried.
"Then Die," Yul said.
"There—" Asher couldn't continue.
Yul rushed Asher with a punch. Asher fell to the ground, the key dropping from his hands into a cell.
Yul kneed Asher's stomach, and Asher's eyes widened in pain, tears almost in his eyes.
Asher looked up at Yul, who stood in front of him, his eyes as cold as ice.
"Pl—please," Asher cried.
"Walking out late at midnight, first offense," Yul said to Asher as he picked him up and rushed to a cell, banging his head hard against a cell cage.
Asher screamed in pain.
"Creeping into secret passages, second offense." Yul took Asher again, holding his head, rushing toward the opposite cell cage in an attempt to hit him. Asher lunged his hands forward, preventing another hit. He looked Yul in the eyes, his head already bleeding a little.
"Pl—please stop," Asher said.
"Thinking you can beat me, third offense,"
Yul said, then smirked.
He kneed Asher in his stomach again.
Asher's grip broke from the cage.
Yul kneed Asher in his stomach again, his smile growing wider.
He took Asher's head and banged it against another cell cage—not once, not twice, but three times.
Asher's head spun; he became dizzy and fell to the ground. Yul smiled. He picked Asher up from the floor. Asher's vision blurred.
Yul went toward the clock, changed the clock hands, and the wall moved.
Inside the wall was another bigger cell. He placed Asher inside.
He held Asher's face. "Don't worry, we won't kill you; we are only following orders. Elara was never a friend, not to you—never to Morgan," Yul said.
He chained Asher's hands and then closed the wall, leaving Asher bleeding there.
It was morning.
Professor Hale was teaching in class.
Theo's eyes met Rowan's.
"Where's Asher?" Theo asked softly.
"I thought he'd be in class," Rowan replied.
"What?" Theo said, puzzled.
Rowan tried to reply, but Professor Hale called Rowan to answer a question.
"Mr. Veyne, you wouldn't mind sharing with us what I just said on temporal displacement."
Rowan stood up, not knowing what to say.
"Um… temporal displacement…" He dragged, turning to Theo.
Just in time, the bell rang.
"That calls it a day, I guess. You were lucky this time, Mr. Veyne. I have other things to attend to," Professor Hale said.
Rowan gasped in relief.
Rowan met with Theo; they walked the hallways.
"I haven't seen Asher all morning. I thought he rushed to class," Rowan said.
"He would have told us if he was going somewhere else, so where could he be?" Theo wondered.
"What's wrong?" Nico asked as he walked to them.
"We can't find Asher," Theo cried.
"What do you mean we can't find Asher?" Nico said.
"He wasn't in class, nor did I see him this morning," Rowan added.
"Maybe he had something to do, and he'll let us know later. Isn't that how Asher is?" Nico said. "He can't be missing."
"If something was wrong, he'd let us know," Rowan said.
"You're talking like you don't know Asher," Nico said.
"What's your point?" Rowan asked, his mood shifting.
"You think Asher trusts us with everything? I know very well he still hides some things from us," Nico said.
"Even if he didn't tell you, I know he would tell me, I'm sure," Rowan dragged.
"So, what do you think? He was kidnapped this morning, and you didn't notice?" Nico said.
Rowan couldn't answer.
"He probably went somewhere he didn't tell us. Let's give it a while; he'll be back soon," Nico said.
"How's the note doing? Any progress?" Nico asked further.
"It's even slower, not much progress," Theo added. "It's getting frustrating."
"I'm going to find Asher," Rowan said furiously and walked out on them.
"Sure, later then," Theo said.
Lira was heading to the greenhouse when Candice approached her.
"Hey," Candice greeted.
"Hey," Lira greeted back.
"Where're you headed?" Candice asked.
"The greenhouse. That's where I'm mostly at," Lira said.
"That sounds boring," Candice said.
"You don't need to go with me. I'm always there myself anyway," Lira said.
Lira saw Darel at the greenhouse, watering flowers.
"He already got there before me," Lira said.
"Is he always at the greenhouse?" Candice asked, excited.
"Yeah," Lira said.
"I didn't know you were this close to the most handsome guy in O.A.," Candice cheered Lira.
"Don't put it that way," Lira groaned.
Darel saw lira and waved to her from afar.
Lira waved back. Candice waved creepily. Darel looked concerned by the way she waved.
Lira turned to Candice and gave her a "what the hell" look.
"Why are you acting like that?" Lira asked, creeped.
"I needed to make a good first impression," Candice told her.
"Do you really want to be friends with me, or did you come for him?" Lira asked.
"Did you know I liked watering plants." Candice said.
Candice dragged Lira's hand. "Let's go; we are going to be late," Candice rushed.
"Late for what?" Lira asked, in confusion, but Candice pulled her to the greenhouse.
They entered the greenhouse.
Darel was standing there.
"Hey," Darel greeted.
"Hey," Lira greeted back.
"Hi," Candice greeted, gripping Darel's hand. "I'm Candice Oswalt. Nice to meet you, Darel."
"Nice to meet you too," Darel said, his face in confusion.
"Let's get gardening. I'll get us aprons and gloves," Candice said before leaving the two.
"What happened to your no-friends-for-now policy?" Darel mocked.
"She wanted to be friends with me. Besides, she doesn't know about Kal, so he can't hurt her," Lira said, defending herself.
"That's nice," Darel said, supporting Lira.
"She has a crush on you, but don't worry, she won't bite," Lira teased .
"You sure?" Darel said jokingly.
Candice came back.
"Turns out they only had one apron left and a pair of gloves, but don't worry, Lira, you can have them. I'll just stay and watch," Candice said, handing over the apron and gloves.
Darel turned to the storeroom in front and saw about six aprons hung and pairs of gloves.
"Looks like they did," Darel said with a soft grin.
Darel whispered to Lira, "She sounds fun."
Lira shoved Darel away, smiling.
Evening finally came.
Rowan approached Theo, who was busy writing in the quad.
"I still haven't seen Asher. Have you?" Rowan asked.
Theo stopped writing. "No, this is actually getting serious," Theo said, in fear.
"Something is very wrong, and I don't understand, what happened to him?" Rowan cried.
"I think the real question is, where is Asher Rook?" Theo noted.
The Clocktower loomed behind them.
Asher remained chained in the hidden cell.
He sat there, his eyes were closed, his face with dried blood.