Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty

DJ stood up and looked around the cabin, catching sight of a bookcase in the corner. Maybe there is a book that says how to get people untrapped from mirrors or something. He went to the case and started scanning book titles. He picked one off the shelf and flipped through it. Haunted Mountains: Fact or Fiction. He put it back and kept looking. Sleeping Beauty. Snow White. Cinderella. Beauty and the Beast. Hamlet. Campfire Cooking. Eyes of Elijah. History of Thorae. The Door Without. Through the Looking Glass. He pulled the last one off the shelf. I don’t know if it will help, but it can’t hurt. He continued through the titles. He pulled another one down. Good vs.Evil: Tricks of the Trade. He set the books aside on the closest table to go through later. 

A gust of cold air swept through the cabin once more as Misty entered. “Whew, sorry about that!” she said, bolting the door. “Feels like I’ve been in and out this whole time!” She went to the kitchen while pulling off her coat. “How’s the pie coming along?” 

“Pie?” Hanna stared back at her. “What pie?”

“I got ingredients for chicken pot pie.” Misty looked into the pot simmering on the stove. “What are you making?”

“Chicken noodle soup,” Hanna answered. 

“Oh, that works too.” Misty didn’t sound bothered in the slightest. “Do you want help?” 

“No.” 

“Okay, let me know when it’s done. Thanks for cooking! It smells great!” Misty went back to the living room and threw more logs on the fire. Hanna stirred the pot in silence. Her confusion over what was supposed to be prepared was amplified by the lack of resistance from Misty. She was so used to opposition, it threw her off when there wasn’t any. Part of her was disappointed. 

“Ah, much better.” Misty warmed her hands by the fire. She turned to see what DJ was doing. She watched him pull books off the shelf and set them aside. She went over to investigate. “What are you looking for?” 

“Nothing!” DJ jumped, not realizing she was standing directly behind him. 

Reading the titles of the stack of books on the table, Misty asked, “Are you looking for a book to help your friend?”

“Maybe.” DJ regained his composure and turned around. “That sounds like a distinct possibility. Is that ok? I should have asked first before reorganizing your books…”

“It is her cabin,” Hanna muttered under her breath, still stirring the soup. 

“Oh, sure, go ahead.” Again, Misty did not sound bothered. She stood for a minute in thought before suddenly snapping her fingers. “I think I know of something that will help! Wait here. I might have a clue.” She left the room. 

“Oh boy, a clue,” Hanna muttered sarcastically, searching the cupboards for bowls. “Find two more and you can use your handy dandy notebook.” 

DJ shot her a look, but smiled politely when Misty returned. The friendly woman walked out of the back bedroom with a few new books in hand. She set them on a coffee table at the same time that Hanna was setting down bowls of steaming soup on the same table. “Do you think any of these would help?” Misty asked, taking a bowl of soup and sitting on the couch. “I found them outside. They flew out of the castle when it blew up, I guess. I didn’t get a chance to read any of them, but they looked important and dangerous. There’s a safe in the bedroom so I took the books and locked them up so EDJ wouldn’t get them. I thought they might help me get him to stop destroying my cabins.”

One of the books immediately caught DJ’s attention. He reached over and took it, examining it before even touching the food. The book was faded, tattered, and held together with rubber bands. One corner was a bit singed, but the academy insignia on the front was unmistakable. He removed the bands and opened the cover. The date on the first page read ‘11-07-02’. It was obvious the book hadn’t been opened in quite some time. A few of the pages stuck together. As DJ carefully tried to turn them without damaging the book further, something slipped out of the pages. A photo. One taken seven years ago of a group of young cadets. DJ picked it up and stared at it with wide eyes. He kept it.

“Speaking of,” Misty was saying in the background to Hanna. “Do you think that castle is still up in flames or do you think it’s gone out by now in this storm?”

“Unlikely,” Hanna responded, taking a magazine from the table and flipping through it. The cover read, ‘Evil Will Conquer the World Because I Am the Greatest Ruler Ever.’ “Fire has a weird way of surviving in harsh weather conditions. It’s going to be a while before it completely goes out.” 

Misty lightly blew on the bowl of hot soup to cool it off. “Eh, I guess you’re right. It takes me forever to fully put out my campfires. I’m always worried they’re going to accidentally start a forest fire or something.” 

“Did you find anything in there that will help get Lui out?” Hanna asked DJ, setting down the magazine and reaching for her own bowl of food. 

“Nope.” DJ closed the book, secured the rubber bands around it, and tucked it into his armor. Hanna raised a brow at him, but did not say anything. She ate her bowl of soup in silence, having already cooled it to a tolerable temperature. “What’s this one?” DJ asked, pointing to the last book on the table as he reached for his bowl of soup. 

The final book looked like an old tome with metallic decorations, a twisted face in the center, and bound in sickly yellow leather. The title was simply, “Magic Mirrors for Dummies.” While the title itself was innocuous, the cover was suspicious enough to make anyone stop and seriously question the content. Anyone except Hanna. “I think we should check it out,” she offered.

“Hmm.” DJ’s expression was wary, if not downright distrustful, of the object. “That might work,” he said cautiously. “But I think it could also be a trap designed by EO.”

“You think he’s smart enough for that?” Misty asked genuinely, being the only party member not to have direct interaction with EDJ. 

Hanna tilted her head and grimaced. “He does like his traps.”

“Or it could just be a weird looking book,” Misty offered. “Why do you assume it’s a trap? I mean, you went to his castle, blew it up, and he’s been frozen in ice this entire time. I feel kinda bad for him.” Hanna and DJ both gave her a disapproving look. “...What? If you’re that worried about it, let me take it outside and look at it. You can watch through the window and see if anything happens. That way if something does happen, it will happen to me instead of one of you guys.”

“You would be willing to do that for us?!” DJ asked in surprise. 

“No way,” Hanna jumped in. “I said I wouldn’t get you involved, Misty. You’ve done enough for us already. If anything bad is going to happen, it should happen to me. I’ll take the book.” 

“It might save Lui though,” Misty countered. She pointed at Hanna. “You need to be here to help them. And DJ needs to be here to help you and Lui. I’m the outsider here. I want to help.”

“I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for us,” Hanna responded harshly. “We’ll find a way for you to help without putting you in harm’s way. 

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Misty asked. 

Hanna rattled off a list. “Obliteration. Incineration. Laceration. And if the worst that happens to you is that you also get stuck in a mirror, that would only leave us with two mirrors.” 

Misty frowned at her. It’s my job to help these people. I’m going to find a way to help them. She set her empty bowl on the table. “Well, then if I get stuck in a mirror too, maybe I could tell you guys how to fix it since I would be on the inside. Or maybe we can just ask EDJ?”

DJ spoke up. “That might be difficult considering his present condition.” 

Misty shrugged, letting her arms flop down as she ran out of ideas. “I don’t know. I’m just trying to help.” 

Hanna’s shoulders fell. “I’m sorry,” she said, tone shifting away from aggravation. “I think we’re all still stressed and on edge. It’s been a long day…” She offered Misty a sincere smile. “Thank you for trying.” 

DJ nodded. I don’t like this. What if it really is a trap? We don’t have the resources to deal with this. 

“I don’t blame you,” Misty offered. “It is getting pretty late. We could always sleep on it and start fresh tomorrow. The cabin has three bedrooms. That with the couch should be plenty of comfortable sleeping arrangements.” 

“That’s good to know, but we’re not staying,” DJ said, standing up from his chair and picking up the empty bowls. 

“You’re not?” Misty asked. 

Hanna turned to DJ. “We’re not?” 

“No,” he answered. “As soon as the storm lets up, we’re getting off this mountain.” He took the bowls to the kitchen and set them in the sink. He turned to find Hanna standing in front of him, arms folded. 

“You’re in no condition to travel,” she said in a low voice. 

“Neither are you,” he responded, matching her volume. He glanced at Misty and let out a long breath. “We should have called in help hours ago, Hanna. I’m not getting any signal here. If there was a satellite or cell tower nearby, it was probably in the castle. We’re of no help to Lui stuck in here and I know you don’t trust leaving EO alone out there. If we can all get back to Iceland, the academy has plenty of resources to sort through this.” 

Hanna was quiet as she processed his words for a moment. “You think they can get Lui out of the mirror?” she asked quietly. 

DJ shrugged. “It’s worth a shot. I know the longer we stay, the more opportunity EO has to escape. As unlikely as that might be.” 

Hanna finally nodded in agreement. “Fine. I’m gonna go clean up and then we can check on the weather.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine

 

Chapter Fifty-Nine

The cabin door slammed open with a gust of wind, waking up everyone inside. Hanna jumped to her feet, sword drawn within a split second. DJ was right behind her, being the farthest from the door. Misty stumbled inside with someone following her. The two of them closed the door with some force against the howling wind. It was dark outside. Hanna did not put away her weapon, but stepped forward and stared the new stranger down. “Who’s this?” she asked, once again automatically placing herself between her friends and the stranger. 

“Put that away,” Misty said, turning to face Hanna with mild annoyance. “This is Abby. She’s a medic from the closest aid station. I went to get help, remember?” The person introduced as Abby lifted a badge and pulled up the brightly colored trauma bag she was carrying. Hanna begrudgingly put her blade away and relaxed her stance. Abby appeared to be an older woman with a petite frame. She stood half a foot shorter than Hanna. The medic scanned the room, sharp dark brown eyes lingering on the winged cryomancer. Silently judging whether or not she was a danger. 

“Better check on DJ first,” Misty suggested, gesturing to the lancer. She also had a large bag with her. She set it on the kitchen island and retreated to the back bedroom. Whe Misty re-emerged, she was missing most of her winter layers. Now she wore jeans and a turquoise sweater. After all the time bundled up in coats, this was the first real chance Hanna had to notice Misty’s appearance. She was a smidge shorter than Hanna, but not as short as Abby. Her hazelnut hair was neatly braided and hung over her shoulder. She came out to the kitchen and started unpacking food supplies from her bag. “Hanna, can you help me with this?” she asked, mostly to get the frost woman out of the medic’s way. Hanna stood where she was, glaring at Abby for another minute before she relented and moved to the kitchen. Abby went to DJ, who sat down again. The medic set her bag down, pulled on a pair of gloves, and started asking him a list of questions. 

Hanna watched for a few more seconds before finally deciding her friend would be okay. She tied back her loose hair, knotty and dirty as it was, to keep it out of the food. She removed her gloves and washed her hands up to her elbows with soapy water. It took three washes before Hanna was satisfied. “I don’t like this,” she muttered.

“Yeah, well, she was the only one willing to leave the station with me,” Misty answered, handing her a clean towel. “A storm was starting to pick up as soon as I left the cabin. You don’t have to like it, but it’s the best we have right now.” She placed a cutting board, kitchen knife, and a few freshly washed vegetables in front of Hanna. On second thought. Misty took the cutting board and knife away, replacing them with packaged food Hanna could help open instead. She started chopping up the vegetables herself and threw them into a pot. Hanna didn’t seem to notice the switch in duties. “I never got to ask,” Misty started, making conversation while she prepped. “What are y'all doing on Everest anyway?” 

Hanna frowned. “I came to stop EDJ. Then things got complicated.” She turned to Misty. “Do you know anything about the castle or the person who owned it?” 

“Only that EDJ likes blowing up my cabins,” Misty answered with a laugh. It wasn’t until she noticed Hanna’s silent stare that she caught herself. “Well, you said the guy in ice was EDJ, right? I knew he owned the castle. There’s a public warning posted not to go near it. I told you I come up here every few years. The only reason I don’t come more often is because my cabins are always getting destroyed. That’s why this one is surrounded by trees. So he won’t find it. I have to get them rebuilt every time.” Hanna narrowed her eyes. Good grief, what’s it take to get this girl to believe you? Misty put a hand on her hip. “Why don’t you tell me how the castle exploded and its owner got trapped in a block of ice.”

Hanna bristled, blue eyes still narrow. “EDJ kidnapped my friends so I came here to stop him,” she said simply, leaving out a few key details. “Putting him on ice was my way of containing him until he could be handed over to the proper authorities. That was before the explosion happened, which was a complete accident, by the way.”

Misty blinked at her. “Wait, you were inside the castle right before it blew up?” The frost woman nodded. “You’re lucky you got out in time.” Misty paused. “How did you get EDJ out if he was already a popsicle?”

“I carried him.” DJ’s voice, silent up until now, echoed from the living area across from the kitchen island. Abby was poking and prodding him with medical instruments. His voice was even when he spoke, but it was clear from the look on his face he was incredibly uncomfortable. 

“You carried him?!” Misty repeated in shock. DJ nodded, jaw clenched and wincing sporadically. 

“Right after beating him in combat too,” Hanna added. 

“Let me get this straight…” Misty held up her hands and counted on her fingers. “You went to EDJ’s castle, fought him, beat him, froze him, and then carried his frozen corpse out of the castle before it exploded?” 

“...Yes?” Hanna raised a brow, not sure what was so surprising about the events listed. “He’s not dead though, if that counts for anything.”

Misty was still trying to wrap her mind around the situation. “That’s still like three hundred pounds of extra weight, counting the ice and armor. If not more! Have mercy, it’s no wonder you were unconscious!” She gestured to DJ then turned to Hanna. “You know that’s the reason why most of these frozen climbers stay on Everest, right?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you carried him…” 

“I had to,” DJ responded. “If I didn’t, he would have blown up with the castle.” 

Misty gave DJ and Hanna both a suspicious look. Something told her there was more to these strange people than their circumstances and appearances. She pointed at the mirror. “And what’s his story?” 

“He…” Hanna’s shoulders fell and her glare softened. “I don’t know.”

“He’s our friend.” DJ answered for her. “We think EDJ trapped him in the mirror, but we don’t know how. Or what to do to get him out.” DJ turned to the medic and nodded toward the mirror. “Can you do anything for him?” 

Abby shook her head. Finishing up, she pulled off her gloves, picked up her bag, and went to Hanna. “Are you going to let me treat you?” 

“Absolutely not,” Hanna answered with a snort, hostility returning in full force. 

The medic huffed. “Then I am done here.” She fished out a bottle of low pain relief and set it on the kitchen island. “Mild concussion, cuts, first degree burns. Monitor him for the next few hours. Watch for infection and internal bleeding. If symptoms worsen, take him to a hospital.” She went to the door and turned expectantly. 

“Oh, right,” Misty said, suddenly remembering she promised to take the medic back. “You guys can keep working on dinner. I’ll be right back!” She grabbed a parka and left with Abby. The weather outside sounded like it was getting worse. 

Hanna let out a breath, releasing the tension she was storing. She watched the door, trying to remember the last time she was treated by a medical professional. She couldn’t remember. An involuntary shiver went down her spine, ruffling her feathers for no discernable reason. She glanced at DJ. “Can’t stand doctors either, huh?”

“I don’t mind them.” He shrugged. “They have their job. I have mine. At the end of the day, we’re both trying to help people.” 

“Is that what you do at that fancy academy all day? Help people?” Hanna asked as she stared at the food still on the counter.

“I try,” he answered. He said no more, but turned to the mirror with a thoughtful look. He fished out his phone from a pocket.  

Hanna contemplated the random ingredients in front of her. Misty didn’t mention what she was planning to make and didn’t seem to be working off a physical recipe that could be used as reference. She looked at DJ. “I don’t suppose you have any idea what she was planning for dinner?”

“Nope.”

Hanna frowned. “You’re no help.” She started rearranging the objects on the island to best suit her preference of where things were located. 

“I’m lots of help,” DJ corrected with a soft chuckle. “Just not in this specific context.” 

Hanna grabbed the kitchen knife and resumed Misty’s half-finished chore of chopping vegetables. “I could almost make borscht, but I don’t see any beets. They’re kind of a main component in-” Her head snapped up and she pointed at DJ. “Don’t say it!” 

He blinked in confusion. “Say what? I didn’t say anything.” 

“You were going to make some smart comment about dropping beats. I could see it on your face.” 

DJ laughed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t make any faces.” 

Hanna glanced at the mirror with a frown before resuming her task. “It’s the same face Lui makes when he comes up with a clever pun,” she muttered too quietly for anyone to hear. DJ stiffly stood up and walked into the kitchen before she turned to him. “What do you think you’re doing?” Her tone was sharp and the hand with the knife hung midair. 

He glanced from the knife to her and back. “...helping?” 

“Not with that grimy armor, you’re not,” she retorted. “Besides, you’re supposed to be resting. Doctor’s orders.” 

“She didn’t actually say-”

Hanna interrupted. “I’m not going to have you collapse with exhaustion in the middle of the kitchen floor while I’m juggling frying pans. I may not be the best cook, but I am perfectly capable of making dinner by myself. If I need help, I’ll ask for it. Go check on Lui.”

“But you-”

She pointed to the living room. “Out.”

DJ raised his hands and backed out of the kitchen while Hanna went back to cooking. He went to the mirror still resting on the second armchair. Lui was awake now, looking back at him. DJ knelt in front of the glass. “How’re you doing, buddy?” 

Lui shrugged. Even though they were only a couple feet apart, the Original did not feel his Other’s presence at all. Can you hear me? DJ reached out through midspeak, but did not get an answer. It seemed the strongest connection they had to Lui at all was visual. Sure, sound was able to get through occasionally, but it was inconsistent at best. That paired with the lack of mental connection fed an increasingly worrisome suspicion in his mind. One he wasn’t sure he should vocalize until he had something more to go on. Hang in there, Lui. 

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Two snowmobiles weaved their way between trees into the thickening timberline farther down the mountain. Misty parked her snowmobile under a ramshackle lean-to. The structure was thrown together at the last minute when the cabin was built under a year ago. It was meant to be a temporary solution until a permanent garage could be added. Alas, it was one of many outstanding projects in Misty’s world. Hanna pulled up into the little space still left under the lean-to. She turned the engine off and stood up, ever holding the mirror with the utmost care. Misty thought it odd that Hanna ditched the parka so easily. Not because she had any attachment to it, the coat was a gift after all, but because of how cold it was. Even in all seven of her layers, the bitter chill was a constant reminder of their situation. She found the cold impossible to ignore. “Aren’t you freezing?” Misty asked. 

Hanna shook her head. “The cold doesn’t bother me. I don’t know about Lui though…” She twisted the mirror around and held it out at arm’s length. “All good?” 

“I'm… ok…” Lui answered. “I… guess… as… long… as… I don't… crack…”

Hanna turned the glass around again before making a face. She watched Misty help DJ off the snowmobile. “We probably should have brought EDJ,” Hanna said, glancing back up the mountain with a frown. “I don’t like leaving him unsupervised.”

“He’s still unconscious and frozen. He’ll be fine where he’s at,” DJ reassured. His head seemed to have cleared, but the temperature was still negatively impacting his mobility. He leaned against the vehicle while Misty unlocked the cabin door. 

“Come on in!” Misty welcomed pleasantly.

Hanna went inside first to set the mirror down somewhere safe. The warmth of the interior hit her face like heat from a sauna. Surprising, though not entirely unwelcome. The inside of the cabin was nicely furnished with large-cushioned chairs, wooden tables, and cozy lights. There was a pristineness to it she was not expecting. While the cabin was fully furnished, it had very little in the way of decorations. The walls were bare and the countertops were clear, save any functional appliances. There was a bookshelf, but the reading selection was slim. The cabin even smelled new, as though it were a place for people to stay, but not to linger. Hanna did not notice or dwell on any of these facts. She set the mirror on the first chair she saw before going back outside to help DJ. Misty held the door open as they shuffled inside. Hanna plopped DJ into the next closest unoccupied armchair, the lancer sinking completely into the oversized cushions. 

“Make yourselves at home,” Misty said as she went to a pile of wood near the empty hearth. She started throwing logs into the fireplace and looked around kindling. “Sorry it’s so cold. The thermostat can only do so much up here, but I’ll get a fire going for ya. Hanna, while I put these in the fireplace can you get the matches out of the drawer right there?” Misty pointed to the end table closest to DJ. She stood up and went into the bedroom to grab another parka and scrap paper. When she returned, Hanna was standing in the same spot as before, face downcast and her arms folded. 

“...never mind. I’ll tell you later,” Hanna whispered, glancing from DJ to Misty with suspicion.  

“Did you find the matches?” Misty asked, walking up to her while crumpling paper into a ball.

Hanna did not respond, but DJ pulled open the drawer and fished out a small box. “I got them,” he answered, lightly tossing the box to Misty.

Misty snatched the box out of the air and set to work getting the fire lit. “Thank you,” she said pleasantly, but gave Hanna a weird look. I know it’s going to take some time for them to fully trust me, but this is annoying. It’s my job to help these people and Hanna isn’t making it any easier. I have no idea how this is going to work out, but I’ll find a way. I shouldn’t worry about it. She’ll get used to me eventually. Once the fire was going, Misty turned back to the group and pulled on her extra parka. “There’s a camp not far from here,” she was saying as she zipped up the coat. “I’m going out to get medical help and food supplies. I won’t be gone long. Please stay here until I get back, okay?” Misty waited until both DJ and Hanna acknowledged her instructions with nods before leaving, closing the door behind her. 

Hanna listened to the snowmobile start up and drive away before speaking. “She's gone again… Maybe we can finally talk in peace, eh?” She sat on a sofa opposite of the chairs Lui and DJ were in. 

“Heh, it would appear that way,” DJ answered, voice tired. 

Hanna watched the mirror. Lui’s form was more visible in the cabin now. Instead of his head and shoulders taking up most of the frame, now he appeared further away. He looked like he was sitting in a corner of the background, leaning against a wall. His hands and arms were tucked behind his back, looking strangely uncomfortable. In spite of this, he was asleep. The reflection of fire in the hearth flickered across the glass. Hanna looked away, turning back to DJ. “How do you feel now?” she asked softly, not wanting to wake Lui. 

“Okay, I guess,” DJ answered, head tilted back and eyes closed. “Aside from a massive headache, I’m feeling better.” Now that the numbing cold was starting to subside, pain radiated from his side and his whole body ached. The warmth of the cabin and the comfort of the armchair dispelled any motivation to move. Rest was what he needed most. Food too, eventually. But for now, rest and sleep. 

“I… I wanted to apologize,” Hanna started. “For what happened.” DJ slowly lifted his head and looked at her with a raised brow. “I got you into this,” she said with remorse in her voice and expression. 

“You are completely forgiven. Don’t worry about what’s already happened.” He leaned his head back again. “We have enough to think about right now.” 

“I know, but I keep thinking about it,” she continued. “I… I gave up hope. I doubted you. I doubted Lui. And I doubted myself. I doubted that evil could ever be defeated.”

DJ lifted his head again. Hanna was staring at the floor, hands wringing in her lap. No sleep. With a heavy breath and some effort, DJ pulled himself forward and sat up. “Well, sometimes I think that way too,” he said, gravity in his words. “But I have to remember what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. We’re doing it the right way.” She looked up at him with confusion. Maybe the cold is still playing with my mind. “Does that make any sense?” he asked. 

Hanna shook her head. “You don’t get it. Lui warned me about going to face EDJ alone. You both did. And I ignored you. I left you behind. And then when you both showed up at the castle… I yelled. I told you to leave.” She resumed staring at the floor. “EDJ won. He pulled out the side of me I never wanted anyone else to see. And now the whole world’s seen it.” 

“You don’t know that,” DJ offered, but Hanna cut him off. 

“Lui asked me not to go and I went anyway. Now look at him…” Her voice held anger. Hanna looked up at DJ. “I got you into this mess. I need to know what to do to make it up to you.”

It was DJ’s turn to be confused as his brows drew together. “It’s already been taken care of,” he answered plainly.

“What do you mean ‘it’s taken care of?” Hanna asked. Now they were going in circles. 

DJ exhaled. “You don’t need to do anything to re-earn our friendship… I guess that’s what I meant,” he answered, partially still wondering if his words were making sense and when the headache would go away. The headache being the physical pain in his head, not Hanna. “Look,” he started, trying to salvage the conversation. “While it was brave, going to face EO alone was a mistake. Giving in to your evil side was… a small lapse in judgment.” He lightly shrugged. “Everyone makes mistakes, Hanna. I’ve made mistakes too. We can’t erase the past, but we can move forward from it.”

“We’re still friends?” she pressed, as though she didn’t believe him. “After all that’s happened?” 

“Of course,” he reassured with a smile. “I’m not going to just throw away a friendship so valuable after one mistake.” 

Hanna frowned. “Why not? How could friendship with me be of any value? All I do is almost get you killed…”

DJ’s patience persisted. “You’re completely leaving out all the times you saved our lives. You coming to our rescue at the North Pole, getting us to Svalbard, even at the castle. You took the actions you did to protect us. When the castle blew up, you could have left us to die, but you didn’t. You stayed.”

“Of course I stayed,” she responded, sounding insulted. “I couldn’t let you die.” 

“That’s my point,” DJ continued. “Not to mention all the good times we enjoyed before this conversing about anything and everything. And all the time you spend with Lui. The way you care for him, even now in his condition…” He gestured to the mirror. Hanna looked away, cheeks flush. “We’re still friends,” DJ finished. 

Hanna stayed quiet for a moment. “Thank you,” she said softly. “It makes me very happy to call you both my friends.” She smiled. With a nod, DJ sank back into the chair and closed his eyes again. Hanna watched the mirror. Lui was still asleep. She had a funny feeling he would have repeated everything his Original said, in his own way, if he could. Still friends. Hanna curled up on the sofa, head against the armrest. The only sound in the cabin now was the crackling and popping of the fire. Still friends. I can take all the silence in the world as long as I know we're still friends.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Hanna stared at the sky, waiting for the nausea and headache to pass. White flecks drifted through the air around her, landing in her dark hair. Smoke from the destroyed castle still rose into the sky. A structure that large would be smoldering for weeks long after the fires were dead, but the sun was visible again as it sank into the horizon. Now its brilliance was blinding. Hanna numbly blinked at it anyway. She raised a hand to block the sunshine, not noticing that the borrowed parka slid out of place. Only then did she realize her fingers were trembling. Hanna watched her hand involuntarily shake as though it were a foreign object. That doesn’t seem like a good thing. When was the last time I could feel the cold? She let her arm drop back into the snow and squinted at the sun again. Is light supposed to hurt?

The sound of an engine approaching indicated Misty found what she set out to look for. “Hey.” Misty's boots crunched in the snow as she came up to Hanna. She glanced from Hanna to the sky and back, but whatever face she was making was hidden behind her snow gear. “Why are you- never mind. Here.” Misty offered her hand. “How do you feel? Can you stand?” 

Hanna rolled to her side and sat up without Misty's help. “I'm better,” she answered. “I just needed to lie down for a second. I'm okay now.” She offered the coat back to its owner.

“Keep it.” Misty jerked a thumb behind her. “I found two snowmobiles. I'll go grab the second one and we can work on getting your friends out of here. Don’t push yourself.” She turned and left again. 

Hanna watched Misty leave and stared blankly at the coat still in her hand. She warily stood up and went to check on the others. She went to EDJ first. He was still frozen and on his side. I bet he’d make a decent sled. She had half a mind to push the giant ice cube and see how far he slid down the mountain. With a good deal of effort, Hanna pulled the frozen statue into a more upright position. She didn’t see any weak points in the prison, but also didn’t trust him not to break out at any moment. At least the natural cold is keeping him from melting. She glanced at the sun again. Still… I can't let him get away… never.  With the minimal energy she had left, Hanna froze another layer of ice over EDJ. 

Misty was pulling up with the second snowmobile when Hanna finished. She pulled her goggles up again. “Err… Why are you covering that one with more ice?” she asked. 

“The one in ice is none of your concern,” Hanna answered coldly, moving toward DJ. The lancer was still unconscious, much to her disappointment.

Misty frowned behind her scarf. “...Ok. Whatever.” She shook her head, as though she couldn’t actually drop the subject. “But we really shouldn’t leave him frozen. He might die, if he’s not dead already.” 

That’ll be the day. Hanna snorted as she tied the parka around DJ. That will have to do for now. “He’s not dead and he won’t die. Leave it at that.” Her tone shifted. “Don't worry, if this goes smoothly, you won't become involved any more than you already are.”

Misty raised a brow. I highly doubt that.

Hanna turned to the acquaintance. “Do you think you can take my friend on your snowmobile? I’ll take the mirror on the second one. I can’t risk anything happening to…” she glanced at the mirror, faltering. “...to him.” The surface of the mirror was veiled in white. Whether it was ash or snow, Hanna couldn’t tell. She moved to the object and brushed off the glass. The outdoor lighting made it difficult to see much more than Lui’s face and even then it wasn’t clear. 

“Oh yeah, I can deal with that, no problem,” Misty answered lightly. “Don’t worry, I drive these things all the time. But we should move quickly.” 

Hanna nodded, turning back to Misty. “I will be watching you at all times. This doesn’t mean I trust you.” 

“I don’t blame you,” Misty answered in understanding, pulling down her scarf to speak clearer. “It would be difficult for someone to trust their friend’s lives with a complete stranger.”

Hanna thought about the situation for a moment. “Does anyone else stay at your cabin?” she asked.

“No one, just me,” Misty replied. “And don't worry. It's got electricity and running water and such.”

Hanna nodded. “Good. I need someplace to keep them safe… preferably without anyone else around.” It wasn’t so much that she was trying to hide as it was the fact that she didn’t want to deal with any more people. Especially when she didn’t know who was in league with whom. She was taking a risk trusting Misty at all, even though the stranger displayed nothing but kindness to her and her friends. “I still don’t understand why you’re so willing to help me,” Hanna muttered. 

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” Misty said with a smile. “It’s what I’d do for any of my friends.”

“Friend?” Hanna’s head snapped up in surprise and confusion. She herself had been the least friendly person throughout the entire exchange. And what could she say about her actions toward the people closest to her? Half the time, she felt like she needed a neon sign above her head warning others: not friendly. Maybe then they would leave her alone, even though being alone was the one thing she feared above all else. Friend. Hanna pursed her lips and looked away in humiliation. In a low voice, she said, “I would highly recommend not becoming my friend.” It would only cause you unnecessary sorrow.

Before Misty had a chance to answer, the unconscious man moved. “Ack!” She jumped back, not expecting the body to move at all, but quickly regained her composure. 

DJ woke up, lifting his head slowly. “Wh-what happened?” 

“DJ!” Hanna rushed to his side. “You had me worried! Are you alright?” 

“Yes, I seem to be fine…” he answered slowly, still getting his bearings. 

Hope it’s not the same way Hanna uses the word ‘fine’, Misty thought.

Hanna helped DJ stand, though he needed support. “This is Misty. She’s agreed to help us,” she said while gesturing to the stranger. Misty waved at him pleasantly. Hanna lowered her voice. “She says we can use her cabin to warm up. It’s too cold for you and Lui here. I don’t know if we can trust her, but… I don’t know what else to do.” 

“I had the strangest dream…” DJ said absently. “A far-off memory… I thought I saw…” He did not finish his train of thought, but vacantly stared ahead. 

Hanna frowned. “DJ? Did you hear anything I just said?” 

“Huh?” DJ might have been able to come up with a more coherent response had he been fully aware of what was going on. At the moment, he was still fighting brain fog and gravity. “How long was I out?”

“I have no idea. A couple hours maybe?” Hanna answered. It had been roughly forty minutes. She was not known for having a firm internal grasp on the passage of time.

DJ straightened, seemingly able to stand now without assistance. “How’s EO? And Lui?” he asked.

Hanna stepped back and toward the mirror, pausing long enough to point to the ice block. “I just covered EDJ in a few more layers of ice. And Lui… he's…” She let out a heavy breath and shook her head. “Nothing's changed.”

She sounds pretty worried about him. At least I have names to go with the faces now, Misty thought, taking in the information without interrupting. She noticed DJ staring directly at her, green eyes focused. 

He tilted his head quizzically. “Straw?”

Misty blinked at him. “Why would I need a straw? I don’t have a drink.” 

“Well, that’s maddeningly unhelpful,” DJ mumbled, gaze drifting away as he lost awareness of his surroundings again.

Whoa, he’s really out of it. Misty turned to Hanna, who was watching DJ with an obviously heightened level of concern. 

“DJ?” Hanna started carefully. “Snap out of it. What are you thinking?” 

DJ frowned. “I'm not sure what I'm thinking… my mind isn't working too well right now for some reason… cheeseburgers…”

“Are you sure you're all right?” Hanna pressed. 

“Positive!” he answered enthusiastically. DJ took one step forward and fell face first into the snow. 

Misty winced. Oh boy. 

“We have to get you off this mountain right now.” Hanna went to her fallen friend, throwing one of his arms over her shoulder and lifting. “Help me carry him.” 

Misty complied, rushing over the help on the other side. “Oof! How much of this dead weight is his armor?!” she complained, struggling a bit. 

“Rude,” DJ weakly cut in. 

“My bad.” Misty rolled her eyes. “I didn’t realize you were still conscious.” Hanna refrained from commenting, wearing a grim smile. They successfully got DJ to the closest snowmobile before Hanna went back for the mirror. 

“Lui?” Hanna knelt in front of the mirror and gently brushed the surface off again. The wind was stronger and they were quickly losing the light. His image appeared clearer now. “Can you tell if DJ’s alright?” Hanna asked softly. “I don’t know if you caught any of the conversation with Misty. I’m still not sure if she can be trusted. I don’t know… I just don’t know… What do you think?” 

Misty walked up behind Hanna and peered over her shoulder at the mirror. A blonde person looked back at her, head tilted in an uncannily similar manner as DJ had done moments ago. Misty waved at the man in the mirror. 

When Lui spoke, his words came through muffled, weak, and broken. “DJ… ok… maybe… Misty… good… fix…?” 

“Well at least someone believes me,” Misty said with a small laugh. She narrowed her eyes in thought. How did he get stuck in a mirror? How is that even possible? This is more critical than I thought. “Can you walk around in there?” she asked, trying to understand his situation better. 

The figure in the mirror blinked and twisted around in confusion. His mouth opened and he spoke, but the only word Hanna and Misty both caught was “...no…” 

Hanna frowned. Why is it so hard to hear him? The breakdown in communication was making things difficult. How will we ever be able to get him out if we can’t even hear him? 

“...Hanna?” 

Lui’s faint voice pulled Hanna out of her head. “Huh?” she looked up. “Yes, Lui… What is it?”

“We… get… off… mountain…?” he asked. 

She gasped and jumped to her feet. “Right! Sorry!” It was as though she only now remembered they were all still on the side of Mount Everest next to the ruins of a burning castle as the sun set and weather grew worse. Hanna turned to her new friend. “Misty, can you direct us to your cabin?”