"Maddie!" they all called in a worried chorus.
Annie did not even waste a second, she bolted out the door while Matt and Ollie followed after her.
"This way." called Matt as he could hear some slight movement in the opposite direction causing Annie to turn around speedily and follow behind him.
"What do you think happened?" asked Ollie in worry as they were all running through the halls as fast as they could.
"I don't know and I don't care. We just have to get there quick." replied Annie as Matt who was leading the way turned right into the other hall, suddenly slowing down as Annie and Ollie slowed down as well.
"What's wrong?" asked Annie as Matt looked down at his feet and he was not sure if he was seeing clearly or not, but he could definitely see snow lying on the carpet, which was certainly odd.
"Is that snow?!" asked Annie in confusion as she walked to stand beside Matt who was just as confused as she was.
"Annie is that you? Save me!!" cried Maddie as her voice rang in the snow filled hallway and yet they could not see her anywhere.
"Maddie, where are you?" asked Annie as Ollie raised his hand as all the snow began to melt slowly, revealing Maddie lying on the ground as the snow that she had been buried in the melting snow.
"Gosh Maddie, are you okay?" asked Annie as she rushed to Maddie's side and helped her up.
"No, no I'm terrible, terrible." said Maddie as she began to whine causing Matt to roll his eyes. At first he was seriously worried, but after hearing her voice, she was definitely fine, just trying to milk the situation being the person she was.
"What happened?" asked Annie in worry as she touched Maddie and she felt extremely cold.
"I don't know, there I was, minding my own business looking for my stupid piece and then the card made a little sound and I looked down, before I knew it, It was like an avalanche erupted inside and I was buried in snow." said Maddie.
"Oh that was the snowfall..." said Ollie guiltily as Maddie looked at him.
"What do you mean the snowfall?" asked Maddie.
"The big storm of the game...I did mention that...didn't I?" asked Ollie as Maddie narrowed her eyes at him.
"I am going to kill you blondie, mentioned what?? I am freezing cold because of some terrible game, you're a terrible host!" Maddie shouted.
"Oh calm down Maddie, it's not that serious, we all got attacked by strange weather." said Matt indifferently.
"You did?" asked Maddie in confusion as Annie nodded.
"Yes, I got rained on." said Matt.
"A tornado literally formed and followed me, and now there is sand everywhere." said Annie.
"I got chased by wind...but I managed to dodge it." said Ollie.
"Of course you did." said Maddie as she scoffed.
"Anyway Maddie, you shouldn't overreact, do you know how worried we all were when we heard that ear shattering scream of yours. Meanwhile it was nothing serious but snow." said Matt obviously not looking pleased at all.
"Oh be quiet, I was taken off guard, I thought I was suffocating." said Maddie as she pouted trying to gain pity.
"Matt is right Maddie, you did overreact, we thought that something really serious happened." said Annie.
"Oh whatever, this game was stupid in the first place!" said Maddie as Annie waved her hands over her in order to warm her up, it seemed to be working since Maddie's almost damp hair was now dry.
"I get that you didn't enjoy the game Maddie, and I'm sorry about that." said Ollie sincerely.
"Whatever, let's just get back to the game so I can win." said Maddie as she picked up her game piece on the ground.
"The game already ended." said Ollie.
"Aww what!! Who won?" asked Maddie.
"That would be me." replied Matt confidently as he smiled and Maddie looked at him and scoffed.
"Oh how nice, feel very proud of yourself Matty since you're the winner." said Maddie in sarcasm.
"That I am." said Matt with a smug smile on his face.
"Oh whatever, I'm done, I am going to sleep." said Maddie as she walked away.
"You really need the rest, maybe you would be less grumpy in the morning." replied Matt as Maddie turned around briefly to stick her tongue out at him.
"You're wrong, and just for that I'm going to wake up extra grumpy in the morning." she said before turning around and continuing on her way.
"You really shouldn't have provoked her." said Annie with a shake of her head.
"Come on, this is Maddie we're talking about, I didn't provoke her in the slightest, she's just like that." said Matt with a scoff.
"Even a monk would get upset with her." he said as Ollie chuckled.
"That is true though." said Ollie as he laughed and Annie shook her head.
"Well, it doesn't matter, she's right though, she felt really cold." said Annie.
"Oh she's fine." said Matt.
"Anyway, goodnight guys, I have to go wash my hair, see you in the morning." said Annie as she smiled.
"Goodnight." said Ollie a she smiled.
"Goodnight Annie." said Matt.
"Oh and Ollie, I will not lie, even though the game was unexpected, it was still fun." said Annie as she smiled and walked away.
"At least someone isn't upset with me." said Ollie as he smiled.
"Neither am I upset with you dude. Annie's right, the game was unexpected but fun." said Matt as he smiled.
"Thanks Matt, come on, I think we should head to bed as well." said Ollie as Matt nodded.
The next morning.
"Are you really serious about being grumpy today?" asked Annie as she watched the frowning Maddie brush her hair.
"I'm not someone who goes back on my work Annie." said Maddie as she threw her hairbrush on her bed.
"Really now?" asked Annie with a scoff.
"Mhmmm." replied Maddie as she stood up.
"Even if you're going to learn how to convey today?" asked Annie as Maddie's eyes lit up. She had completely forgotten about that.
"Oh my goodness, I forgot!! No way, come on Annie, let's go." said Maddie as she did not even wait for Annie to follow her, she rushed out their room.
Annie giggled as she shook her head. Maddie wasn't that hard to get along with. She was just stubborn, extremely stubborn.
Maddie did not even look back to see if Annie was following after her. She rushed through the halls and down the stairs to the dining room.
She passed by a few maids who paid no attention to her. She entered the dining room that was unfortunately empty if not for the five maids that were presently setting the table.
Maddie sighed, annoyed that Ollie wasn't here yet. She hoped that he wasn't planning on sleeping in today. He had to wake up and fulfil his promise.
Maddie decided to have her seat as she waited. She felt kind of uncomfortable, especially since she was surrounded by Castle workers, who if we were being honest, did not essentially like her.
Maddie was just bracing herself to hear things that she did not want to hear. She was starting to regret hastily leaving without Annie.
Maddie continued to try to think of other things to occupy her thoughts, and yet to her surprise, she was not approached by any of the maids. They just carried on doing their work like she was not there. They did not say a single word either to her or to each other.
One maid was setting the cutlery on the table and she had not even asked Maddie to move the arm she had rested on the table. Maddie saw the cutlery floating and she moved her hand as it set itself on the table.
Maddie narrowed her eyes and looked around noticing something else. Another odd thing was the maids did not make any eye contact with her. None at all, when she looked at them, they either looked away, focused on what they were doing or looked down.
Now this was weird. Maddie was certain that something was going on. Were they scared of her? She highly doubted it. She was not someone to bring people into fear just by her mere presence...or at least not anymore.
No, no. Maddie sensed some foul play here. She remembered the last time she had been here. The maids and other Castle workers literally insulted her while she was present, so what was suddenly different now?
Maddie had no more time to speculate as the maids took their leave rather hastily in their opinion and not even a few moments later Ollie walked into the dining room, his blinding bright smile and aura causing Maddie to instinctively turn already aware of who had just walked in.
"Good morning Maddie." said Ollie with a happy smile as Maddie resisted the urge to scoff.