The Fourth Day: Severance

Conor waited by the gates of the school for Evan. He hadn't seen Aqua. She wasn't at school, like she hadn't been yesterday. She was gone. But she wouldn't be for long, not if he had anything to say about it. "Evan!" he called, spying his friend's distinctive silvery hair. Evan spied Conor's less-unique hairstyle and made his way to him.

"So, was she in any of your classes?"

Conor Shook his head. "No"

"She was in one of mine"

Conor started. "What!?"

"Don't get to excited. She was sleepy, and wouldn't pay attention. I tried to talk to her but.......Anyway, she had a fight-verbal, just words-with Calloghan. She stormed out of the school".

Conor was surprised. "We should start looking for her now" he said, after a while. It sounded as if she was upset. And who knew what she would do next? Shouting at teachers wasn't like her at all. Neither was not showing up for ice-cream, or running off. She wasn't acting herself at all.....

"Now? But we have homework-" Evan cut off as Conor gave him sharp look. His scowl slumped into a frown as he thought: "Well, we have no idea where she is. She could be anywhere in All of Lumbridge. So.......you take the South side, I'll take the North side. Meet up at The Tree at sunset. Right?"

Evan nodded. "Sounds like a plan". The two boys ran off in opposite directions.

Conor was lost in a crowd of people going this way and that. They packed the streets, seemingly going in a strong current against him. Conor fought against this tide, but he knew he wouldn't be able to see Aqua if she walked right by him. There was just to much going on. He needed to get higher.....His first instinct was to climb onto the roof of a house, but would that be high enough? Probably not.....The church bells rang out four times, signaling four O'clock, and giving Conor's brain a plan....

He walked slowly through the large church door, Bowing slightly in the direction of the alter. He saw the steps that lead upward to the bell and monks quarters, the ones only members of the clergy could use. Every Sunday, Conor and his parents would go to mass. The architecture and artwork on the walls interested him more than the mass itself, but he took the bread and took a sip of wine like everyone else, and mumbled prayers he only half knew; no one likes a heritic.

It was midday, so few people were in the church, just Father Urney, who had his back to Conor; and the stairs. Conor quickly slipped up the stairs, the two flights, and came to a hall unseen by men not pledged to Saradomin. He led to a hall, with a few doors, and Conor went to the biggest one. Logically, this would be the Bell room, wouldn't it? Conor swung the door open and was faced with......a monk by a large bath, the kind that looked more like a swimming pool than anything else. His clothes were by the side of the water, and he was just about to slip inside. Conor averted his eyes, staring at the man's face:

"Erm, the bell?"

If that monk had had his robes on, he would have caned the boy within inches of his life. But, naked, he felt powerless, and simply shone bright red and said "Up the spiral staircase"