Esther peeped through her mask, eyeing the other prisoners--or, guests, as they drank away their fears and conversed worriedly about the locked door.   She brought her hands to the mouth of her mask, grimly feeling the exterior that was framing her face.  How odd it was that the Last Lance was the [I]first[/I] to say his name, and the Reckless Aurora, a mirror...  Her mind turned back to the graffiti on the wall. 

"My key was given to me by my older brother..." She spoke hesitantly.  Her voice was small and chirpy, and she was not even sure if it was heard.  Her hands drew away from her face, trying to stand strong in the face of the danger arising.  Her words floated around her in the shadows of the room.  She wanted to grab them as they escaped from her lips and smother them back onto her tongue.  Alas, it was too late!  Her words had made it across the room--barely, at that.

Perhaps, if she had been quieter.  Perhaps, if she had been more like a mouse and less like a bird, no one would have heard her.

The very question made her miss her "key."  There was a strange comfort surrounding it.  It was the last thing keeping the memory of her brother so vivid.  Of course, the very thought of her brother and the gift made her feel a bit more uncomfortable...  She desperately wanted to escape the conversation she had entered by darting off down the never-ending hallway.  Maybe she would get lost; maybe the hallway would take her in circles; maybe it would set her free.  Esther did not dart off, however.  In fact, she decided to patiently wait for someone else's response. 

Her social shell hardened as she waited for answers.  She promised herself she would try to speak less the next time a question was asked.

Suddenly, another guest began throwing himself against the door, helplessly--like a [i]Helpless Pawn.[/I]  To take her mind from the scene, Esther twirled her tulle bustle back and forth several times, humming in her mind song archaic tune.  The man wearing the Helpless Pawn mask stopped and stood still, as did Esther--awaiting for more reactions.