that—”
“I need you to build me a transporter that can help me move from world to world,” the voice cut him off. “I know that you’ve been working on it in your own world. You are getting closer to making a breakthrough.”
“True, but I haven’t tested it. The technology is far from finished,” he frowned. “Besides, what makes you think I’m going to help you? You are the one who has kidnapped me and is using me as bait. You really think I’m going to just do as you ask?”
“Oh, you will, because your life depends on it. You remember those tubes in your previous prison? We still have them. If you disobey us or try to pull off some scheme, you will see just what those tubes will be used for. Let’s just say—it wouldn’t be pleasant to die of blood loss.”
Donnie shuddered, even though he still wasn’t sure what they wanted to do. Those tubes would likely drain his blood, but he didn’t know for what. “Okay, why do you want me to recreate an invention that isn’t even complete? I have never tested it. It might not work.”
“We know that your invention wasn’t complete. All we need is for you to make a replica of what you have done so far. We’ll provide you with all of the proper tools. You just have to start working. The faster you do it, the better it will be for everyone.”
“I thought I was only needed to be bait.”
“You’re needed for both. This is just phase one of our plan. Once you’ve completed this, you will find out what phase two will be. Hopefully, the one we’re waiting for will show up during that time.”
“I still don’t know who you are, or what you want.”
“Patience, Dr. Vaughn. All you need to do is build what you’ve already built before. Once you finish and your girlfriend shows up, everything will be explained. You’ll see why we need the Hearts Under Ice, and the two of you.”
Donnie bristled at the word girlfriend, but decided not to argue. There was no point in wasting his breath on this. He had to make this invention somehow. “All right, I can do this. When do I get my stuff?”
“Wait here for an hour. Someone will come for you. Then we will begin.”
Donnie shivered and waited for the voice to continue speaking. When he didn’t, Donnie realized they must be gone. He looked around his metal prison and wondered how something like this existed in the Frostland. The prison was warmer than his previous one had been, and there was a lot more room to move around. He didn’t really have windows, so he had no idea if it was day or night. Surely, the Frost Queen would not maintain a warm prison cell like this.
She’s not the one who wanted me. The truth hit him hard, and he knew that Olivia was not going to get to him on time. No matter when she started her search or where she went in this world, she would not find him. The Brotherhood of Iced Blood had moved him on purpose, and he began to fear for the worst possible fate. If he couldn’t reach Olivia in time, then everything would be doomed.
I’m not in the frost-covered world anymore.
~ ~ ~
Olivia had a dream that night, but this time it was of Donnie. She could see how depressed he looked, and she was trying to speak to him. He kept turning away from her and pushing her hand away. It hurt to know that he didn’t want her help, but she kept trying. She hated seeing him so upset and wanted to cheer him up. She struggled to open her mouth in the dream, so all of her communication was done though movement.
“Good morning!” Astrid greeted her. “I take it you aren’t ready to leave at this moment.”
“I need a shower and some food,” Olivia mumbled. “I also wish there was a way to send a message to my mother from this world. You don’t happen to have a phone or anything, do you? Do phones even exist here?”
“What’s a phone?”
“That’s what I figured you were going to say.” Olivia put on her clothes. “Do you have any way of communicating to someone in another world? I feel like I should let my mother and father know what I’m up to.”
“I’m afraid it’s hard to send messages from world to world. Every world has a different timeframe,