Evan sat on the chair with a blue cushion while Avery sat on one with a red cushion.

They faced the audience. The lights suddenly were turned onto them. It was blazing that they couldn't open their eyes.

The girl closed the box, took out some wooden cupboards, and inserted them from four sides of the box.

It looked like they were piercing through their bodies.

"Oh, my goodness. It's really piercing," a kid that had a stronger nerve couldn't help crying out in amazement. Some other kids who weren't so bold covered their eyes with their hands and left a tiny crack.

Avery and Evan both had their heads exposed at the moment.

The environment completely caught Avery. Although she saw such tricks on TV more than once, it was different when she was involved. But Evan kept an unhappy look the whole process. He only did this to keep Avery company. The least feeling he enjoyed in his life was being controlled instead of controlling, let alone it was a ludicrous magician.

On the walls hung the giant screens that projected the magic show on the stage.

Avery could see herself too. She saw a plank slowly piercing her body. It was like a sharp knife that cut her body into pieces.

Every time the plank was inserted, Avery could here gasp from the audience.

But Avery and Evan felt nothing.

Their hands were still held tight together.

"Evan, can you feel anything?"

"What do you think?"

"It's amazing. I wonder how they do it," Avery smiled, "we can't figure the tricks out even if we're so close."

"It's just a trick, like smoke in the mirror."

The girl took the middle board away. Evan only had his head exposed. The middle of his body turned empty.

"Where's his body?"

The audience was gasping again. Everyone was watching in amazement. Some children even got so frightened that they cried.

Avery saw the screen and was shocked. She turned at Evan and asked him how it was done.

"Imagine you put a tiny black scrap of paper on your teeth," Evan reminded him.

"It looks like one piece is missing from your teeth. That's how it works."

"Aren't you very smart?"

"It's not my expertise," Avery smiled, "or you could lose an opportunity to show off."

"Are you happy now?" Evan smiled.

"Em."

The girl took the plank out and put it back again. She did it several times. Every time there was applause.

"My dear audience, now it's the most exciting moment of this show," the magician announced mysteriously.

The girl lifted the red velvet curtain and put the lid back on.

"Damn show. Is there ever an end?" Evan had his last patience worn out. But he was confined in the box and couldn't do anything about it.

The magician tied Evan and Avery together with ropes for the effect of the show.

Avery couldn't see anything herself. The box was revolving, and she felt dizzy.

Suddenly there was screaming. She didn't know what happened.

"Where have they gone?" The audience shouted.

"Evan?" Avery realized Evan let go of her hand. She reached out for him but only touched the back of the chair.

It was narrow between the two chairs. Now they were distanced by the box.

"Avery?!" Evan ferociously punched the plank, "damn, can you hear me?"

There was no response.

Evan punched as hard as he could. But he was tied, and his hands couldn't stretch out.

The box kept spinning for a few mow rounds. It incited a storm of applause.

When the red velvet curtain was lifted again, Evan felt a sudden pain in his eyes from the blaring light.

He subconsciously looked at Avery's place. But she wasn't there.

Evan called out Avery. But his voice was easily covered by the cheering. Even Tinder thought it was an arrangement of the show.

***

Avery felt her body dragged down along the narrow passage. She descended like taking the elevator.

Would she fall to the basement? It was so deep since Avery felt she was falling for many minutes.

The chair suddenly stopped. Avery felt the light in her eyes.

She moved a bit. But she was tightly tied and couldn't get out. She looked around and was sure it was a basement. There were clothes scattered over the floor, accessories, dressing mirror, makeup table, and a clown sitting not far on the couch.

The clown walked over to Avery. He grabbed in the air, and a rose was handed over to Avery.

Avery didn't dare to smell it in case of poison. She turned around and asked who he was.

The clown ignored her. He slipped the rose down her cheek, and it became a hotel card.

Avery didn't know what he was doing.

The clown put the card in her pocket.

"Diana asked me to give you this," the clown wore a permanent smile. Avery couldn't see through his mask. His job was finished and took a few steps back, "she'll let you know time and place later."

Then the clown left the room.

It finally dawned upon Avery that Diana wanted to meet her alone. She hardly had a chance since she was basically inseparable from Evan. She had to create this opportunity.

But Avery was puzzled why Diana would want to meet her like this. Did she not want to meet Evan?

Avery felt the chair slowly lifting. The elevator took her up back again.

Avery went through the darkness again. The cellar above her head was opened, and the velvet curtain was lifted.

Avery was on the chair and appeared again without a scratch.

Avery's appearance stimulated waves after waves of cheering.

Evan stood there, glaring at Avery, not far away. He was not happy at all.

The girl hurried to untie Avery and whispered to Avery.

"Your husband almost hit the magician if you didn't turn up sooner. Hurry to say something nice to her."

Avery saw the parrot feather on the ground next to Evan's feet. She knew how mad Evan was.

Besides, if it were any other times, Evan would hurry over and hold her. He wouldn't let her go.

But at the moment, he gave off the icy vibe. He kept a straight face and had no intention of coming over.

Avery pulled away from the ropes and walked over to Evan. She stood on her toes.

"There will be a bonus service for your cooperation this time."

Instead of getting more relaxed, Evan looked at her more sternly. Avery had no idea Evan felt the end of the world when she vanished.

Evan pulled away Avery's hands on his waist and lowered his voice.

"That's a good idea. But let's make it my service to you."