Gary & Liz the Book: Chapter Five (Please Comment)

Enjoy the next segment in the epic story of Gateway mansion and join Gary and Liz on the expedition to find the truth. Sorry for the length... please comment?

Gary quickly flung the door of Long Hall open and stared all the way down the hall, his face bending and contorting as he pondered how they were going to find the mirror chamber. “Well; what are we going to do?” asked Liz who instead of looking down the hall was staring directly into the blank gaze of Gary. “Well… I guess the only thing to do is look through every door,” answered Gary who shrugged his shoulders as he said it.
“Check every door? You heard what Mum said—and I speak in quote… “It will take months before you pass through every door,”” said Liz who was still stood perplexed.
“Do have any better ideas?” asked Gary who turned to look at her. “Well… No. But it couldn’t have been by chance that I arrived through that door; something must have taken me to that chamber,” said Liz, speaking almost as a question rather than a statement. “Yeah but what?” asked Gary who was now staring at Liz. “Wait—the house is a catacomb,” said Gary who answered his own question.
“A what-a-comb?” asked Liz, now raising her eyebrows. “A catacomb. It’s a series of tunnels; generally in a burial ground,” answered Gary who now began walking down the hall. “Do you mean to say that Gateway mansion is some sort of burial chamber?” asked Liz who followed him step for step. “No, of course not. At least I don’t think so… but that’s not the point. I read about this sort of thing in a book—but it was the sort of thing that would come out of a bedtime story… really ridiculous,” finished Gary who now seemed to even doubt his own notion. “Perhaps now is the time to consider the ridiculous,” said Liz. “Perhaps,” completed Gary. “Okay… well in this story the catacombs are similar to very long halls—much like in our case. Through every door there is a secret that must be uncovered, whether it is good or bad can not be predicted. But sometimes, where they are taken depends upon positive or negative emotions. Which brings me to my next question. How did you feel when you stepped into the mirror chamber?”
“I don’t know… scared—what would you expect I though you had disappeared?” said Liz. “No--there’s no reason to be embarrassed; that’s a perfect response,” finished Gary who turned around and began to walk away. “Where are you going now?” asked Liz in curiosity. “Follow me,” said Gary smiling. “But-“ began Liz; but she was brutally interrupted by Gary. “Just trust me,” he said to Liz as he quickly galloped down the archway stairs.
It was ten minutes before they had reached their destination. They were now standing in the high tower. “Now,” began Gary who grasped both of Liz shoulders and stared deep into her eyes. “I need you to reenact your emotions when you believed me to be kidnapped,” said Gary who slowly stepped back from her. “Okay… we were looking over the edge of the tower, and we saw something scurry into the courtyard. I wasn’t to scared there believing that it possibly could have been a badger, but when I turned around you were gone,” said Liz. Gary rearranged himself in the room. “I was hidden right here,” said Gary who also reenacted the scene. “Then my fear began to kick in. I called your name several times and when I realized you weren’t going to answer I ran through the door and found myself in the chamber,” finished Liz who grabbed the doorknob, her emotions flying as she played it back in her mind. “Wait! Wait for me!” shouted Gary who ran quickly to the door, but Liz was so overcome with adrenaline that she could not hear him. She quickly opened the door, and walked through. She began to close the door, Gary quickly running towards it and diving through. Gary leapt to his feet, wiping off his shirt. They were now standing in a very large and dark room. “Where are we?” asked Gary who looked around him. “This is it,” said Liz who began to walk across the chamber. There hanging on the wall at the end of chamber was a mirror. The two quickly ran to the end of the room, anticipation building as they approached the mirror at a sprint.
They both skidded to a stop, halting in their steps like braking train.
There was nearly a minutes silence before they had spoken again. “Well?” asked Gary whose attention was no longer on the mirror. “This isn’t it,” said Liz who stared directly at her reflection. “What?” asked Gary who now turned again to the mirror. “This isn’t the same mirror that I saw in the dream,” said Liz, whose excitement immediatly faded. “How can you tell?” asked Gary, his curiosity building as he continued to pose more questions. “Well isn’t it obvious? There’s no fire!” shouted Liz who was very disappointed. There was another silence as the two pondered things, until finally an event occurred that shocked both of them.
A man walked quickly into view in the mirror. He was tall and skinny and his nose was thick. It was Thomas Stockpot, the father of Horace. Both Gary and Liz turned to look around them and see if perhaps he was approaching them from the back, but he was not. Their reflections faded, and within seconds the only person seen standing in the mirror was Thomas. The dull backdrop of the room changed quickly to a fire, just as Liz had indicated; and the blaze became as green as freshly cut grass. “Good day,” said Thomas who looked at the two intently. Both Gary and Liz were afraid to respond to his greeting gesture; instead they gazed on in utter disbelief. “What brings you to my mirror?” asked Thomas smiling. Neither could answer, they were shocked to see that he was standing there. “Are you real?” asked Liz who stared on. There was no projection of emotion from either Liz or Gary; but Thomas wore a curving smile. As a response he reached out his hand, piercing the silky smooth mirror. Liz was hesitant to touch him, but something drew her in like a fish on a line. Thomas hands did not show sign of age; they were long and thin, and his skin was exposed to a deep green tone from the flickering fire. She grasped his hand—they were warm; there was no doubt that he must be real. Thomas let loose and pulled his hand back through the mirror, watching as Liz rubbed her fingers as though she had just burned her hand. “I have answered your question, now answer mine. What brings you to my mirror?” asked Thomas smiling. “We are curious,” began Liz who seemed embarrased; looking down at the floor. “Curious for what?” asked Thomas who leaned in for her answer. “We need to go through the mirror,” answered Liz.
“Oh—I see… if that is what you request, than I am at no position to deny you,” said Thomas who seemed quite surprised at this.
“Wait!” spoke Gary who was confused at Thomas response. “You’re just going to let us through?” finished Gary who walked closer to the mirror. “I have had no company since my death nearly twenty years ago. Never embraced human flesh, never felt warmth of another hand. I am caught in a trap worse than death. But you have given me a light,” said Thomas crying. “See—you have even brought me to tears,” said Thomas who waved his hands to invite them in. Both Gary and Liz were hesitant, but they finally slipped through the sleek surface of the mirror and found themselves in a dark room, but as the light began to illuminate the room it became clear that it was not a room at all. In fact it was the Gateway courtyard—except there was one large difference. The dead tree that stood in the middle of the courtyard was alive, and was flourishing.