Gavril smirked. I could tell he was admiring my spunk. And I couldn't help but feel proud that he was proud.
I could tell by the looks on my parents faces there were so many things that they wanted to say. I was sure just like me they had imagined this day a thousand times over, even if they didn't really think it was going to happen.
I knew I already had a host of questions lined up about how the hell they ended up there, from hating each other to playing naked inside my mother's head.
But another deafening screech filled the air and we all dropped to the floor, taking cover behind signs and beds.
None of us said a single word. We all knew better than that. I peeked an eye out from behind the sale sign just in time to catch the back end of the black mist body that was the creature.
It lingered outside the store, looking around suspiciously no doubt. Just like I'd said, it knew we were there now. And there was no way it was going to go about its patrolling visit until it had us in its claws, and who the hell knew what would happen then.
I nervously gnawed on the corner of my lip, trying to stay as still as I possibly could until it grew tired and continued its search for us elsewhere.
Unlike other beasts, the creature didn't seem to be going off instinct. It was intelligent, there was no denying it. And that only spelled trouble for us.
When I was sure that it had gone, I turned to my mother and Gavril.
"We need to go. Like, now."
I took a step forward with no doubt in my mind that they would follow me, but I felt my mother's fingers wrap around my wrist. I looked back to see her tugging me back, keeping me in place.
"Wait." She said, with a determination on her face. "I need to get something first. "
I had to admit that it was nice to see this version of her, so strong willed and driven. So not sick.
But did she have to be so strong-willed now? When we were about to run for our lives?
"Is it important?" I groaned.
I wanted desperately to get out of the dark confines of her mind. I wanted to get somewhere safe. I wanted to stop the governors and finally be able to take a breath and process what the hell was going on with my life.
I'm sure your mother wants those things too. Colt's calm voice sounded in my head. She wants all of those for you. But she's been imprisoned in her own mind for years. Let her have this one last thing.
I groaned again. Why did he have to be so... perfect?
I never thought that too perfect was a thing, but I realized it was— and it was Colt.
Whether I liked it or not, he was right. I was being selfish. I needed to suck it up and let her get whatever it was that she wanted to get before she left this hellish mall forever.
I nodded and my mother smiled before stepping ahead of me and opening the glass door.
"This way." She charged out into the hallway as silently as a mouse, disappearing behind another large map kiosk.
Gavril went next following perfectly in her footsteps.
Colt and I exchanged looks before I made the leap out into the hallway, clumsily following their trail. We followed silently when another screech came from behind us.
It was close.
Too close.
My mother didn't even flinch, though. She kept moving before she darted into a dimly lit store. I didn't bother to see which one it was, Colt and I just followed through the doorway and closed it, before crouching.
The beast passed in front of the door, lingering a little too long for my comfort.
"Pssst hey. In here." My mother beckoned us from across the room.
She lingered in another doorway that led to a room inside of the small storefront. I didn't think twice before following her inside. I just wanted to get as far away from the prying eyes of the monster as possible.
I grabbed Colt's hand and pulled him across the room.
"Are you sure you want to–" Colt tried to say something, but I shushed him, and pointed a finger out the front window reminding him of the imminent danger that his words could bring on.
Are you sure you want to do this? He asked in my head.
But by then it was too late. We had already made our way into the dark room.
There was a metallic clinking and a light overhead flickered on revealing a small cement room, just barely big enough to fit the four of us inside.
Behind us a thick metal door slammed closed and we heard a series of locks click into place.
Shit.
Chapter 21
I turned to look at my mother with fire in her eyes.
"What the hell is this?" I panicked.
I didn't know if I felt more scared or betrayed, but what I did know was that I was tired, both physically and otherwise.
I calmed myself, letting out a sigh before I asked again, the rage in my eyes simmering.
"What is this?"
My mother put up her hands, trying to calm me more. "Scarlett, honey I need you to stay calm, Okay? I'm sorry for not telling you where we were going but you wouldn't have come if I had told you."
I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was sincere, which helped ease the anger, but not a lot.
"Okay. Just tell me what this is." I said flatly.
My mother gritted her teeth, like she knew if she told me I wasn't going to like what I was hearing.
"An escape room. There's something locked in here, something of mine that I can't leave here without. If I do, I'll never get a chance to get it back."
"You've had over ten years! You're telling me you still haven't solved whatever escape room this is?"
Colt laid his hand on my shoulder knowingly. I knew he read her mind, and if he did that and still thought it was time that I shut up I obliged and ate my words.
"Trust me, we've tried. But the sign outside the shop said that the game requires a minimum of three people, and there's only ever been the two of us."
I crossed my arms, determined to cling to my anger.
"This was not how I envisioned our reunion." I mumbled.
"Me either sweetie." My mother pulled me in for a hug, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't hold on to my anger much longer before I caved and hugged her back.
It felt so good to feel her squeeze me. Before she couldn't even squeeze my hand.
"But this is not a reunion." She said as she pulled away.
"There's a place in here called the command center, where I can see what's going on in the outside world. And sometimes when the spell was weak and my body wasn't just reacting and speaking on autopilot I could get through. The real me. And I saw so much of you Scarlett."
My cheeks burned.
I'd hoped not.
"I am so proud of you." She smiled.
"We both are." Gavril stepped forward.
"You were the first woman chosen for the trials and you kicked its ass and burned it to the ground!" My mother smiled proudly.
"You said that I should just go with it because I didn't have a choice." I said, remembering my mother sobbing as my name was called. "Or, was that not you?"
My brain hurt trying to understand how it all worked together.
"Unfortunately that was the autopilot. Nothing more than the spell responding to a set of circumstances. It doesn't always get reactions right, and in that case, it got it very, very wrong. "