Arcadia


12•20•8993. 14:04.


     Escape.


Magnuson


12•20•8993. 14:04.


     Escape.


Jane


12•20•8993. 14:04.


     Escape.

     I feel the guard, Enntrayn, at my back, her hands keeping me weak as we walk toward the Room. She just had to be able to shut down my power, didn't she? I feel one rag in my mouth and another around it. I'm blind folded as well.

     Unaware of where she's taking me, I scream even though I'm aware that it won't help. The scream comes out as a weak groan.

     She kicks the back of my knee to get me to be quiet as we pass what I assume to be other prisoners. I'm surrounded by the sounds of heavy breathing and quiet banging.

     "Put that spoon down, Keaton," whispers Enntrayn, "and use it for food before I take it from your thieving fingers and scoop out those little eyes of yours."

     Enntrayn leads me away from the prisoners and their sounds fade behind me. We weave through multiple hallways, and I try to remember my steps and directions.

     23 steps. Left. 6 steps. Left again. 84 steps. I think. Then right.

     I give up after 5 minutes and thousands of steps.

     I suddenly hear the faint sound of voices and gasp. Or try to gasp. It's hard when I'm being gagged.

     I hear the sound of a door opening.

     I'm shoved forward and I feel the tension in the room.

     Enntrayn speaks from behind me, "Why don't you take a look, Miss."

     A female's gasp echoes through the room. I hear the sound of skin being sliced and hold in my scream by biting the rag.

     "Ah, good, En finally brings in our little monster," says Finnian.

     My blindfold is yanked off.

     I observe a dirty room, filled to the brim with books. A single pen sits on a central desk. Finnian stands behind the desk and Arcadia kneels at my feet.

     "Jane," says Arcadia, her voice raising in volume, "help me. Jane. Ja-!"

     Enntrayn kicks her lower back just before she stands and Arcadia is sent sprawling across the floor, halting right at Finnian's feet. She let's out a scream of pain.

     Finnian leans down toward her and whispers in her ear. It's not loud enough for me to hear, but the seething look on his face tells me that he's scaring her.

     Wait.

     There are four people in this room, but five sets of brainwaves.

     He's coming.

     I quickly turn toward the door I came through and in the moment that Enntrayn loses focus, I slip from her grasp and reach her brain. My fingers and scars glow as an ocean-like waves burst from my hands. She crumples to the floor. I fling my arm behind me without looking and knock out Arcadia as well, careful not to hurt her. I just need to make sure she shuts up.

     I find Finnian staring at me, unmoving and grinning, and see immense pleasure and pride on his face.

     "I've taught you well, Steele."

     "A bit too well, I'm afraid." I raise my hand, hoping to end my master once and for all.

     I need time to gather strength and he knows it. It takes strength to turn off someone's brain permanently.

     So I decide on a different route.

    Trying to keep my thoughts unreadable and quiet, I focus on my voice instead.

     "Just let me leave, Eurustai, and I won't hurt you," I say, raising my hands next to my head and backing away slowly.

     He laughs, leaning on the desk with his fingertips. "I'm afraid I can't say the same for you."

     Now.

     I wake Arcadia quickly, force her to stand, and shove her out the door. Magnuson is following right next to me, and Arcadia next to him as the three of us sprint through the building.

     "I sure missed you," he says sarcastically.

     "Watch your mouth, Cormac, before I decide to kill you."

     He makes that stupid, one-sided grin of his.

     Finnian chases after us, aiming more waves as he tries to get in range of our brains.

     I feel him switch his power. He's already using so much energy.

     I shove Magnuson and Arcadia hard, into a hallway on our right, and three fireballs soar to where our feet used to be.

     I hear Arcadia speak up weakly, "Well shi-!"

     "Left!" I shout.

     Magnuson soars left and Arcadia, in her weak state, misses the turn.

     "Genesis, sometimes I really want to kill you," I taunt angrily.

     "Now," mouths Magnuson.

     I nod.

     We turn down a hallway, turn again, and I turn us all invisible. Finnian and a few guards shoot past us as we hold our breath and press against the wall of the wide corridor.

     "Which way now?" he asks.

     "How am I supposed to know?"

     "You're the one who-"

     Arcadia grabs our hands, leading us back the way we came.

     "I'm not entirely useless," she says.

     As I begin to retort her comment, we come upon a new door. This one is metal and unguarded. The guards must've been sent to look for Magnuson, Arcadia, and I.

     Smart.

     The door is solid metal. No knobs or anything.

     Magnuson speaks up. "Arc, you do the honors?"

     Arcadia creates a bubble around the door, steps in the bubble, and begins rewinding time. She freezes when the door is opened, letting us through.

     The door opens into a star-filled night. A cold, cutting wind chips at my skin, immediately making my teeth chatter. We are surrounded by desert.

     Arcadia shouts over the wind, "Well shi​​​​-!"

     "We need to get out of here," Magnuson yells, "before we're found!"

     I point toward a small town in the distance; one that's barely seen amongst the piles of sand.

     "They'll know that's where we're going, Ja-!" says Arcadia.

     "We don't have a choice." I think of surviving a night in the desert with freezing temperatures, no water, and no food.

     They look at each other and nod.

     We sprint toward the city, using the last of our strength.