Hidden in Plain Sight

[10] Things Change

“Who would’ve known that something like this exists in real life? It’s like Hogwarts.” Lauren mused as the three walked through the intricate maze of underground tunnels that Macey has somehow memorized.

Each crack and crevice of the walls were embedded with moss and mould, creating a stench so strong, it was almost deadly. A thin layer of water ran along the ground and splashed in every direction with each step.

They had been walking through the tunnels continuously so, what felt like ten years was in actual fact ten minutes. The stench didn’t help either.

“Mace, how long til we get there?”

“Are we there yet?”

Lauren and Jackson asked at the same time. Both received a glare from Macey, annoyed that she was with little kids, but remained quiet.

After Macey and Jackson left to scout the town for their information on the progress of Theta Five, Lauren explored the secret basement she hid in. It eventually got boring and she was forced to read the ingredients on the canned foods that were interestingly lined up on the shelves in alphabetical order.

They strolled in silence for the remainder of the journey, and only stopped when they reached a dead end.

“Mace, I thought you knew your way around here! There’s a brick wall in front of us, not a door with a key hole where we’re supposed to insert a key in! This was not part of the plan, we need to hurry up and find the-“

“Lauren, shut up!” Jackson yelled, holding out a hand towards Macey, who was running her hands on the wall. She looked completely focused at whatever she was doing.

“Gotcha!”

A loud groan emerged from the bricks and, right before three pairs of eyes, the wall shifted and revealed the mystery door… Keyhole included. Macey pulled the key out from her necklace, inserted it in the keyhole, and twisted. The satisfying click that filled all three with relief as they entered the basement.

“Darlings, welcome to your home for the unforeseeable future. It’s well stocked so everything you need is here. Hopefully we won’t stay long enough for the resources to run out, but if it comes to that, we’ll have to go out and restock. Jackson, we need to go over to Lauren’s ASAP, so get settled and we’ll leave in a bit. Lauren, make yourself at home and relax for the time being. You’re safe here.”

***

“Hi Macey! I haven’t seen you in so long! Come here and give me a hug,” Clarice pulled Macey close and wrapped her arms around her before noticing Jackson beside her, “Jackson, what a surprise! It’s good to see you too. I swear, I don’t see you enough. You live next door for goodness sake! My goodness it’s been a while. Please come in. We’re about to have dinner so you’re welcome to join us.”

“Actually Mrs. H, we’re just here because I need to pick up a bunch clothes from Lauren’s room. I was looking for my black strapless dress that she borrowed from me a while back because I have a date in a few days and I want to look hot. Anyway, we’ll be out of your hair in fifteen minutes, twenty tops.” Macey’s heart was beating a million kilometres per hour as she hoped that Lauren’s mother wouldn’t catch on to their plan.

“Nonsense. You two will stay for dinner, I wouldn’t allow anything else.”

“Mrs H, it’s really fine. Jackson and I have a dinner reservation with our friends later.”

Clarice raised her left eyebrow in suspicion and folded her arms across her chest. That was when Macey and Jackson began to panic internally, although one wouldn’t be able to tell since they were trained to conceal their emotions from very early on in the academy.