Perception (ONC 2021)

Chapter 8: A List of Names

Marie watched as the Claw flopped on Max, startling them both. Max barked, and Claw shot him a disdainful look.

Marie jumped as she heard the doorbell ring. Scampering towards her door, she looked through the peephole, seeing two small girls. The woman opened the door. "Hello. What are you children doing here?

The two girls looked at each other and shrugged. They held up a cardboard box.

"I'm not buying anything."

The twins looked at each other again and held the box up even higher.

Marie sighed. "Alright. I will look, but then you girls need to go back home, okay? You don't play pranks on random strangers."

The twins looked at each other before nodding enthusiastically.

Marie shook her head. She opened the flaps and paused. There, nestled in straw, was a statue of an eye.

"What the-?"

...

"Oi, didn't you say it was a city?"

Lauris shrugged. "It was when I left." She looked up at the blood-red clouds swirling above.

A guy snorted. "It's like a bad horror movie! One of those cringy old ones. I'm gonna guess that a skeleton butler will come out and let us in."

A man looked at the guy with raised eyebrows. "Why a skeleton butler?"

The guy shrugged. "I dunno. It fits the vibe."

Others laughed while a few rolled their eyes.

"Men."

Lauris snorted but then frowned. She glanced at the palace before glancing back at the group. "What do we do now?"

"Uhhh, guys? I think going in is the only way."

Lauris frowned. "What do you mean?"

The woman pointed at the air, her mad blue eyes gleaming. "I see a wall."

The man turned around, frowning. "I'm sorry a what?"

The woman laughed. "You have eyes, but you can't use them. There is a wall." She stuck her hand out, watching it disintegrate with disinterested eyes before turning around. She raised her stump. "See?"

Lauris gaped. She was not the only one.

The woman laughed. "See? I was right. You now owe me! I saved your lives!"

The man stepped forward. "Who – who are you?"

The woman snorted. "Oh? Are we greeting each other now? Alright, sure, I will tell you who I am, but you need to work on your manners." She directed her gaze to the crowd. "You all do!"

The man blinked. "Pardon?"

The woman giggled. "Names, for goodness sake! Introduce yourself!"

The man blinked. "I'm Blake?"

The woman shook her head. "And you've been leading us for this long?" She shook her head. "It's fine. Better late than never, I guess. Nice you meet you blind and ignorant ones. I'm Nora."

Blake pointed at the stump. "Are you alright?"

Nora shrugged, shaking her light brown hair. "I'm fine. Besides, as I said, we need to go in. The wall is closing in fast." She froze and looked back. "Run!"

Everyone blinked before running. Lauris flinched as she heard screams pierce through the air.

Now was not the time to look back.