The Escape Room

Turn Off the Light

I lay in bed that night staring at the ceiling. There was no source of light, only the pitch darkness that seemed so loud it almost consumed me. I tossed around under the lightweight of the down-feather comforter I was laying under, unnerved by the many questions rolling around my mind.

I had tried to put off the thoughts of "surge" and other things of that matter, but they somehow seemed to find a way in, drilling into my skull, demanding to be answered. Not long thereafter, a bad headache began to form and I had to rub my temples to get away from the pain.

From beyond my door, I hear a brief thump and then silence. Completely taken by surprise, I nearly jump halfway across the room. I clamp a hand over my mouth to hush my shaky breathing. Being in such a shady location made me jumpy and I didn't like it.

I jump down from the bed and let my feet touch the cold hard tile floor. Shivers run up and down the back of my spine but I ignore them.

"Hey." I whisper. No response.
I continue to move forward my hands in front of me outstretched as if to... touch someone! Before I know it, a fist has come into contact with the right side of my jaw.

"Ah!" I cry out, pain shooting up the side of my face. I blindly reach out for my attacker grabbing at empty air, pulling on something that isn't there.

I clutch my face, head reeling, trying to see in total darkness. Then, a light comes on and I see two familiar people standing in two separate doorways. It's Althea and Jynx, Jynx showing way more initial concern.

"Blair! What happened, why did you scream?" Jynx rushes over to me, trying to catch a glimpse of why I was cupping my jaw.

"Her face is purple!" Althea cries out. They grab me under the arms and pull me to the bathroom but I swat at their hands.

"I can walk." I mumble, wincing at the pain. As soon as I step inside, I sit on the edge of the tub while Althea wets a wash cloth. She presses the cold rag to my face and I stare out the door. I don't know what she was trying to do with a COLD washcloth.

"What the hell happened to you?" She asks in an unsympathetic voice that was more accusing than anything. I felt an unexplained anger rise inside of me and I just wanted to rip her hand from my face. I narrow my eyes at her and pull away.

"Why did you say it like that?" I shoot back. She stares at me as if she's hurt but doesn't reply. "Why did you say it like that?" I ask her much more loudly this time.

"Please, this isn't a good time." Jynx says meekly. She glances out the door with a worried expression and then looks at me as if to say something. I shoot another icy glare at Althea but keep my mouth shut.

"How abou-." She's cut short because Jynx yanks her arm and maneuvers her out of the bathroom before shutting the door.

"What's going on in here?" Stone asks from the other side of the door. He goes to open the door but it's locked. Jynx squeaks as the door jiggles.

"What the-? Unlock the door. Now." Up until this point, Jynx had stared at the door, unmoving but she jumped with fright and in no time Stone is inside the bathroom.

He looks around the room before his gaze rests on me. I look down trying to avoid him but mostly in attempt to disguise the bruise beginning to form on my face. In half of a stride he's standing over me, waiting, as if giving me a chance to explain.

I stay silent.

"No? Guess not then." He grabs my jaw with his right hand and swiftly turns into the side. I can't help but pull away when it begins to sting; he tightens his grip. His eyes bore into my cheek, and then eventually, "Huh. Come with me." He moves his hand and then walks out the door not giving me a chance to catch up. I stumble over my feet getting up and nearly trip.