"Run!"
The three of them bolted down the corridor and entered the rest rooms in the corner. Riley who was at the back, locked the door from inside and scurried back to Keith and the little boy.
"What do we do now?" Keith muttered and looked at the little boy who was staring at him. The boy pointed at a small window on the wall.
It was too small for Keith. He looked at Riley and figured that she might fit.
"Riley, you leave through that window and get help from your dad. I'll stay back and hide,"
"What? No! I'm not going to leave you here alone."
"I won't be alone. He's with me," Keith pointed at the little boy.
Riley looked at him squarely, "It's tantamount to you being alone!"
"Riley, you are leaving!" Keith decided to put his foot down on this.
"Make me!" Riley didn't want to back out either. Hence, the two were caught in a standstill.
Keith gritted his teeth and in the end, gave up on arguing. It wouldn't get them anywhere.
"Fine, stay. I thought you didn't want a share in another's misfortune," Keith tiredly ran a hand through his hair.
Riley didn't reply and looked away. After a while, she responded.
"I can't just watch while you fall into misfortune. If I can change it, I will," She looked down, "Being a watcher is too frustrating."
"A watcher?" Keith asked. What a specific term to quote, he thought.
Riley shook her head, "Don't bother about that. Just know that I'm here on my own violation and that's why...only I am responsible for the consequences I will face."
Keith looked at her silently for a while then turned around and began searching the cubicles for something.
"What are you doing?" Riley asked.
Keith responded while scavenging the place, "Whatever you said, was that to not make me feel bad?" He looked up, "I know for a fact that you came here for me and that's why, I'll make sure you return home safely."
This time, Riley didn't become critical by asking him how he would do that, because the fact that he wanted to get her home safely was enough of a surprise to her.
She smiled bitterly, "Misfortune always befalls on good people."
"If that's true, I don't mind being the unluckiest guy on the planet," He gave her a cheeky smile and held up a large broom he found in one of the cubicles.
Riley turned her head to the side, "You are not going to rush out with that measly broom, right?"
Keith didn't reply and rotated the broom in his hands. Now, Riley was a little scared.
"You aren't...right!?"
Keith walked past her and kicked the door of the rest room open.
"Come at me, you piece of devil shit. I'm ready!" Holding the broom like a sword, he waved his hand at Riley who had begun to seriously doubt her sense of judgment. Why did she think he was cool for a moment earlier? Looking at him now...
Riley shook her head. She should stop overthinking things. Let whatever may come.
They both looked out into the corridor and saw a shadow standing on the other end of the corridor.
"It's here," Riley whispered. Keith nodded and grabbed the broom tightly.
"If you're thinking about attacking that curse with a broom, I severely suggest against it,"
Keith looked at Riley blankly. Really?
Riley looked up at the roof. Dear God, please help us!
The curse was staring at them from across the corridor. It let out a scream and dozens of people with burned skins rushed out from the shadows and attacked them.
Keith hollered and swung the broom. It hit a man's head and broke into two pieces. The man's head also came tumbling down but Keith was left with half a broom.
"Oh boy, you were right. The broom is impractical."
Riley huffed and pulled Keith back into the restroom and closed the door. The "people" outside rammed into the door, trying to push it off its hinges.
"Help me block it!" Riley shouted. Keith too placed all his weight on the door but it was a dozen against two. They were bound to fail.
The little boy was also getting anxious. He looked at the little window and ran up to the wall. He looked back and disappeared.
"This...is hard," Keith gritted his teeth while doing his best.
"Just push!"
Keith nodded and looked at Riley sincerely, "Look, if we don't make it back, I want to tell you something."
Riley's hands on the door almost slipped. She looked at Keith's sincere look and felt her heart miss a beat.
"What-what is it?"
Keith took a deep breathe, "The colour of your eyes...remind me of my dog when he plays in muddy water."
Riley was silent.
"I just wanted to put that out. It's been on my mind since the day we met."
Her silence didn't feel right to Keith.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Shut up and push."
"But-"
"SHUT UP AND PUSH!"
"Oh-Oh okay!" He didn't know what he did to make her mad. He did as he was told. The farce continued for what seemed like hours to Keith and Riley until there came the sound of chanting from outside.
