Radiant Oddities (Anomaly Saga #4)

13

Chandler woke up behind bars. He rubbed his eyes and observed his surroundings.

Like most rooms in the hotel, this one was richly furnished, with fancy carpets and gold-trimmed walls. The only things out of place were the cells lining the edges of the room, with bars of brass. This was the fanciest dungeon Chandler had ever been in. He'd certainly seen worse.

"You're up now, huh?" asked a familiar voice, and Chandler jumped. He looked into the cell across from his and watched as a humanoid figure walked out of the shadows.

William Chandler stood and smiled weakly. Cuts lined his face, and he had a black eye.

"How?" asked Chandler, dumbfounded.

"The Host doesn't like me, either," William said. "Looks like we both got bested." He paused. "Did you see my traps?"

"Barely. LaVarre triggered a bunch of them trying to get more soap."

"Just my luck. And the note?"

"What note?"

"Wow. I failed bad."

Chandler looked around at the other cells. "Where's Katrina?"

William shrugged. "Dunno. She's not here, though. Either they've got her somewhere else, or she's escaped. I prefer to think the latter. Where's your girl?"

"She's not-I mean, well-she isn't here. Same boat as Katrina, I suppose."

William nodded. "Who would've thought this would be how we'd meet again? Life comes at you fast."

"And death comes even faster if you're not careful. Why did you want Alice and me out of the hotel so bad? We're on a case."

"Just looking out for my little brother," William said. "Despite our differences. This place is dangerous for you. I hear the Host wants to kill you himself."

"Katrina almost killed me."

"I still don't think you would ever be killed by something as stupid as a falling chandelier."

Chandler raised an eyebrow. "You said you would get over it if I died."

"I was a little angry at you right then. You've always been so stubborn."

"And you've always been a sore loser."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Before Chandler could answer, a key turned in the lock of the entrance door, and it swung open to reveal Victoria. She casually walked down the hall, looking bored as ever. Her strikingly purple eyes hovered over William's cell, then Chandler's. She sighed.

"Jack Chandler and William Chandler," she said. "You have both been sentenced to death by order of the Host. Jack's method of execution is already decided. William's will be chosen by the will of the game." She opened one of her hands to reveal a single die in her palm. She tossed it onto the floor of William's cell. "One," she said. "William rolls next."

William picked up the die and tossed it through the bars.

"Six," said Victoria, leaning down to pick it up. "Sixteen. Death by fire. How unfortunate. I suppose I'll see you at the execution." She did an unenthusiastic curtsy, then slowly made her way out of the room, locking the door behind her.

"Sucks to be you," said Chandler after she left.

William shook his head. "It really does. Right now, at least."

"And all the time."

"No-"

Clang.

Chandler peered through the bars of his cell. "Did you hear that? That clanging sound."

William crossed his arms. "Yes, I heard it. It came from the wall by the door."

Chandler looked over at the door Victoria had just left from. The clang sounded again, this time louder, and the cover for the vent by the floor flew off. LaVarre crawled out.

Chandler's jaw dropped.

"Surprised?" LaVarre asked, grinning behind his mask. He leisurely strolled up to Chandler's cell, reached into his suit pocket, and pulled out a lockpick. He unlocked the cell with minimal effort.

Chandler stepped out. "I am honestly stunned," he said.

LaVarre shrugged. "Just another day's work. C'mon, let's get outta here before someone sees."

Chandler pointed at William's cell. "Can you free him, too?"

"I can. Isn't that the housekeeping guy?"

"No. He's my brother."

"Understandable." LaVarre unlocked William's cell. "Now, let's go. It would be super awkward if someone walked into the room right now."

Chandler and William followed LaVarre to the vent. "You told him to save me," William said. "Why?"

Chandler shrugged. "Even I don't want to see my older brother burn to death."

"Huh."

"I said let's go," LaVarre said, crawling into the vent. "Hope you're not claustrophobic!"

"You first," said Chandler, pushing William forward.

"Fine." William crawled inside, and Chandler followed.