The Girl of Shadows [COMPLETE]

Eleven

["You're mad, bonkers, and completely off your head. But I'll tell you a secret - all the best people are." -Lewis Carroll]

The time we got out of the building was late, around 2 in the morning. All of us were grumpy, exhausted, and nervous - and we still managed to achieve our goal. I messaged Gianna via my phone before we arrived at our temporary destination, and she was overjoyed.

"I'm so proud of you, Hannah." Hugo applauded, embracing me in a tight bear hug. He was building blissful tears in his underused tear ducts, burying his face in the crook of my neck. I hugged him back - though I really didn't want to - taking in the overwhelming feeling of victory. He was so huggable, and quite frankly, it paid off.

"Alright. Thorne needs sleep so we can get home, since he's the only one who can drive without crashing the car." Niko announced, tucking an unresponsive Cedric under the white sheets. I glumly watched his face do nothing but express pain and anguish. It hurt me to see  him like that.

"How'd you kill him?" Niko asked, leaning on me. I crossed my arms and scoffed, "Why should you know?" I replied, just as smug as Niko, maybe a bit more.

"I'm curious. It's your first kill, after all."

"Nine-millimeter Luger ammunition." I mumbled. He cackled. "You could've done so much worse, child." He joked, messing with a butterfly knife. I glared at him furiously.

"It's not like I could strap a katana under a day dress, moron. And- would you stop that? You'll cut someone or yourself." I scolded, ready to punch him. He flinched and threw it on the weapon bag. I flicked his cheek and sat myself on the chair in the corner. I felt powerful, almost like a queen.

"What're you, my mom?" He jokingly questioned, kneeling to face me directly. I gave him a dirty look before fighting the urge to kick him in the shins. I was so close to it, nearly on the line of insane. But I didn't, then still continuing the resistment,

"You think he'll make it home? In all seriousness." He started up again, glancing in Cedric's direction. I tried to stay hopeful, though reality was crashing down rapidly. The optimist outlook slowly but surely transformed into a pessimist one.

"I have no idea, to be honest. It's either he will or he won't, but he's a fighter. He'll make it.. I'm.. sure of it..." I stammered, now wrestling the urge to cry. "Hey, don't worry. I'll take the optimist route this time, ok?"

"Yeah.."

"Did you let Gia know that we got him out safely?"

"Yes. She was... blissful." I said, licking my lips. He nodded and watched his impatient feet tap mercilessly against the carpeted floor.

Dawn approached, stretching far across the horizon. It's beauty was mesmerizing, making my mouth drop ten feet downward, though I was nearly half that.

I found myself enjoying a book while lounging beside the hotel's pool. Despite it being closed, I pretended I didn't see it. Rules are made to be broken by the worthy, as Cedric constantly would say. Lost in the plotline, I hardly acknowledged Niko watching me beyond the gate.

"You done, Princess Belle?" He asked.

"Stop making Disney references. We all know those movies are centuries old, and Disney no longer exists." I replied, sitting up and slamming the book shut. He sighed heavily and made his way to the door that led us inside. We strutted down the narrow hallway, through the sconces and quiet rooms, to our quaint one.

Thorne was finally awake, showing no change in exhaustion. You could barely tell he slept three hours at all, the bags just got larger.

"You okay, bro?" Niko grilled. "Yeah, just mentally preparing for the drive home and... Mom's reaction.." He sighed afterwards. I bit my nails out of pure boredom and packed up my duffel bag. I stuffed everything inside, becoming out of breath quicker than I should have. Thorne stood up from his kneeling position and took the bag from my grasp.

"I'll take it. You focus on Cedric, okay?" He said. I stood there in shock before heading towards Cedric, putting his firm cold hand in mine. Our temperatures matched, yet his were colder.

If only he could've heard my thoughts, and how guilty I felt. How much he was loved, in any way, shape, or form. He didn't deserve to be beaten alive for information, for who he was, and not for him as a person. And if he saw the expressions we all displayed, each more melancholic than the rest.

"We need to leave." Thorne announced, holding the door open. Hugo and I held Cedric up as he was as limp as a broken bone. It did look suspicious how we carried an unconscious grown man into a minivan at noon, but we didn't bother coming up with a story. If anyone asked, they'd simply be ignored - or if we were feeling frisky, they'd be hit with the car.

My spot was in the very back once again, squeezed next to Niko. Our legs were squashed by the seats before us, and our space was limited. Being an adult in a child's spot isn't exactly what you'd enjoy, especially being ten years their senior.

I pulled out another novel that I was in progress of when Thorne began our journey. It wasn't long before I travelled into the world where there were no real world problems and I simply didn't exist. I was pulled out sooner than anticipated.

"Which one is that?" Niko whispered, aware of the sleepers up front. I flipped the cover, as well as the pages already passed, and flashed the shiny cover to Niko. He nodded and returned to his game of staring at the floor.

"You want a book?" I offered, opening the backpack I had slightly. He picked it up and searched through the pile, unsure of which ones he wanted to read. I patiently waited for him to select one, of which he did eventually.

"Thanks." He said. "You're welcome." I replied. He was going on an adventure, and so was I. Though they were two completely different places, they were both equally magical.

We stopped for gas in Toledo, Ohio. The station was nicer than the one we went to previously, but was still run down. It was in the outskirts of the city, where all the suburban neighborhoods were, and was primarily vacant with parking spots.

We had only been driving for forty-five minutes, but my legs felt like jelly. Stiff and aching, I did some basic stretches to get the blood flowing. It felt so bewildering to have active joints, but I still needed to walk around to evade swollen feet.

I found myself wallowing around the convenience store, gazing at items up and down the aisles. Everyone else was across the store or in the restroom, so I had no one standing beside me. I could practically feel the clerk watch my every move, anticipating shoplifting or violence. I hadn't planned on any of those things - I was just doing this out of pure boredom, and then I went back to the car to meet everyone else.

A lady and a child were standing near the passenger seat, traumatized, and crying tears of anguish. I asked if she was alright, but she was occupied with Cedric's immoble body. I guess she thought he passed, and was ready to inform the police. I panicked, sprinting inside the store to gather everyone who had been separated.

"We need to leave. NOW!" I exclaimed, pulling on Hugo and Thorne's arms.

They had puzzled expressions, but then realized the circumstance we put ourselves in.

"We've been caught." Was all Thorne mumbled, the most alarmed he'd been since we were children. And yet, we have been caught as if we were children. His words made my entire body shake. This can't be happening right now. Not like this.

We've come so far and yet, it was ruined.

He darted to the driver's seat, pushing the lady and child to the grass, and yelled for us to get inside quickly. Instinctively, I jumped in after Niko and positioned the seat to be able to hold Celia. The frightened and angry look on the woman's face continuously lingered in my memory, flashing back and forth as if it was a film strip on loop.

Our journey home felt hastier than the one before, and yet, I was equally as exhausted. The feeling of arriving home to my family was addictive, changing my perspective on hugs. Everyone received one, regardless of whether they wanted one or not. I was just happy to be home. Alive.

Cedric was put to immediate bed rest. His injuries could recover, and his pulse was stable. I was so grateful we managed to get to him in time. Before it was too late.

Now all we had to do was wait.