Dana Ilic and the Shadow Door (Lightwielder Chronicles #1) | ✔️

13 | We Shop Till We Drop

Max didn't respond until I shook him again. "What?" He downright growled at me.

"Max. Listen. Our homes. Our parents."

"Oh come on, Dana. Don't be such a party pooper. Just five more mins." He looked at me, his eyes glazed over with black and white static.

I took a step back, almost screaming in sheer terror.

What was wrong with him?

I needed to frigging snap him out of it.

When I extended my palm, an egg-shaped black rock appeared on it.

"Get your butt over here, Maksim Martinez!" I screamed, sensing my veins pulsing on my temple. My voice still shaking, I hurled the stone at that 100 000 $ TV.

The screen shattered into smithereens.

That jarred him. His vision cleared.

"Dana! Chill! Oh wow," he said, rubbing his eyes. "How long have I..." He narrowed his pupils. "Hold on, D. Why is your hair half-black? And your left eye... it looks like it's on fire."

"What?" I took my hair strands between my fingers to see.

"It's nothing. It's... Blond again. Maybe this house just played a trick on me. "

"Never mind all that, Max! Let's just leave, asap!"

We ran out the suite and straight into the glass elevator. Its only button now said "Lobby."

I tapped my foot all the while as we were descending, scared of how much more time could pass before we exit the wooden cabin.

Once the glass door opened, we whooshed through the lobby and straight to the main entrance.

Max rattled the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. 

I pushed him away.

"Clear out. All that gaming has made you weak."

"Oh it's not that. It's stuck."

"What?" I tried to open it as well. It wouldn't budge.

"What the heck is going on?" Max asked.

"I have no idea. This is generally not how doors work. Open up, damn you!" I tried blasting it with my balls of light, but no abracadabra stuff happened whatsoever.

"Dana," he started slowly. "What if this house put a stop to our powers?... I mean... What if Radogost doesn't want us to leave?"

"You think that's why he tried to make us so comfortable, with the tea, with music, the food?"

"I guess." He yawned, glancing at his light blue sofa decorated with "M" letters. "We can try and leave again a little later, I guess. Plus, there are worse places to spend our days than in magical house that fulfils our every desire. It kinda makes me feel special. Don't you see? We don't ever have to go back."

"Max, I... I think we were special even before we came here. Before we gained our powers, even. Plus, there are no people here. If we stay, we would be all alone." I gestured at the empty shopping mall.

He shrugged. "Would that be so bad?"

"I miss my mom. She must be waiting for me. Don't you miss your dad, Max?"

"Not much." Max looked everywhere but in my eyes. "We..." He licked his lips. "We had a fight this morning."

"Oh. What did you fight about? Is that why you were crying in the boys' restroom when I..." I placed my hand on my mouth. "Sorry, Max. I didn't want to..."