Vices and Maces

Chapter 37: Remember Kids; Stranger Danger

CW: blood, mentions of body horror, implied death

Cecil had turned off the light and locked the door, everyone being completely quiet. Kayden turned on his phone's light and looked for something to use as a weapon, but Sidney waved her hand to get their attention. She gestured to the window and went over.

She slid it open and cringed at the loud squeak.

"What was that?" a voice down the hall asked.

The three of them looked at each other in panic before Kayden quietly got off the bed, pointing to the closet, the chest by the bed, and under the bed. The message was clear: hide.

Sidney nodded as Cecil started to make his way under the bed. Kayden opened the chest and climbed in, pushing aside some random junk he had thrown in there. The angel kicked the window screen out and rushed towards the closet, closing it as fast as she could.

Kayden was breathing heavily, putting a hand over his mouth to muffle it. He flinched when he heard the door slam open, suddenly wishing he was under the bed so he could use his dark wings to hide and Cecil would be safer.

"It looks like they went out the window," a voice said, moving towards the window. Cecil saw their feet walk closer. "You go around the back, I'll chase after them through the window."

Sidney waited until footsteps left the room and there was the sound of someone jumping out of the window. After that she waited a few more seconds and so did the two boys. Until finally she moved out and saw the room was empty.

She went onto her hands and knees, staying below the window. Cecil glanced at her from under the bed and she waved him over. He crawled out, staying low to the ground so anyone outside couldn't see.

"Kayden," Sidney hissed. "Climb out, we need to get out of here."

The chest opened and Kayden slowly climbed out, rolling onto the ground and catching the chest lid before it smacked back down. Sidney and Cecil crawled over and Kayden stretched a dark wing over them to hide them.

They went over to the door and slowly moved out into the hallway. The house was a one story house, but there was an attic and basement. If they go outside, they'll be out in the open until they can find something to hide behind. The risk was too great, they could be shot in the back while they run.

Kayden realized they needed to find somewhere to hide and call Roman and Remus. If they can get them home, then everything will be fine. They just need to find a place to hide.

The dark avion waved his hands to get the other two to follow him down the hall. Their footsteps were quiet, unlike their hearts which were pounding so hard that they felt it in their throats.

Cecil reached out and took Kayden's hand, realizing that he was shaking just as much as the genie. Usually Kayden is so confident and calm, and even now he was acting like that. But feeling his hand tremble, Cecil realized he's just as freaked out as him.

He gave Kayden's hand a little squeeze, and the avion took a deep breath before he looked around the corner.

Empty. No one was there.

They turned and went through the hall, Kayden leading them to the attic. It'll be fine, it's going to be fine. They'll make it. The attic door was in sight, they'll pull the ladder down as quietly as possible and-

A woman walked out of an open doorway, turning when she saw them. She had a gun in her hand.

Kayden and Cecil froze, the woman gasped when she noticed them, Sidney lunged forward. The gun rose up to point at them, Sidney pushed her hand forward.