𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧

Chapter 13: Violet

The room was in chaos.

Plunged in pitch darkness, the children screamed and their parents yelled as they tried to find their screaming children. There was the clatter of chairs and the squeal of shoes on the polished floor. I pressed my temple and instantly my head was filled with noise. Thoughts from people around me were along the lines of "Where are you, daughter?" and "Oh shoot, I can't see where I'm going!"

I crashed into several people before I found my brother. We quickly held hands so that we wouldn't get lost. Brother, did you see what I saw? I projected.

I struggled to hear him through the thoughts of other people. I tried my best to focus on his voice and his voice only. It was like isolating a raindrop through a torrential rainstorm. 

W-what? What did you say? I thought, gritting my teeth. I struggled to get my message to Alan, who was standing right next to me.

No, I didn't see. What was it? 

With my powers, hearing him was very difficult, but doable. I had to isolate that raindrop once again in order to speak to him only.

Okay, I'll tell you then. Well, just before Chief Petrov started speaking, I saw him fiddle around with the top of his pants. It was so subtle that I barely noticed it. But that was suspicious timing. Then I heard a scuffle at the back of the room, a few rows behind us. The lights went out at that moment, so I didn't have time to see what it was.

I sensed Alan's surprise through our mental bridge. I added, I think Chief Petrov seems a bit off. We'd better keep an eye on him. And the lights should be back on by now, right?

Yeah, Alan thought. Should we leave now?

I led him towards what I thought was the direction of the door. I heard Alan curse as he bumped into some chairs and maybe other people. I remembered that the door was at the left of the room, so I felt my way around the walls. It was the only thing I could do without being able to see anything.

As suddenly as the lights turned off, they switched on again. There was a snap and the room was filled with brightness. I shielded my watering eyes from the harsh light. With a jolt, I also realised that the screams and squeals had stopped.

A booming voice cut through the room. "Where do you think you are going, children?" It echoed dreadfully, making me shiver.

Alan and I whipped our heads around to face the stage, our hearts pounding in sync. Chief Petrov towered above everyone on the stage, hands on his hips. My eyes scanned around the room and I did a double take.

Everyone had returned to their seats, facing the front of the room. Their postures were perfect, their eyes facing the stage. The once screaming children were quietly seated, too still to be true. Their gazes looked...blank. None of them blinked.

Fear filled me and I could feel my brother's fear too. Frick, he thought. What just happened there? My thoughts were exactly the same. One moment, the room had been in chaos. A moment later, it was perfect. Orderly.

It was so creepy that I couldn't believe that it just happened.

I looked over at the tall man. His expression was demanding and his stare pierced through me. He looked more dangerous than ever. "Children?" He repeated. "What are you doing?"

"U-h-uh," Alan managed to stutter. My lips were sealed as if they were coated with glue. I couldn't speak.

"Cat got your tongue?" Chief Petrov teased, walking towards us. "Oh of course, cats don't exist anymore. They are long gone, like you will be soon." The threat hung in the air.

We backed away, towards the closed door. I was scared as hell. We didn't have a way of escaping.

I projected into Alan's mind. Run as fast as you can. Three, two, one.

At the same time, we dashed towards the door. Our footsteps pounded against the wooden floor. The Chief didn't even quicken his steps towards us. I reached the door handle first. I yanked on it hard and it didn't budge.

"It's funny to see you young children trying to escape. Do you think we're so stupid to not lock our doors? Once they're closed, they're closed for good." He came closer and closer with every step. His footsteps were like a metronome, booming like our pounding hearts.

I scanned the room frantically. No other doors. There was a small window that was propped open, but it was all the way at the other side of the room. There were only seven metres between us and our captor. His words rang in my head. Once they're closed, they're closed for good.

We were trapped.