The Dream

Chapter 21

The only escape I could find was the door that was closer to us. That was the door that the guard used to come in and place the "food" that Elizabeth was taunting us with. I didn't want to suggest that as an escape route knowing that Elizabeth could be out there.

I suddenly felt another set of hands wrap around mine. I looked up to see that they belonged to Aaron, and let me tell you, I never thought there would be a time in my life where I would see a hot guy like Aaron look scared as if he was going to pee in his pants.

If this was a completely different situation I would have laughed, but I knew that he needed a warm smile and that's what I gave him. I was surprised to see that he fought a smile back to me so I told him, "Aaron, we are going get out of this for sure. Don't worry and let's find a way out of these together!"

"Are you sure? Alexis, you are strong and are beautiful in all your ways."

Beautiful? Okay this was definitely going somewhere else, but I didn't want Aaron to feel any more uncomfortable than he already was.

 "Aaron! Are you trying to flirt with me now?" I giggled.

I saw a faint blush creep up to his cheeks and I was glad I could get him to smile. He smiled like a superhero.

Yes, I dream like a small two year old girl, wanting a superhero as my boyfriend someday. Here was my superhero, in front of me, all scared like an infant, but really hot at the same time. That's when I realized that I had started to take my liking toward Aaron to the next level. Did I honestly just compare my superhero dream boyfriend with Aaron?

Oh boy! If I was going to sit here being a love-struck guru, I needed to shake my feelings away right now!! Here I am, in the middle of a life or death situation and I was sitting thinking about my love life. Jeez, I really needed to get a hold of myself.

I silently thanked the fact that our feelings couldn't be transmitted through this stupid little microchip installed inside our bodies.

 Meanwhile, I saw Amanda tearing up the hem of her shirt and tying it around her eyes. Like why would she do that?

It looked like I wasn't the only one watching the show.

 Why Is Amanda doing that? Has she lost it that she's starting to play with her clothes now? Enquired Aaron, his voice suddenly intervening my thoughts.

Aaron! Hush now, I'm sure Amanda has some sort of meaning towards this. Answered Melissa.

Well it looked like Melissa was right because that's exactly when Amanda said,"Everyone tear a piece of your shirt or someone's next to you and tie it around your eyes. This isn't normal smoke. I had to grow through such drills in med school and it will burn your eyes and make you go blind!"

Well, at least someone in the lot had an answer to one of the billion questions swarming my brain.I didn't realize though that the smoke was actually affecting my eyes. I was too preoccupied with making sure everyone was okay and lost in Aaron's thoughts that I ignored it.

My eyes were beginning to water and I glanced over to see that Aaron's was too.Everyone were ripping parts of their clothes off, so I followed suit. It then hit me that if the smoke around was as dangerous as this, was Elizabeth behind it?

Guys! What if Elizabeth is behind this? I mean if the guards were really helping us out then this smoke distraction shouldn't be affecting us. I quickly communicated with the other three.

Yeah! What if she's just trying to torture us by doing this? Instead of killing us at one go? Added Aaron.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with torture kids, but if it is so, then we have to act quickly and find a way out. Replied Katherine.

Just then, we heard Vicki shout, "Look everyone! I think I found a secret passage!"

I was lying on the floor to her left, so I started scooting my way over to her to see what she found. Sure enough, there was a door under the carpet that was big enough for a person to fit one by one.

"Vicki! You are a smart little kid!" I grinned at her.

Slowly, we both tried to open the door while the others were slowly trying to make their way towards us. It looked like there were stairs leading somewhere but I couldn't be sure so I asked for someone's phone to use a flashlight. Elizabeth took mine away when I tried to contact Aaron earlier.

"Does someone have a phone with them? I need to use the flashlight to see what is under this door."

Aaron passed his to me, and when I did check, it was just like I expected. A staircase leading somewhere. Could this be our answer? Will we be safe if we take this path?

"Mom! Dad! It's a staircase! Can we use it to get out of here? I don't like this place." Whined Vicki.

"Alexis? Do you think it's safe? Will we get out?" Steve asked.

Was it safe? I did not know. I had no answers at the moment but I did not want to disappoint anyone. To my rescue, Melissa intervened.

"We cannot pose such questions Mr.Steve. It is best that we go by our instincts and follow lead. So let us do it this way. How many of you are willing to risk your lives and take this passage out? We may encounter problems, but we all need to be together when such possibilities happen!"

 "I'm in!" I quickly shouted and started towards the staircase. In those two seconds I made up my mind that it was because of me that everyone were here. It was my responsibility to at least find a way out.

 A pair of hands stopped me, and I turned around to see Aaron. "You are not going anywhere without me." He said and pushed me aside and stepped in first. Well at least I knew someone was coming with me. I was honestly scared about this whole thing.

After  Aaron, I went in, and I turned to see that everyone was lining up to come along.

Petrified and excited, I turned back around to see what was waiting for us at the end of this tunnel hoping that this would be the answer to all our questions. I silently prayed that we had been tortured enough and to let this escape route go smoothly.