I've Been Waiting For You

Chapter 73

Mitchell's footsteps halted when he heard a shout echoing from down the long corridor.

That sounded like Markus.

He looked down both ways of the corridor but he couldn't tell exactly where the sound had come because of its echoing.

"That sounds like Markus." Kev looked at him as though he was trying to judge his reaction.

"It sounds like he's in trouble." Tracy said.

Mitchell's pulse accelerated at her words. "We need to find Markus and get the hell out of here." He felt that familiar tingle in his hands as lights started flickering out of nowhere.

"Mitchell, you need to calm down."

Mitchell sprinted down the corridor without waiting for the others. He didn't know where he was going but he had to find Markus.

Footsteps echoed behind him, but he didn't look back. At the end of the corridor was a plain black door, Mitchell grabbed the handle and opened the door. It swung inward revealing another room with another door at the end.

It was like an endless parade of doors leading to nothing but empty rooms.

Mitchell ran up a red door with markings, pushing it open but this time instead of a room, it led to the outside of the building. He saw five figures ahead standing in a clearing and dashed towards them.

"Mitchell, be careful!" Susan shouted.

Mitchell heeded her warning but when he reached closer he saw Markus standing there with his back to him.

Markus spun on his feet to face him, surprise on his face. "Mitchell, what are you guys doing here? How did you get here?"

Mitchell ran forward, his arms enclosing him in a tight hug. He buried his face in Markus's neck, inhaling his scent, a calm settling over him.

Mitchell slowly pulled away to look at him, eyes roaming over his face and body to make sure he wasn't injured.

"What happened to you? How did you get here?"

By then, the others had already catch up to their side. Kev and Susan engulfed Markus in a tight hug, probably squeezing him too tightly.

"Guys, I can't breathe." Markus said laughter in his voice.

"What the hell happened to you?"

Markus glanced behind him for a minute before looking back at them.

"I'm not sure. The last thing I remember is walking with Raven, then a blinding light. When I opened my eyes, I woke up in this place."

At the mention of Raven, Mitchell looked around expecting to see her.

"Where is Raven?"

"She's right there." Markus pointed to a light-skinned female standing to his left. Her green cat-like eyes stared at him before flashing yellow.

Then Mitchell remembered that she was a shifter.

"Hello, Mitchell." Raven smiled at him.

"So, this is your true form."

"One of my true forms." Her sharp canines flashed at him with another smile.

A movement caught his eyes, he turned to look at the female on his right. Black eyes stared at him unblinkingly. "I'm Mavka. Markus's guardian."

Mitchell arched an eyebrow in surprise. How many guardians did Markus actually have?

He looked at Kev who shook his head at him, letting him, indicating that he had no idea what was going on.

Mitchell spotted the other three standing further away from them.

The triplets inched their way to Markus's side, trying to make themselves smaller.

Markus showed no reaction to their actions. "They're a bit wary of outsiders."

"Why are they clinging to you?"

"He's their protector." Raven told them.

In the couple the hours he's been missing, he got an extra guardian and became a protector to triplets.

"Save the questions for later. Let's get out of here first." Markus said placing an arm around his shoulders.

Mitchell grasped his hand tightly as the group retraced their steps. The entrance was a different one that Markus had taken earlier. They were halfway down the corridor when the resounding slam of a door made them suddenly halt. Mitchell turned his body slightly still gripping Markus's hand in his own. A light glow flew towards them, burning the walls but leaving no flames in its wake.

"Guys, we have to run." Markus allowed the triplets ahead of him, to secure their back.

"The door is this way."

Everyone started running towards the door, trying to evade the glow making a beeline in their direction.

Mitchell held tightly onto Markus's hand as their footsteps pounded on the hard floor, resonating throughout the corridor. The door finally came into view, a relief that they would soon escape from this place.

"It's getting closer." Tracy was foremost at the front closer to the door. She opened the door and it swung inward. "Beyond this room is a ripple we need to go through in order to get out of here."

Everyone rushed into the room, but at that very moment Markus entered the room, he was grabbed and propelled backwards in the air.

"Markus!" Mitchell whirled, reaching out to grab Markus's hand just as the door slammed shut, separating them. He stroked a sounding blow on the door, ignoring the pain that it caused.

Kev tried to open the door but it was as though it had been sealed shut from the outside. He slammed his shoulder against the door but it would not budge.

"No...no...not again." Mitchell repeated over and over hitting his fists on the door. Every time he brought his fists down against the door the whole room would shake. It seems as though fate wouldn't leave him alone, but this door.

Mitchell stepped back from the door and raised his hands out from his body. No way was he leaving this place without Markus.

Mitchell lifted his hands into the air and all the strength he could muster, he slammed both hands against the door. The door flew off its hinges, landing with a loud bang on the floor.

"Pamela, take the triplets out of here."

"Okay." Pamela careened the trio to the ripple, disappearing from sight.

The others ran out the room into the dimly lit corridor.