Tick tock goes the clock,
Until this Manor is
No more
Will the mouse
Find a way out?
Free of guilt;
Oh, safe and sound?
Time is running out, detective.
Angel Mallory has always been unlucky. Seemingly retired from their old job working for the Guil...
Author's Note: This one is one of the edited chapters that have had a heavy, ish editing.
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The day was bright, sun rays dousing the wet pavement in light. Their reflections glimmered in the puddles that had formed between cracks in the path. Murmurs echoed in the morning commotion once I passed through- I could feel eyes burning holes through my back.
"That's them, isn't it?" A man in the back rumbled, keeping his distance, yet it was not enough to escape being heard. "I wonder why the Council let them off"
"Didn't Cleopatra mention them in Uproarium Weekly?" My eye twitched, resisting the urge to snap. I kept moving, the whispers only growing louder.
"Ay' Council Mutt, did it hurt when you fell from grace? One of us, now" I scoffed, shaking my head in dissapointment. Embarrassment swirled within me, I wanted to yell, tell everyone we were all being tricked. It didn't actually matter, not in this chess board. Kings, Queens, Knights, Pawns. Everyone was being played, not by the Royals, not by me, but The Council.
The name-calling hurt, sure. But I'd tuned it out, focusing on my one goal. To reach Uproarium Arcade. It was one of the few luxuries the Council would let us have, and we were grateful for it. Its arches resembled a Mall, and stores expanded everywhere one's gaze could travel. Floors upon floors rose over our heads. It had flying escalators from Technogard- quite the attraction. They'd brought them in after The Uproar, as a gift of gratitude from The Royal Allies. Younger people would go up with them, then down, then repeat. I enjoyed observing the commotion, the evening conversations. Life itself pulsed around me, weaving her threads.
"Mother, why can't we go see The Cloudscalators one more time!" a little girl complained. She wore a yellow marigold dress that reached just below the knees, probably picked for her by the mother.
"We can't sweetheart. Get on with it" the older woman shushed the child, the stern yet protective command leaving her lips. A melodic voice.
Was she a singer? Too bad for her talent, she must've not had much luck, I thought, maintaining a frown as I watched.
"But Mom! I have observed the older kids doing it!" her golden sun-kissed pigtails swung with the effort to lead her mother to the floating stairs. Her rosy cheeks got redder.
"Where did you learn that difficult word! Let's go" the woman huffed, obviously tired.
I chucked, along with the whole mall glancing over from the second floor. The girl reminded me of myself. Younger, far more innocent yet still sharp. I'd gotten distracted, my thoughts flashing back to the reason I was there in the first place. I forced myself to concentrate on the task at hand- buying a present for Jonathan.
I'd make sure to include an apology card. Perhaps scribble down a "Sorry for being an asshole" on the inside. I huffed to myself, wincing at the reminder. The sun rays entering from the glass roof made me dizzy, their invisible flames flicking on the back of my head.
