They had just survived another escape room.
This time only Kai and Jay.
And believe me, it was hard
Jay, sensing that the chaos wasn't over, glanced around nervously. "Where's Mia?"
Kai shrugged. "Probably off planning her next prank."
Jay sighed and pulled out his phone, deciding to relax for a moment. He had just scrolled through a few messages when a loud, gruff voice echoed from behind him.
"Well, well, well, look who's the little raisin now."
Jay froze, the voice was oddly deep and unfamiliar. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes widening in disbelief. There stood Mia, her tiny frame almost unrecognizable. She had found a big, scruffy fake beard from who knows where and plastered it on her face. To top it off, she wore an oversized hat that made her look like some kind of old lumberjack. Her arms were crossed confidently, and she spoke in the most exaggerated, gravelly voice possible.
"Who's scared of a little beard now, brother?"
Jay's eyes bulged, and he let out an exaggerated gasp. "Mia?!"
She stomped forward, putting on her best tough-guy impression. "Nope. Name's Beardy McGruff."
Kai, who had been watching from the side, nearly doubled over with laughter. "Oh my gosh, Mia! Where did you even get that thing?"
Mia, staying in character, stroked the fake beard dramatically. "Found it. Figured I'd try out a new look." She stepped closer to Jay, lowering her voice even more. "Now you're the one who looks like a baby."
Jay, absolutely horrified but also trying not to laugh, backed away slowly. "M-Mia, please. This is terrifying!"
Mia narrowed her eyes playfully. "Terrifying? You haven't seen terrifying yet."
She leaned in closer, her beard brushing against Jay's face as she spoke in the deepest voice she could manage. "You scared, little raisin?"
Jay stumbled backward, his hands waving in front of him. "Okay, okay! You win! Just take the beard off!"
Mia laughed, still in character. "Not until you admit I make the better beard-wearer!"
Jay threw his hands up in surrender, laughing despite himself. "Fine! You're the better beard-wearer!"
Kai, wiping away tears of laughter, leaned against the wall, still chuckling. "Mia, that voice... you sound like an old man who's been living in the mountains for decades!"
Mia puffed out her chest proudly, still keeping up the act. "I've been living off the land, growing this beard for years."
Jay sighed dramatically, shaking his head with a grin. "Alright, Mia. You win, just... get rid of the beard, please."
Mia, finally dropping the voice, let out a giggle. "Okay, okay!" She ripped the fake beard off and tossed it aside, her face returning to its usual innocent expression.
Jay shook his head, still trying to recover from the shock. "Where do you even come up with these ideas?"
Mia shrugged, her mischievous grin returning. "I just thought it would be funny! And it was, wasn't it?"
Jay groaned but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah, you got me."
Kai, still grinning, ruffled Mia's hair. "You definitely know how to keep things interesting around here, that's for sure."
Mia winked at Kai before darting off again, no doubt in search of her next prank victim.
Jay shook his head, watching her go. "I swear, this house is never going to be normal as long as she's around."
