After September 23rd

Chapter Thirteen

Mikaela's Perspective

Sunday, September 13th, 2037.

The Azure Hotel.

7:30 PM

I turned the page of my magazine, re-reading it over and over again. It wasn't keeping me occupied anymore. I closed it and turned to the clock hanging in the room.

My phone began to buzz on top of the nightstand next to the chair I was in.

"Hello?"

"Mika, is he awake yet?" Kari asked.

"No...not yet,"

"He is still breathing, right?" She asked, doubting me.

I sighed and made my way to the bed. I stared down at Victor; he was sleeping and managed to turn on his stomach.

"Mika? He is still breathing, right?!"

I pinched his cheek. He reacted. Victor aimlessly waved his hand, trying to get rid of whatever had pinched him.

"He's very much alive, just not awake," I smirked.

I retreated to my spot and grabbed my magazine, switching back to the Tara Stokes article.

"He's been asleep for 3 hours, are you sure bringing him here was the right move?" Kari asked, concerned, "Shouldn't we take him to the hospital?"

"It is protocol, if he doesn't wake up in around 3 hours, we must," I replied.

"Mika... I understand that those are the rules, but can we break them just this once?"

"No. They are rules for a reason," I said, "I can assure-"

I stopped speaking when I heard the ruffling of bed sheets and low grumbling. I looked up, and Victor was awake and stretching.

"He's awake, come back whenever you're done with your dinner," I whispered.

"Okay!"

I hung up and closed my magazine, setting both items back on the nightstand.

"Had a good rest?" I asked.

Victor looked to the corner. He gasped and covered his body when he saw me.

"Mikaela?" He screamed, "What are you doing here?! Where am I?"

I closed my eyes and took a breath. My, he can be loud. I opened my eyes and saw him looking around the hotel room.

"We brought you to the Azure Hotel," I said as I walked over to him, "Calm down, you're out of danger,"

"Huh?!"

"May I?" I asked and pointed at the edge of the bed.

Victor nodded, permitting me. I took a seat on the bed while being watched like a hawk.

"Yuki... what is going on?" He asked.

"Do you not remember falling inside the labyrinth?" I asked, "May I see both your wrists?"

Victor pulled up both his sleeves and showed me his wrists; he had clear bruises left by the ropes.

"Labyrinth?"

"The place we were at is called a Labyrinth," I began as I cured away the pain of the bruises with a spell, "Cognitive Labyrinths,"

"I'm sorry, I don't follow," said Victor.

I stared at his confused expression, flabbergasted. How is that remotely possible? He, out of all people, should have at least heard about labyrinths.