Descending

Chapter 9

Chloe and Marcia had been wandering the seemingly endless corridors for nearly an hour when Marcia suddenly stopped and let out a frustrated groan. 

Chloe glanced back at the redhead with confusion. "What's wrong?"

"This is hopeless." moaned Marcia, leaning her back against the chrome wall to her right. "Why did you have to break the fucking map those creatures gave me?"

"...or was it a map?" Chloe said, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Glaring coldly at Chloe, Marcia forced herself away from the wall and took a few swift steps toward the blonde. 

"You know what, bitch?" Marcia snapped, jabbing an angry finger at Chloe. "I've had enough of your bullshit!"

Choe's lips stretched into a slight smirk. Obviously, she found Marcia's rage amusing. "So?"

"I bet I'd be riding away from this place in a cab right now if it weren't for you!" exclaimed Marcia.

"How?" Chloe sneered. "You left your cellphone in your police car, remember?"

"I- wait..." Marcia stared at Chloe with confusion. "how did you know that I left my phone in the car?"

"Well, one," started Chloe coolly. "me and my girls jacked your car. And two, we might have been looking through your photos."

Marcia glowered and clenched her jaw furiously. 

"Nice selfies." Chloe smirked.

Marcia felt her cheeks flush bright red with anger and embarrasement. "You little bitch!"

If Chloe hadn't attempted to rob that jewelry store in the first place... none of this would be happening to me... Marcia realized, feeling herself grow hot with anger.

Chloe laughed, but was silenced when Marcia's hand smacked across the the left side of her face.

"Daamn.." Chloe forced a smile as she winced and rubbed her cheek. "It's not my fault you didn't have a passco- OW!! WHAT THE HELL?!?!"

Chloe's sentance was interrupted as Marcia slapped her agian.

"What's wrong with you?!" snapped Chloe.

"All of this is your fault!!" shouted Marcia.

"How so?- GAH!!!"

Marcia slapped her again. "THIS IS FOR JACKING MY CAR!!!"

Marcia slapped her again. "THIS IS FOR GIVING ME A BLACK EYE!!!"

Marcia slapped her again. "THIS IS FOR GETTING ME CAUGHT UP IN THIS MESS!!!"

"Jesus, woman!" Chloe cringed painfully, holding her throbbing cheeks. "Anything else you mad about?"

After seeing the look on Marcia's face, Chloe instantly regretted asking this.

"Actually... yes." Marcia hissed through gritted teeth.

"Shit..." Chloe breathed taking a few steps back..

Chloe whirled around and started to run, but she didn't make it far before Marcia shoved her from behind, slammed her into the wall, and pinned her in place.

"This is for everything else..." growled Marcia, raising a fist.

When Chloe realized that struggling was useless, she sighed, closed her eyes, and waited for the pain to come. However, before Marcia could take a swing at Chloe a male voice from nearby made her freeze.

"Can I help you ladies?"

Marcia stiffened and glanced behind her. What she saw made her blood run cold.

"Humans aren't supposed to be in this area now."

The voice belonged to a creature almost identical to the ones that Marcia had spoken to earlier, except instead of being pink or green, this one was colored a dark, ashy gray. It observed them elegantly, its rust-colored eyes glinted with an feeling of superiority.

"Uh," Marcia pulled her raised arm behind her back. "hello..."

"Hello." the creature said coldly. "Why are you here?"

"Uh I dunno... maybe because you and your friends kidnapped us!" Chloe snapped.

The creature's stern gaze swept toward Chloe. "I was asking the redhead."

Marcia's mind raced, searching desperately for an excuse to be wandering these hallways. Then she remembered what the other creatures had told her.

"We were just looking for that meeting we were told to go to." lied Marcia. 

The creature's catlike eyes narrowed. "That's a lie."

Marcia nearly jumped. "Wuh- how did you-"

"I heard you and your friend talking earlier." the creature explained. "You said something about looking for a way out of here."

"Then why did you ask us?!" demanded Chloe.

"Honesty is a good trait," the creature said. "...a valued trait."

There was an edge to the creature's voice when as said this, and Marcia almost percieved it as a threat.

"So... you want to leave?" asked the creature.

Marcia hesitated. "Yes."

"Very well then," the creature raised a narrow arm and jestured them forward. "follow me."

Without looking back at Chloe, Marcia turned and started toward the gray creature. Chloe hesitated for a moment, then sighed loudly and reluctantly followed.