THE KEY (book one)

|thirteen|

Ten fifty am
The ride back is uncomfortably silent. Levi woke me up a few minutes ago so i could gather myself.
"Wanna tell me what happened?" He breaks the silence but i stay quiet, fearing I'll break into another episode. In the middle of all that crying I failed to mention what I was truly crying about. As if everything wasn't shit already being a murder is added to the list.
"Errana?" I bring my head up to look at him to see he's already staring at me.
"I... don't wanna be here." Are the only words I say. He shakes his once then focuses his eyes back on mine. "You know that's not an option. What happened in there... with Cadmen?"
Why does he even care? I look away to avoid his judgement and my tears.
"You wouldn't care. You do it all the time."
"What?"
"Kill people." His mouth falls open a bit then closes immediately.
"Right... I do. But you knew the plan, we went over it and you took the knife. I've explained to you what you we're getting yourself into. When I..." He rubs his nose and looks away from me before continuing and surprisingly saying,
"It's gonna be fine. I can't promise a lot of things but it's gonna be-"
"Please stop." Unless he can undo everything and I can go back home, nothing about this is fine.
"I'll get over it sure but it's not fine so let's not pretend that it is."
He parks the mobile and we meet up everyone else. He's staring at me on and off, I can feel it and i hate it. If he wasn't so serious all the time I would think he's actually concerned; but he's not.
"Guys what's that?" Phoebe points up at the second door. I look up to see large boxes sitting on the second floor. Phoebe runs up quickly and picks up one of them.
"They have our names on it."
"Just grab your box and bring it inside." Levi says from behind me and we do so.
Once we get inside Phoebe wastes no time and opens her box. Her jaw drops in awe as she pulls out a long lavender silk dress and white heels.Then proceeds to pull out a card that was sitting at the bottom of the box.
"Seven thirty sharp an auction for jewels and the west key will be hosted at the Cole Cage estate. Place your highest bid; Good luck." She reads out loud and hands it over to Levi.
Cole Cage?
The psycho? The thirty year old has been in and out of jail for countless murders, abuse, rape, but here money can get you out of anything.
"Well that was informative." Luke says sarcastically.
"Cole Cage." Drew shakes his head.
"Hey before you judge let's just think about how hot he is." She definitely didn't think that through before she said it. Or maybe she doesn't know who he is.
"Do you know who he is Phoebe?" I ask.
"You're a child Phoebe." Drew mumbles then opens his box.
"We're not to far apart Drew. I'm Sixteen you're eighteen." She tries defends herself throwing a pillow at him.
"I'm gonna check out what's in my box." I say holding it up and walking off to my room.
"I'm gonna go help her." Phoebe says from behind me. I just wanna be alone but I wouldn't say that to her. I wait for her to walk in and close it behind me. She doesn't hesitate to run and jumps on the bed.
She really has no boundaries. I scan over my box for a moment, then pull out a long strapless emerald green dress with an extremely low back.
"Holy shit." Phoebes jaw is wide open as she admires my dress. I've never worn anything like this before. I smile and reach in the box and pull out black Patent-leather pumps. I don't like wearing heels but I'll have to manage. Satisfied I put everything back in the box and put it to the side.
"So." Phoebe starts laying down, I raise my eyebrows.
"You and Levi." It sounds more like a statement than a question.
"Me and Levi what?" I ask laying down next to her.
"You're not stupid." She laughs turning on her side to face me. Once i connect the dots I nearly choke on my spit and scowl at her.
"Um it's been two days. And I don't know him so I don't know how you could make that assumption." She frowns at me and before she can say anything else I continue to defend my case.
"I don't think I could ever think of him that way. He's cold and guarded and not to mention a kills people."
So do I.
"Bu-"
"I... We don't have time for that stuff." I cut her off again and am practically breathless with how fast I'm talking.
"Mhm... I understand. Don't mistake pain for coldness. Levi's been here the longest. He's seen things worst than us. When I first came here I felt the same as you... about the killing. Levi does it to protect us because he knows we won't... clearly. He's lost a lot which is why he is the way he is. Trust me i'm sure he wants to talk more but I just don't think he wants to get close to anyone anymore." She stops for a moment,  chuckles and says, "I mean we literally throw ourselves into danger everyday anything can happen." Her whole demeanor has changed within a second. I understand every word she's saying. What has Edith done to these people.
"How... how long have you been here?"
"A year I came here as soon as I turned fifteen. I had nothing... no home, family nothing. So when Edith found me I jumped on the opportunity." Her eyes drift away from mine and a look of deep sorrow replaces that beautiful smile she had minutes ago.
"Who was in this room before me?"
"Taylor. She uh..." She gonna cry.
"It's okay... you don't have to explain." I cover her hand with mine.
This isn't okay.
"Thanks Erra." She sits up tries her best to give me a smile.
"Just know everyone has their was of coping. I said what I said because you and Levi radiate the same in one way or another I  see it. Believe it or not he's a big softy."
Her smile grows genuinely and and walk towards the door. I sigh with relief ; I like the happy side of her better it's refreshing.
"Well do you see us finding the rest of these keys." We laugh together but I'm serious i'm nervous we won't get them on time.
"One way or another." She says and with that walks out.
Looking back in my box I notice something I didn't before; a picture. I hold it up to the light and my stomach drops when i see it's an old picture of my mother, my father and I. When we moved into the apartment; when I was three. An overwhelming feeling consumes my body and the tears start to fall without permission. Seven years and he was taken from me. I wipe away the tears and hold the picture close to my chest. This isn't over yet.
XXX
Six forty pm
Finally after battling with my dress I get it to zip up. There isn't much I can do with my hair so I decide to just wet it a bit to define my curls. Everyone's waiting in the living room for me because I accidentally fell asleep.
"Knock knock." Phoebe says without actually knocking.
"Come in." I say straightening my dress out. She slowly opens the door and right away her eyes grow bigger than they already are.
"You look... amazing!" She shouts closing the door. Her hair is in a slick ponytail and I notice she has light eyeshadow on. Her dress fits perfectly and has two slits on both legs. "So do you. Nice touch on the eyes."
"I brought makeup."
"How... Phoebe where did you get all this make up from?"
"Oh..." She laughs. "When you were sleeping I used the disguise thing and stole from a store not too far here. Now sit down and close your eyes." She demands unscrewing the mascara.
Genius.
"You're eyelashes are beautiful. I just wish... you would stop blinking."
"I'm trying. I'm just used to doing this you know... myself." She closes the mascara and pulls out more makeup.
"Okay so I grabbed some powder. I'm gonna use some to cover your bruises."
"Looks like you grabbed the whole damn store." I mumble.
"Guys let's go!" Luke yells and Phoebe rolls her eyes.
"Relax!" She yells back and I chuckle. It reminds me of how Eli would rush me for everything. I miss him, I haven't heard anything from him since school. Especially now with my com being dead. I don't understand how everyone in my life went missing, and I still have no clue where they are.
Are they looking for me? Did Edith tell them?
"Okay now just gloss." She says grabbing it out of the pouch and quickly applies it to my lips. When she's done I rub my lips together, and scrunch my hair out with my fingers.
"Okay let's go before the kill us." I say grabbing my ear piece and walking towards the door. I let Phoebe out first then follow behind her.
"Woah look who's finally out of the grave." Luke says abs crosses his arms.
"Damn." Drew breaths out leaning against the hologram table.His hair is still in corn rows and he's wearing a clean black suit.
"I know right!" Phoebe yells clapping her hands.
"Guys we-" Levi starts standing up from the couch. He cuts his sentence short once his eyes lock on me. "Oh... wow."
Drew laughs snapping us out of the moment and back into reality.
"Alright um ugh... Luke remember to hack into the list to get our names on it. Once we're in we'll make a plan from there." He says grabbing his gun and tucking it in the back of his black suit pants.
"Let's head out so we can make it on time." Drew says and Luke rushes straight to the door. I hold my dress up so it doesn't get dirty on the stairs.
"Seven thirty right?" I ask opening the first door.
"Yes ma'am." Drew answers.
Levi gets in the black mobile and starts it up.
"Can I ride with you?"  Why did I just-
"Yea."  I don't hesitate and hop in the passenger seat.
He glances at me, then looks to the rare view mirror at the mobile Luke and Phoebe are in.
"It's gonna be fine." He says but this time it sounds like he's trying to convince himself.