The Door

Chapter 10

Clairin's screaming face flickered past. Her blood-curdling scream, coming from a corpse-white face. A shiver trickled through him. His head pulsed. His heart pounded against his rib cage, seeking freedom from the inward darkness inside him. Everett slowly lifted up, his shirt sticking to his back with sweat. The ghost quiet room shifted uneasily at his movement. He weaved through snoring teenagers, only luck made it so he didn't step on one of them. He pushed past the cloth door, the chill fall air washed over him in a smooth motion. He breathed in deeply. The outside hose squealed in denial as he squirted the ice-cold water into his mouth. The warm feeling of his saliva was washed down instantly.

"Everett!" A hoarse whisper echoed throughout the night. He whipped his head around. It was Rowan. He was running towards him frantically. He rammed into Everett, grabbing hold of his shoulders. "Come on!" He pulled Everett towards the open street.

"What? Why?"
"Its Kaden, she's in trouble,"

No more words were said. There was just the sound of running footsteps of two boys in the night.

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The gleaming sweat of her face reflected the moonlight. Everett sprinted to her, frantically hugging her lifeless body. Her body convulsed, and she began to cough. Blood was splattered all over her body. Everett heart dropped. Rowan ran up behind him. Everett was scarcely breathing, numbness flowed through his mind.

"I was just going to check something, and... oh dear Whisper. I didn't notice the knife before,"

Rowan's words sounded like they were underwater. Kaden gasped, coughing up blood. Everett violently heaved her up, braking the chains that held her as if they were mere toothpicks. He ran as fast as he's ever run before. He burst into the door, and Ocidat whirled around, not even looking at her.

"Lie her on the table," She barked, grabbing potions and bottles. "Wash the wound gently," The rag turned crimson immediately. "If we hurry we can remove the knife and close the wound," Her eyes darkened. "If."

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Everett was panting like a dog. His hand wrung out his neckless, shaking with anxiety. Ocidat looked wistfully into the distance, but even her heart beat hard for Kaden. Everett didn't know when Rowan left. The soft echo of rain pattered on the window, darkness overtaking the room completely. Everett walked to her gently, and wiped the blood from her face. She was caked in sweat and mud.

"Is there anything else we can do?"

"Be patient, Everett. I have faith in her,"

So, they waited. The seconds stretched to minutes, which stretched to hours. Everett ate silently, staring at the sun peeking through the clouds. A soft ringing filled the room. He ignored it at first, not acknowledging it at all. Then it became less distant and recognizable. He lifted his head. It was the bell. TCOWA had hit. He burst out the building, sprinting to the fog that floated towards the sky. Then his heart stopped. He stood staring at the burning building of TCOWA. Clarin yanked people out, screaming hoarsly for help.

"Is there anyone inside?"

Her eyes widened. "Dear Whisper I am so glad you're here," She panted. Her face was smeared with ash. "I don't think so," She supported a limping boy, who grunted in pain. "We need to move fast. They will be here any second. There's no telling what they will do to us if they find us," Her voice quavered. Her eyes spoke words all on their own. He nodded eagerly.