Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 8

The air conditioner hit me and suddenly I wasn't Clara anymore. I was Melissa, the daughter of a janitor, well-liked by my friends and peers.

I smiled as I approached the desk.

" Hi, Miss Lynch!" The grey-haired women stopped typing. She looked at me, blinked and squinted.

" Melissa? Oh sorry dear, I didn't even recognize you. I must have misplaced my glasses. Are you sick dear? You sound different."

Something told me that the missing glasses had something to do with Zak.

I cleared my throat and coughed daintily. Melissa never did anything loud or messy.

" It seems I must have caught a cold from the other girls."

" Oh, you poor thing. Would you like some tea? I have a thermos in the back."

I shook my head, " Actually I'm here to give my father his lunch. He seemed to have forgotten it at home." I could barely hear her over the pounding of my heart.

" Clara, it's okay. Take a breath. Don't be so stiff." Zak's voice was a welcomed sound.

" That's so unlike him. Your father usually remembers things very well." She frowned.
" Do you want me to call him out here?"

My eyes widen, " No-no-no. My father's a very busy man. There's no need for him to come out here and disturb everyone. I can just put this in his room." I said quickly, maybe too quickly.

But Miss Lynch smiled, " Okay dear. Do you know your way around the building?"

" Of course I do." I offered one more smile. I headed to the elevator, offering one more wave before the door closed.

Oh my god. That was so nerve-racking.

" You're almost done. Stay focus for a few more minutes. You got this." Zak said.

I got this, I'm actually gonna pull this off.

I threw the bag into a nearby trashcan and began my way in.

Ian had disabled all security cameras and projected a loop as to not raise suspicions.

I stared at them now as I passed. The emptiness of the lens only spiked my anxiety. I averted my eyes to a single potted plant at the end of the hallway.

Left, forward, left, right, forward.

I arrived at a lock secure room. I kneeled down and entered the code. 0000.

The lock chimed and I was given access. Although it was dark, it was impossible not to see how wealthy this room was. Paintings lined the walls, bookshelves were put in places where the walls were left bare. Gold marbling created a pathway to the desk. Jesus with the money of the desk alone.

I opened each cabinet, careful not to make a sound. Papers, folders, pens. Ah, ha flash drive.

It was small, compact and smartly hidden as a pen, if not for the serial number engraved in the side, I would have missed it completely.

" You're in trouble. Miss Lynch dialed Melissa's dad. Ian managed to block the signal and end the call, but he still saw the caller ID. Get out of there."

My heart lurched into my throat.

" Okay."

I quickly wiped the cabinets down and the door. I threw my contacts in one trash can and my glasses in another.

" Stop right there!"

My stomach dropped, on my right stood two very large and angry men. I froze. My breath went ragged.

" RUN!" Zak yelled.

I took off, I know this building better than most.

I tipped a cart of cleaning supplies over as I ran for the stairs. The smell of artificial lemon filled the hallway.

This apron was a making me a target, I tossed it behind me before reaching for the metal door. The wind felt like a whip against my face.

" Stop running." They growled.

I knew the building brick by brick but outside? I didn't even know where the nearest coffee shop was.

" Where do I go?" My voice frantic snd shrill.

" Take your next left."

I followed his instructions.

" Right."

" Right."

" Left."

I glanced behind me. They were gone. Thank god.

" Take the next right and make your way back."

I gasped, my foot had caught on to something and I was thrust forward towards an ivy wall.

I braced myself for pain, but I didn't hit the wall. I went through it.

" Ow," I muttered.

I could hear Zak frantic in my ear.

" Are you alright? I heard a scream. Are you hurt?"

I could hear Ian more muffled, " She's gone."

Then Peter, " What do you mean she's gone?" He demanded.

" I can't track the earring. It's like she was on Blains Street then she disappeared."

I gasped again. I had fallen into someone's garden. It was lush green, birds were chirping. An assortment of vegetables and fruit lined the field. It looked so perfect, it looked like it was right out of a fairytale.

" I'm fine. I'll just go back the way I came." I pushed the ivy apart and my eyes widened. It was a wall. I touched it. It was rock solid. How did I fall through?

" I don't think that's an option anymore." I breathed.

I turned around again and I could see that in the corner under a tree was a boy. He was reading. I began to make my way towards him.

" I found someone. I'm gonna tell him I accidentally stumbled upon this place."

" Clara don't. We don't know who he is and we don't know where you are."

But it was too late. The boy spotted me. His eyes widened, he closed his book.

" You're not supposed to be here." He said firmly.

" I'm really sorry-"

" How did you get in here?" He snapped.

" I'm sorry, I tripped and fell in. I'm never meant to ruin your reading. If you could just show me the way out."

I heard Zak inhale sharply. " You're in the palace."

" Where am I?" I asked the boy. They were wrong. No, I fell into a garden.

" You're in the palace's garden."