Republic of Omisha

Chapter 6: Eliza

 "I want you to go first. Please, I want you to be waiting there for me on the other side." Eliza protested with an anxious look in her eye. With time against them Kalea agrees and squirms through. Eliza is hurried through by Helena. When she is out she steps to Kalea's side to wait for Helena. She comes to a realization that her Father will not be making it out the same way. Once Helena is out they watch Mr. Spero try to find a way out. They watch helplessly through the oneway soundproof glass.

Eliza's anxiety spikes and Kalea futilely tries to calm her. Eliza holds her head and grimaces. She starts to hyperventilate and lose her balance because of her lightheadedness. Kalea wraps her arms around her and steadily lowers her to kneel on the ground so she doesn't collapse as her knees buckled from shaking uncontrollably. "Father-Father... He-he-he's too tall. He-he can't get out... can't get out ... can't get..."

"Shhh, be quiet now. Just relax, Eliza." Kalea's voice was relaxing and her embrace was reassuring.

Eliza knew that times were dire. Almost an hour has passed since the trial began. Eliza could always trust Kalea. She was so composed and Eliza admired and was also envious of Kalea's ability to control and even suppress her emotions. Eliza's tremors began to subside. She could start to control her breathing. Kalea was Eliza's rock, her firm foundation when she needed emotional support.

As Kalea finished her verse from her mother's song Eliza was ready to try to stand. "Are you okay?" Kalea asked in her gentle motherly voice. Eliza nodded not quite able to form words yet. "Do you want to stand? Do don't have to if you don't feel ready." Her voice was sincere.

"No, I want to stand." Eliza said in her meek way.

Kalea supported her by the waist as Eliza struggled to get her feet under her. After a few wobbly moments Eliza was up and standing on her own. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. She opened her eyes to once again let the domineering world back in. Helena hadn't given Eliza a second thought since she saw her having a meltdown.

Eliza approached the glass. Kalea hovered nearby debating on whether it was wise to allow her to see. Her Father was hopelessly searching the rooms for a way of escape. Eliza counts the remaining contestants. Six remain. One soon escapes. There is an announcement on the speakers who names the five participating families that will continue to the next trial.

The last five people are usually adults since only children who are five and up can participate. Something was odd. Eliza noticed that an elderly lady was one of the five in the escape room. The announcer announced the last name of each family. The lady's last name was Ravenwood. That, Eliza thought, is Mackenzie's last name! Her family must be poor to have her grandmother living in town with them and not an expensive retirement town.

Eliza had been so engrossed on the news that her family and (mainly) Mckenzie's were in the trials that she hadn't noticed that Kalea was out of sight. That is if she turned around. Eiza dismissed the fact that she heard footsteps behind her because the whole town occupied the long room that encompassed the perimeter of the escape room. The footfalls were light. Suddenly Eliza is grabbed from behind. She feels the prick of a syringe pierce her neck and with a burning sensation pumping through her veins, she's quickly out cold.

Eliza wakes in tall grass. She springs to an upright position. She runs in her mind the last thing she can remember. I remember... watching the trials and... being grabbed from behind! Eliza examines herself to make sure that no one had harmed her when she was unconscious. She has a scab on her neck from the syringe, but other than that she looks fine. Quickly, she realizes that she is wearing different clothes. She was wearing skinny jeans and a burgundy short sleeve shirt, but now she finds herself wearing black athletic legging and a form fitting two tone tank top.