The Grey's Curse

Chapter Thirty Two - The Book

~Maria's POV~

Although I was now free, I still had one tiny problem 'How am I going to open this door?' The door in question looked old and worse for wear but still 'Well now what?' I did have one idea but I doubted it would work but after a minute of no other options, I decided that I had nothing to lose and so, I stood in front of the door and took in a deep breath.

'Okay, you can do this'

I hopped up and down while shaking my hands, warming myself up to kick the door open as I focused on the one thing that kept me locked in this room with narrowed eyes full of determination.

'I mean, how hard can it be right?'

And with that, I kicked the door with all my might...which I immediately regretted "Owwww, ow ow ow" I cradled my foot with a grimace 'That hurt a lot more then I thought it would' I looked back at the door and saw it was totally unaffected by my kick.

'Wow, not even a dint?' I was beginning to lose hope when I saw the door knob start to jiggle, making a spike of fear shoot through my system.

'I wonder if I could win in a fight with Charlotte?'

I quickly stood up and tried to hide 'I'll sneak attack her' there was a thump on the door 'Is she ramming herself against it?' There was another strong thump! making me flinch when the poor door finally gave way.

"Hello? Mars?" I froze when I heard a familiar voice that was definitely not Grandma's. I stepped more out into the open and my face immediately lit up when I saw Tanner looking around the room with a hard look in his eyes.

"Tanner?" he whipped around to look at me and his expression immediately melted into one of relief "Mars!" I ran to him and hugged him tightly, only loosening my hold when he flinched from me accidentally touching his knife wound but he didn't seem to mind as he embraced me in a big bear hug.

"I was so worried about you" his voice was muffled from his face being tucked in my neck. I smiled into his chest "I was worried about you too" the hug was so warm and comforting that I didn't want it to end.

"But wait, how did you find me?" He stiffened and tightened the hug "I really just kept opening random doors and hoped for the best" I chuckled, slowly relaxing in the hug.

'I'm glad he's here but...'

"How did you escape?" I rose a brow when I heard him take in a quick breath "I-I" he stuttered but I was too distracted to question him on it when I saw a strange misty smoke start to form behind Tanner and I narrowed my eyes in confusion before realization hit me, I sharply pulled away from the hug and grabbed Tanner's hand, rushing to pull him away from it.

It was sneakily trying to envelop Tanner into it's deadly mist.

"Tanner watch out! It's here!" His eyes widened and without looking back; he started running out the door with me in tow "We have to go!" This time he was the one pulling me into the hallways "You don't happen to know where the book is do you?" He tightened his hold on my hand for a moment.

"I thing I have an idea" he muttered, slightly confusing me "What do you mean?" I was a little miffed when he ignored my question but I was also concerned 'I'm really worried about him, he's acting..different then usual and seems a bit down' he led us down a few hallways 'How does he know where we are?' After running in a few different hallways he abruptly stopped us outside a door.

'What happened to him while I was gone?'

"Are you sure it's in here?" He looked down at me with an unreadable look in his eyes "I'm sure, I heard ole gran gran talking about it being here while I was looking for you" his tone of voice was different than before, it was more clipped and flat, a total contrast to his usual carefree and happy one.