AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You think I’m pretty, Ophelia.”
Her joy makes me frown.
“Never mind.” I turn my attention backward and forward. “From the distance we started from, it should’ve only taken five minutes to reach the gate.”
“Meaning we entered a loop at the beginning?” Blair questions.
“Maybe the middle,” Azrael suggests. “The gate doesn’t look as far as it did when we started.”
“Alright. We need to walk in twos, and instead of walking, we need to run,” I declare while my mind is formulating a plan.
“Alaric is going to be a problem if we run,” Blair brings up. “We have to keep an equal pace, like what we were doing when we were walking, yes?” She’s smarter than one would give her credit for.
“Guess I’m carrying, Alaric,” I mutter and look at Blair. “But can you carry Azrael?”
We stare at him while he glances between the two of us.
“Wait, hold on,” he begins and looks at me like I’ve gone mad. “Have you lost your marbles? You can’t carry Alaric. He’s practically a whole foot taller than you.”
“I’m 5’6”,” I acknowledge.
“Same!” Blair beams.
“We’re 6’3”!”
“And?” I press.
“And probably weigh more than 200 pounds!”
“Guess you don’t see girls weight train where you’re from, huh?” Blair ponders.
Okay, I kind of like her.
“You two are going to carry me and my brother to the gates while managing a level pace run to keep us in sync long enough so we get out of the loop,” he summarizes.
“I think that’s the plan.” Blair looks at me for confirmation.
With a nod, I give Azrael my full attention.
“That’s the only way this is going to work. I carry your brother. Blair carries you. We have to go at a running pace together down its path long enough to get out of the loop. The moment we’re out, there’s a high chance these roses will…” I trail off as my eyes grow wide at the sight of pink mist farther ahead.
“What?” Azrael follows my gaze while Blair gasps.
“Oh, no. We can’t inhale those perfumes.”
“Poison?” I ask for clarification.
“Definitely poison,” she urges.
“I have a better idea,” Azrael pressures as he points to my handcuffed hand while raising his tied wrist with Blair’s. “We need to switch.”
“Elaborate,” I suggest.
“Let me be cuffed to my brother. I may be able to snap him out of it, but until then, let me be connected to him. If I can do it right, I’ll manipulate the bouncy energy around me and Alaric, which will make us light enough for you both to carry. That way, you guys will be able to run at a tailored pace and summon your dark traits if necessary to protect yourself!”
“So, you’re a critical thinker when pressed for time.” I reward him with a slight smirk. With a twist of my wrist, the handcuffs shatter apart, and I’m passing Alaric to him. “Sounds like a plan, and we have about…” I pause and squint my eyes. “Forty seconds? Give or take five seconds to scream.”
“Let’s go!” Blair urges as she quickly helps tie Alaric and Azrael together.
