Chapter 11: Soggy Rescue

Watching Jerome try to dry off is something spectacular. It's somewhere between a dog shaking off and a person trying to ring their hair. It was by far the most entertaining thing in the cell, all eyes watching him. After a moment, he really didn't care that we were watching him. I half expected him to begin bathing himself like a cat but then again Jerome was probably more civilized than that. I'm not sure what I would do if he did start bathing himself though.

"How is Mudkip supposed to help us again?" Jerome hissed, ringing the fur around his arm. "If anything, he'll accidentally drown us."

"That's a worst-case scenario, don't you think, Jerome?" Mitch hummed. "I'm sure Quentin has this."

"How?" Jerome retorted. "What is he supposed to do to get us all out of here without drowning us?"

"A control switch."

Quentin slipped down from the vent, sloshing some water in with him. Jerome pulled his legs in closer to avoid the water. Quentin waved a small control switch. Sky was quick to snatch it, looking over the buttons and knobs.

"What is it?"

"A control switch," Quentin replied, swiping the device back. "It's what they used to keep the air around us while we were being escorted. This should help us out."

"So, back in the vents?" sighed Ty, pointing at the overhead vent.

"This'll work, right? I am not going in there if I'm gonna get wet again!" whimpered Jerome.

"It worked the way here," scoffed Quentin. "You think this thing would be working if it was wet?"

"Let's tower up again," instructed Ty.

Quentin went up first, building a nice air bubble for us to access in the vents. Sky followed, then Ty, Mitch, and Jerome. While I didn't mind going last, Seto insisted I went before him. It wasn't like I was wearing a skirt or anything but I still felt slightly uncomfortable having something directly behind me like this. The vent leveled out so we weren't climbing directly upward for very long.

"So, where are we going again?" grumbled Mitch.

"Hopefully toward the exit, right?" replied Jerome.

"Which is where?" huffed Ty, glancing behind him. "We were all unconscious when we got here."

"Seto, can't you use your weird magic stuff to lead us?" snapped Sky.

"I'm low on mana," Seto quickly responded. "I can't do much magic, nothing powerful at least."

"Teleportation would be nice," sighed Jerome.

"Agreed," Seto groaned.

"Quentin," Sky hummed, "Can you find other air pockets with that thing?"

"It's got a sensor, yeah. Why?"

"Adam, no!" snapped Ty. "We're escaping. This isn't a rescue mission."

"We can come back armed, Sky!" added Mitch.

"I'm not leaving without Dawn," hissed Sky. "I'm in charge, aren't I?"

"Not for much longer at this rate," grumbled Ty.

"I heard that."

"Quentin, please get us out of here!" I finally shouted.

Everyone got very quiet very fast. We shuffled forward until we reached another vent opening. A gentle breeze drifted in from beneath us revealing the room below to have another air bubble. Sky glared behind him at the rest of us. This had to be the throne room.

"Adam, no," mouthed Ty.

"Quentin, lead everyone out. I'm getting Dawn," Sky spoke flatly, completely ignoring Ty.

He kicked open the vent, jumping down. We remained silent a moment, not entirely sure what we should do next. With a sigh, Ty climbed over the open vent to sit beside Quentin. I could hear the air release from the snarl on Mitch's face. With a growl, he scooted around the hole to join the group. Jerome remained silent, holding his position.

"Sky might've alerted them to our position," Ty sighed. "We need to move now while we have a chance."

"I'm not leaving him," hissed Jerome, turning himself around so as his feet were first. "Catch up with us."

He jumped down. I could hear his feet hit the ground, body tumbling. Looking between the hole and the team on the other side, I felt conflicted. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. I gulped, closing my eyes. I moved my legs and crawled around the hole. Seto followed behind me. We continued down the vent. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

"Did we make the right choice?" I whispered.

"Sky is blinded," Ty sighed. "We have to think of the bigger picture."

"Better idea," Mitch hummed. I could practically hear the grin. "Let's find the armory."

We stopped.

"That makes sense," chuckled Quentin. "How far can it be?"

"Don't. This is a bad idea!" shouted Ty.

"Keep your voice down," ordered Seto.

"Weapons room. Throne room. Exit. Great plan!" cheered Quentin, shuffling forward.

"No, no…this is a bad plan," groaned Ty, following begrudgingly.