As promised, the Great Escape. I don't own SP.
Nudging Skulduggery with her shoulder, Valkyrie pointed to the skylight they hovered just underneath. He nodded slightly, and Tanith gave a big thumbs up. grinning at the clouds below her feet. Skulduggery drifted closer to the ceiling, silently examining the glass pane for a latch or opening. Valkyrie kept her eyes on the police officer below them. He was turning slowly, puzzled, searching for his target but never thinking to glance upward. She turned around in Skulduggery's arms. Hurry up, she mouthed at him. Only a matter of time before the bloke realised.
Skulduggery tapped her shoulder, indicating a small latch tucked into the corner of the skylight. He passed her to Tanith so that he could use both hands. Skulduggery worked the latch for a good minute - it was stiff, and why wouldn't it be? Nobody uses skylights - but eventually he pushed the panel and it swung open outwards...
...just as the sun came out from behind a cloud, throwing their shadows into stark clarity.
Valkyrie and Tanith dived through the skylight and left, Skulduggery shot skywards and disappeared into the clouds, and the officer gave a shout for someone to fetch a ladder. Tanith tiptoed across the roof and nudged the glass pane closed with her toe, while Valkyrie sat blinking in the brightness. On the roof, it was a different world - bright and sloped and open to the sky. Valkyrie glanced around, noting their surroundings: the police station was three floors on one side of the building, and just one on the other, which was where they sat. This was bad because the building rose up behind them, windows faced them, and they could be seen in a matter of seconds. Sure enough, a face at the window: Officer Harvey. She squinted at the fugitives and turned away from the window - to alert someone else, Valkyrie assumed.
"Tanith," she hissed, and pointed to the second and third storey windows.
Tanith looked dutifully alarmed. "Where's Skul?" she asked, using the hated nickname.
"I'm here," said his voice from behind Valkyrie, and none of them hesitated. Tanith led the way across the sloped roof, towards the get-away vehicle, and they ran for it as the clouds closed over the sun.
...
They didn't bother to be cautious. There had been an explosion, and sirens wailed, and people were running and shouting. They reached the edge of the roof, and Tanith ran down the wall, and Valkyrie and Skulduggery jumped, softening their landing with the air. They sprinted into the car park, and there was Tanith's motorbike, already occupied by two rather large Dead Men. Tanith jumped on and pressed herself up against Ghastly, and Valkyrie squeezed herself uncomfortably behind Tanith - there was barely any seat left - and Skulduggery sat behind her, practically hanging off the back.
Valkyrie let herself laugh as the poor bike strained to get them moving. Five people on one bike? The situation was ridiculous. The pulled out onto the road and floored it away from the police station - out of trouble once again, although Valkyrie was getting a painful wedgie, and they were on the receiving end of some strange looks by others on the road. The others on the bike looked unfazed - Valkyrie supposed that the Dead Men would have done far worse, and Tanith was probably enjoying it. Valkyrie saw her blow a kiss to some bloke who gaped at them from his Jeep as the overcrowded bike sped past.
...
"Yes, sir, that's exactly what happened. According to Officer Jonesbridge, Stephanie and Gordon escaped via the skylight on the first floor... I'm not sure. Whatever apparatus they had was invisible, because they seemed to be floating, and the family member, the blonde one, she was upside down on the roof. Yes, the skylight's been closed. ... I'm sorry, sir? No, nobody was injured, although we may have to invest in another water cooler. Yes, probably. ...Pardon? Oh, yes, we were called in to a property out on the western side, the owner wanted them fined for trespassing - well, it seemed harmless to me, sir, but you know how these people are." Officer Harvey smoothed her hair back and spoke into the phone again. "Yes, sir, I agree. But we've checked for the family who came to provide ID, as the trespassers didn't have any, and they've gone - nothing in the car park, nothing left on the roof... Really, sir? Honestly, that's a relief - I didn't want to go chasing two people all over Ireland just for trespassing... yes, well, I'm sure he'll forget all about it soon enough. He seemed the type to forget... sorry? Oh, yes, of course - thank you, sir. Goodbye."
Officer Harvey hung up he phone and headed back to her desk.
...
They pulled up outside Valkyrie's house. Gratefully, she hopped off the bike, and Skulduggery flew her up to her bedroom window so she didn't have to waddle. The reflection opened the window for them, and Valkyrie crawled in, flopping down on her bed. Skulduggery waved her goodbye and disappeared. Valkyrie regarded the reflection. The whole adventure felt like a dream.
"You would not believe what I've done since I left," she said.
The reflection nodded. "And all in your pyjamas."
Finito. Thanks, everyone, for all your support! I'm so excited to have finished a multichap fic! My first ever completed one - this is a milestone. It's also why I usually write one-shots.
Thank you so much to MehScrewIt for all your support, reviews and the idea for The Wings We Lack. This fic is dedicated to you.