Chapter 95: Flock, Separate Voices

Alex

The first time I saw Raven I'd mistook her for Alcyone. They were almost alike, but there was a difference between them that I couldn't put my finger on. And it was obvious Ruidi trusted them even less than the first time he saw them.

I think Raven is pretty OK. She was an excellent flier, so that meant she had not bothered to teach Alcyone how to fly, or maybe Alcyone was just faking it. But I'm sure she had a reason. And I'm willing to forgive her.

I was really happy that we were so close to finding Nick. I'd missed him a lot, and hated the scientists for capturing him. I looked ahead at the horizon, the sound of nine separate wing beats surrounding me. Of course, Raven didn't have wingbeats as she was partly owl. She just mostly glided on the air or twirled with the currents.

We were almost there, to the place directly aboveground the scientist's hideout. Excitement bubbled up inside me. I'm going to see Nick, soon...

Pranu

The flock and I landed. "So, who's going to teleport us down here?" I asked.

"Not me," Bhavana said. "I was too exhausted to even stand last time."

"I'll do it!" Alcyone said, appearing behind Raven.

"You need to save your strength for battle." Raven said. "Pranu, use your keycard. I'll be staying back as lookout."

I nodded, pressing my thumb on the engraved P.V of the yellow plastic card. In a flash, we were in the Void, in another flash, we were inside the Lab.

Pranu

For some reason, the minute I stepped foot into the Lab I got a bad feeling like something was going to happen. I immediately touched my necklace. It was my birthday present for my 16th birthday which was yesterday. Neptune had given it to me and no one else knew about it or the fact that I was now 16. I turned around and looked at everyone else. They were looking around cautiously.

Happy belated birthday Pranu. Jason said.

Thanks, Jas- wait, Jason, can you give me some advice on this? We just got into the Lab, and, I have this bad feeling...

Well, is it a gut instinct? Jason asked.

I don't know, maybe. I replied.

You should always listen to your gut instincts. Jason said in reply, then didn't say anything more.

Alex

We walked down the corridor and came to a door, with Nick's name on it. "Should we open it?" Tim asked.

"I don't know... I have a really bad feeling about this..." Ruidi said.

"You have a really bad feeling about everything." I said in reply, and opened the door.

Ruidi

Seriously, you'd think that after getting almost half of the flock captured before would teach Alex a lesson with randomly opening doors. But noooo, Alex just wouldn't listen to me, me who'd gotten us out of more scrapes than she had.

"Everyone on guard." Pranu said. "Back to back. Guard each other. Don't enter until you have ideas for at least three ways out of here."

Looking at the room, I couldn't even think of one way to get out of there. The walls were solid concrete. There were no windows or air vents. And there was absolutely nothing in there. Well, to me at least.

Suddenly, a voice behind me spoke. "I suppose you have not the faintest idea of how to safely free your companion with all of that lying around." I looked. It was Raven. Well, at least, it was a raven. Rather small for a raven, though, and it had a brilliantly white feather in its left wing.

"I thought you said you were staying behind as lookout." Tim said.

"No, I don't think that's Raven. That's a raven. But not Raven." I'd bet anything that Raven stuck one of her radioactive communication devices on that white feather.

"I am. This is Ryn." 'Ryn' preened its feathers.

"How are you seeing us?" Alex asked.

"Left wing. Second feather to the left, three rows down."

Clever. Purposely sticking a feather that's different from the others to act as a decoy while the real microphone was sprayed onto a different feather.

"What did you mean by all that lying around?" Eshana asked.

"I suppose you can't see them." Ryn uttered a cry that sounded like corpse. corpse. "Try throwing anything onto the floor."

Alcyone handed me a rock. I threw it down onto the floor a few feet in front of me. To my surprise, it sank. Like quicksand. But invisible. I looked up at the ceiling. Too low for us to fly over. We'd bonk our heads on the ceiling and crash into the quicksand.

What to do, what to do...

Sparrow/Maria

Curse that Raven. All the traps and snares were painted a color out of the visual spectrum. But as a member of the Higher Order Raven had her eyeballs changed a bit so it could see anything of every frequency of vibration. Like me, but permanent. Just because she was his daughter didn't mean she deserved any special treatment from us. The Boss had wanted me to watch over them, and I doubt that she'd be pleased with me making contact. But I could make up for that by bringing them to her.

The flock is naive, and trusted everything I said. So when I told them I could see the green lava-sand too, they got all excited. "Maria, can you lead us to where Nick is?" they asked me. I forced a smile and nodded.

Ruidi

I used to trust Maria completely. Now that Maria confessed that she could see the same things as Raven, I was starting to get a bit suspicious...

Eshana

It's, like, awesome! This Maria can see the traps! And I bet she can see Nick too. I completely believe her. The faster we get this quest over with, the more we can go shopping when we return to camp. But the seven go, six return part of the prophecy is kind of depressing. We have, like, what? eleven people? That means...(one, two three, four...) five! Five people will die. I hope one of them isn't me.

Pranu

I told everyone to follow Maria's lead. Wherever she stepped, we stepped, and we got across the entire room safely!

Maria's awesome, isn't she, Jason? I asked.

Sure, but- Jason never got to finish his 'but', because that instant Maria stepped on a patch of floor and was tugged down, screaming, "RUN! IF ONE ACTIVATES THEY ALL ACTIVATE!"

Ruidi

We tried. We really tried. but Maria was right. Soon all of us were sinking into the floor, except for Alcyone who basically melted into a puddle of strange black substance and fled. That- I never got to finish that thought because at that moment my entire head sank down.

Chapter 96: Flock, Separate Voices

Sparrow/Maria

I sunk down, down, down... trying not to breathe. Not that I was not able to breathe. Just that I didn't like the smell of the oxygen in concrete. Suddenly, the sinking stopped, and I fell on my back on a mattress that was underneath the portal between the Holding room and the Main Office.

"I have to admit, that was clever, Sparrow." Nikita approved, his voice as cold as ever. "Sinking into the portal and making them run into the traps themselves in their frenzy?" He laughed, but the sound held no joy. "Ingenious. And that amounts to very high praise, when given from me." He unfolded his newly attached vulture wings and admired them. "Let Shirley go, though."

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"Let's just say that I have more... elaborate things in store for her." he cackled.

"Don't be so narcissistic." I said. "Remember, Raven and her shadow are still alive, and out there."

"Oh, her." Nikkita said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "She would never raise a sword against the Higher Order."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because... of this!" Nikita whipped the cloth off of a nearby display case. Inside was a blackish substance, desperately trying to re-form itself, but the case was too small for it to re-form. It didn't give up, though, and kept on trying, wasting its energy. "I caught it in the hall."

"Is that... her shadow?" I asked.

"Bingo!" he nodded. "And unless she agrees to work for us-" Nikita fiddled with string attached to the ceiling- "It'll be lights-out, and bye-bye shadow!" He cackled again.

I seriously wonder sometimes if this guy has mental issues. I highly doubt that he came up with this plan by himself. Sons of Ares are not known for their thinking skills.

Raven (Simplified vocabulary version, for Shirley & your benefit)

Something was wrong. I could sense it. I couldn't really catch what it was, but it felt terribly off. Perhaps something went wrong for the flock. Why do they ALWAYS get into trouble? I didn't really trust that Alcyone would be able to save them if something big happened. But there was this tugging feeling, which was quite odd. It never occurred before.

Just then, an unpleasant sound rang in my head.

"Raven," It spoke.

"Nikita." I said, irked, for the bloke had been contacting me nonstop the past few days for me to participate in the Higher Order's activities.

He chuckled, odd sounding and out of place, "Why it is nice to speak with you again. Have you reconsidered my offer to participate in the Higher Order?"

"Why should I? You... people... do nothing but invent things that destroy." My voice was once again steely.

He laughed maniacally, "Well then, you will regret it... I have your little friend with me. I can say that soon she will no longer be here.

Surprise hit me, "Alcyone? You have her?" I gritted my teeth. He was bluffing. He must be.

"Why yes, if you mean this little black substance wasting energy to escape."

I think I growled in response, "You maniac!"

He just snorted and replied coolly, "If you still want this little shadow, then consider the deal- participate in our side, or see your little friend disappear forever."

I tried bluffing. "Nikita, it's great that you have removed my shadow from my possession. Now I can sneak up onto you without you noticing."

He laughed again. "Don't you go around trying to bluff to me! I give you four hours. If we receive no response after four hours, then the little shadow goes bye-bye!" then he shut down our mental link.

There was nothing I could do. I unsheathed my sword and prepared for a one-man- well, one-person invasion of this stupid place.

Everyone except for Shirley

We were sinking... sinking... sinking down... until finally... plop... the hard cold floor stopped us.

We were clueless, even afraid, no one knew what was going to happen.

After surveying around, it looked like we were in some kind of jail cell. Everyone was trapped here... all but Shirley.

Shirley

One moment I was sinking, the next I appeared in a small room. It was shaped like a box, with old fashioned carpet that was very soft yet old. It glimmered in the sunshine that burst through the small glass windows. I peered around, all the furniture was probably never used. I did not really like this odd looking room. As I examined my surroundings, some kid popped out of nowhere. I jumped.

"Who are you?" I asked immediately.

He looked uncomfortable. "Umm... that's classified information."

I stared at him, his wings were tucked in, but I could still see the gleaming bits of red flashing in the sunlight. I knew instantly that they were red tailed hawk wings.

"Fine, then why are you here?" Some random question came out my mouth.

"To tell you that Nikita is currently busy, you might have to wait a while," He answered.

"NIKITA? Why does he even want to see me," My eyes popped out of my head in surprise.

The boy smiled, but it was forced. "You'll see."

Chapter 97: Raven

I strode down towards the building, surprising a guard. "Raven." I told him cooly. He checked his clipboard. I glanced at it idly. Raven- Special permission granted from Nikkita, MWAH-HA-HA-HA! was what it said. He nodded at me and waved me in.

I walked down the halls, unfamiliar but familiar at the same time. I had been in this building before, but they had refurnished the walls and changed some of the decorations around. I stopped at a door titled, Nikita's Office, and turned the doorknob.

Nikita was sitting there waiting for me. "Well, Raven, it's about time." he said.

I am not one who strides in anywhere without a plan. I leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Nikita, I know your secret." His eyes widened.

I took advantage of this and unsheathed my blade in milliseconds, slashing upwards. Nikita blocked it with his sword, which he had somehow managed to unsheathe, too. "Naughty, naughty." he said, smiling and waggling his finger. "You're out of practice, Raven."

We sparred, twirling around, our swords meeting with a clank. That's it. I'm not going easy on him anymore. I improvised the most complicated steps of slashes, hacks, twirls and blocks possible. I could tell that I was doing better than he had expected. He was slowing. Now, I just needed to bend time a bit to make myself even faster...

Almost sensing this thought, Nikita shouted, "CHARLIE! GET IN HERE!" and a boy rushed into the room. I could take both of them... I think...

Shirley

I heard some something very faint in the distance. Apparently, the boy must have heard it too, but more clearly, because he instantly responded by turning around and sprinting out the door, he managed to close it too. I waited a while, then I went over to the door. The knob slowly twisted... and the door opened... he didn't lock the door.

Raven

I underestimated the boy. I felt his mind trying to take over mine, to control it... I strengthened my defenses, both physical and mental. It was tiring work, fending off Nikita and Charlie at the same time. Perhaps it was because I no longer was whole- my shadow, a part of me, had been ripped away. Finally I managed to turn the tables and use the boy's power against him. I lashed back and took control of him. Kill Nikita... I told the boy. He immediately obeyed, his hand reaching for the long dagger strapped to his back. He mechanically stepped forward.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Nikita shouted, and reached his hand toward the light cord...

I responded immediately and slashed his hand off. I stared for a moment, a bit horrified by what I had done. In fighting him I had not meant to harm him. Nikita gave a shriek of pain and dropped to the floor, clutching his stump. I turned to the boy and gave him a menacing glare. He turned and ran in the other direction.

"Alcyone..." I fumbled the lid off the glass container and watched as she re-formed- or, at least, tried to. She couldn't turn back to human shape, or any shape, for that matter. "What did they do to you?" I asked, but got no reply. I quickly put the substance into the test tube and booted up the computer. Nikita was still on the floor, moaning.

I opened the GeneticsEditor program. I typed DNA into the search query box of the program. Only one popped up. Shadow. A message appeared on the screen. Do you want to add any genes to this substance? I clicked 'OK'. A test tube popped out, and the screen said, Please insert sample DNA into test tube and feed it into the hole below this monitor. I pulled out a strand of hair and tried it. Genes already exist. the message popped up. I clicked, 'view gene'. The computer said, Gene corrupt. Cannot read. Try again? I tried a few more times, but it didn't work. Finally, I got an idea. I took the raven feathers that Ryn had molted from my sleeve, and put it into the test tube. I waited with bated breath. After what seemed like ages, the screen said, Transfer success. I took Alcyone out of the test tube and watched as she transformed... into Ryn.

Shirley

I tiptoed down the hall, then saw the boy running out of Nikita's office, not sparing me even a glance.

Then, Raven came out, with Ryn perched on her shoulder. "Shirley." Raven said. "Where are the others?"

"I don't know! I was sinking with them at first, but then suddenly I popped up into a room. That's when this boy came in and told me to wait for Nikita," I told her.

She processed this instantaneously. "That was the same boy." I had no idea what she was talking about. Raven looked up to me and said, "He could control minds, you know."

Control minds? Wow. "What happened? I saw him running," I asked.

"Let's just leave it at that I defeated Nikita and Charlie," She replied.

"Charlie?" I questioned.

"Yes, the boy," Raven answered.

"So that's his name... He works for the scientists?" I asked one of my other questions.

"Not willingly, no. His real parents are being held hostage." Raven answered quietly.

"How do you know that?"

"When I-" she hesitated, searching for words-"broke into his mind, I saw."

"Also, he said something about Nikita wanting to see me. Why me?"That was the biggest thought bothering me.

"I do not know. He never was informed. He just did what he was told." Raven paused. "A pawn in the chess game between their side and yours."

I noticed that she had said your side, not our side. "Poor him." I said quietly.

"Mmmhmm. Poor him." Raven agreed absentmindedly, stroking the raven on her shoulder.

Chapter 98:Nikita

When I finally came to after that imbecile Raven had beaten me, I looked at my right hand with horror. Well, at least where my right hand used to be.

I knew Raven, and when fighting she'd always preferred unharmed and beaten to injured and unconscious. Then again, she preferred injured and unconscious to dead.

That was a stupid move, what I had done. If I hadn't been lucky, I bet my whole arm would've been sliced off. And I knew Raven wasn't performing her best that day. She didn't want to injure me. Just defeat me. Which is kind of hard, when you think about it. Defeat without injuries?

Raven has a few morals. One of them was that she, Raven, would not kill or injure anything of sentient flesh when possible. Strange, huh? Perhaps it was because of this that she became good at swords. She needed to know how to take someone down without killing them.

I grimaced, searching around for my missing hand. It had rolled under a table. I grabbed it with my left hand and inspected it. It was too far gone to reattach. I would need a prosthetic one. I hauled myself up with my good hand, and stood up, swaying. The loss of blood made me dizzy. I called to Charlie to aid me. He came rushing to my side immediately.

"Where were you?" I croaked weakly to him.

He averted his eyes. "I was... afraid." he confessed.

Then, the door burst open. A dark-haired woman in her late forties and impossibly black eyes with a chinese baby girl clutched in her arms and a crow perched on her shoulders ran in.

"Mister Nikita," she said in a high-pitched, girly voice, "I am Professor Laughini" She pronounced this LAW-gee-nee, put her hand inside a pocket and flashed me a business card, "from Branch Seventeen. We are offering to hold your lab experiments in our high-security prison so that they can't escape."

I considered it. A small voice in my mind whispered, Y'know, it'd be great if Laughini got them instead... at least, when they escape the Boss won't put the blame on my head... and thus I consented. I left Laughini with the keys and map to the Barred Room. I also notified my Boss of this transfer. She agreed also, and guaranteed me that if the sneaky little eels managed to escape again it would not be my fault.

Finally. I could sit back and relax.

Chapter 99: Caiyi

We tried everything to get out. No use. They were reinforced steel, with glittering crystal that looked suspiciously like diamond. The prison room was actively resisting our efforts to break it. Our first try was to use our weapons, but that was until we found out we were completely wasting our energy while our swords made no change to the grey walls. It was dark in the room, with just enough light to make out each figure in the room. After trial who-knows-what, we finally gave up and slumped against the hard, crackless walls. Someone did suggest they use the dragon phoenix technique, but someone else thought it would take up too much energy. Great, now we were trapped in a little dull box-of-a-room. It boring, just plain boring. Another thought was whirring in our thoughts, everyone was thinking the same thing, where was Shirley? She just seemed to have disappear. Planning to escape was our main task. I put every thought aside and thought. It would not be easy.

Suddenly, a woman in her late forties with a raven perched on her shoulder, with a toddling Chinese girl following close behind. She gave Ruidi a slip of paper. Ruidi recognized it immediately, and half-smiled. "01010010 01100001 01110110 01100101 01101110" Ruidi said. "Binary. Or base 2 if you prefer."

"Shut up." the woman gave him a glare. "There's cameras, you know?" she added in a lower voice.

"Is that Shirley?" Ruidi asked, pointing the the toddling girl who gave him a nasty glare.

"What's happening?" Eshana asked.

"I'll tell you later, just do whatever 'Professor Laughini' tells us to." Ruidi said.

Shirley

I hate being stuck as a toddler. Sure, Raven's idea was brilliant, but couldn't she have made me older instead of making me turn back into a baby?

Anyways, I had no choice but to follow. It felt weird to look at my friends with my head raised, normally, it was just eye length or a bit higher. At least I still had my memory. I have to say, my eyes seemed sharper and my ears heard clearer. My senses were better than they were, or should I say, will be. So as my buddies, if I can call Raven my buddy without being smacked, were discussing about where we were going, my thoughts wandered.

Pranu

I had no idea what was happening. But Ruidi had insisted we trust this person who was supposedly transferring us from one prison to another. But I trusted him, so I followed his lead.

Raven

Everything was proceeding delightfully. I led them down the familiar halls, getting not so much as a glance from the various guards and Scissors. I had just hacked into them a few minutes ago from the main computer, and used willpower to convince the rest of the people that a certain 'Professor Laughini' existed. Nikita and his helpers were completely in ignorance. Once we were a safe distance from the Lab, Tim said, "Maria. We left Maria behind."

"We should go get her back. And Nick, too." Alex said.

"Who are you, anyway?" Pranu asked, looking curiously at me.

"Raven." I replied simply, then reversed my age while increasing Shirley's.

They stared, open mouthed. Shirley brushed herself off and said, "Well, being a toddler again was not my favorite choice, but it certainly was interesting."

"We need to go back in there. We have to." I said. "To save Nick and Maria."

Shirley added in, "And Charlie too."

Pranu

Who's Charlie? I was about to ask, but then decided that it must be some other poor avian human captured by the scientists.

"A day wasted." Caiyi said morosely. "Only five left..."

Chapter 100: Ruidi

I somehow couldn't shake the feeling someone was tailing us. Although I seemed calm on the exterior, on the inside, a boiling maelstrom of emotions swirled around inside me. Maria wasn't dead. That one seemed to dominate the others. I would have thought seeing her alive would have gotten rid of my guilt; but instead, it made me even more guilty.

There was something wrong with Maria-I just knew it. I had killed her. I remember myself killing her. I remember burying her bloody corpse into the grave. But how had she lived?

Chapter 101: Alex

Okay, okay. I admit it. I read Ruidi's thoughts for a while, and was really surprised by what he knew, or at least what he thought he knew.

I couldn't comprehend it. Wasn't Ruidi supposed to be happy that Maria was alive? I mean, he thought he killed her and was guilty about that, so he should be happy that Maria's back. Instead, he seemed strangely subdued, and was currently staring off into space. Something was wrong, and it had to do with Maria's appearance. I didn't want to think it, but the thought wouldn't relent, pounding inside my skull with fiery intent.

There was something wrong with the way Ruidi was acting about Maria-I just knew it. A peek into his thoughts didn't do me much good- it just increased my curiosity. And Ruidi thought there was something wrong about Raven too- and I could agree to that. Because one big, major thing.

I couldn't read her mind.

Chapter 102: Bhavana

Everyone seemed quiet. I cast my mind back and remembered the look on Ruidi, Tim, and Caiyi's face when Maria had appeared. Tim's face immediately lit up, but Caiyi's face was immediately shadowed. Ruidi's was suddenly sad, and then his poker face returned. Based on that, I just knew. I don't know how I did, but I did.

There was something wrong with the way they were acting around Maria-I just knew it.

And I did NOT like it. At ALL.

Chapter 103: Pranu

Nobody really knew where we were headed, all but Raven. She was easily guiding us through the maze-like halls. I don't know how she tells the difference between all the different passages, since all the walls were all the same shade of dusty grey. The floor was one of those slippery squares of tile.

"You are almost at your destination," Raven whispered.

I noticed she used the word "you" instead of "we".

Silently, we approached a small unnoticeable door.

"Inside is where we should go, to save all your friends," Raven told us quietly.

Again, there is that "your".

Raven waited.

"Aren't you going to open the door?" Ruidi asked, reaching for the handle.

Raven slapped his hands away, "Don't! The handle is sensitive to heat, if you touch it now, it will electrify you. I have disabled all the weapons earlier, but this one seemed to need a longer time to shut off. According to my calculations, there is about 3 minutes left."

Ruidi opened his mouth, but then closed it. Everyone knew, there was no arguing with Raven at all. So we just waited.

3 LONG minutes passed before there was even slightly any movement. Ruidi kept on glancing at his watch, anxious to get this over with. Then his eyes lit up a bit, and he reached for the handle.

Once again, his hand was rejected, by Eshana, "Let me do this."

Ruidi's eyes dimmed, slightly sad, and put his hand away.

Eshana reached for the door, stopping centimeters away from the handle.

"Come on, Nick's in there. I can feel it- Maria too," Alex said impatiently. Eshana grabbed hold of the handle and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She yanked on the door. It opened with a slow creaak.

FLASH!

Chapter 104: Eshana

A streak of light hit us. Slowly, we all peered into the small room. It was an unexpected scene.

As expected, there were a bunch of cages heaped in a pile near the corner. There were also even more cages aligning the boring walls, but it was what was in them that surprised me the most. When I peeked into the cages i saw oddly-shaped beings. It was only until I looked closer did I realize that those were ANIMALS! Those poor creatures, it was heartbreaking. One of them was a white poodle, or used to be a white poodle. Now it was more of a tangly mess of fur and flesh. Disturbing right?

All of this was so distracting, most of us forgot what we were here for. Raven seemed to be the only one who was undisturbed by this disaster.

"Hurry, you must hurry. You do not have much time left before the security kicks in," She warned. "This was the one security check I was not able to destroy, only delay."

Everyone snapped back to reality.

We all made our way past the cages, trying to ignore our surroundings. Towards the back of the room, there was a tiny steel door. It was just barely noticeable over the plain walls. I mean really? This place had ABSOLUTELY NO taste in fashion, and I mean NONE WHATSOEVER!

"Great. Another door," Ruidi muttered, "wonder where that leads too, obviously to Nick or Maria," he said sarcastically.

Bhavana rolled her eyes and Pranu punched him in the gut, well tried, but with his avian reflexes and all.

"BE SERIOUS for ONCE will you?" Pranu yelled in a whisper sort of way, if that was possible.

"Is this door still protected?" Alex asked.

"I do not believe so," Raven stated.

Alex nodded.

I was going to have to open the door again.

Everyone was silent. As I reached over to open the door...

FLASH!

Chapter 105: Alex

Yet another blinding flash of light hit us. Slowly, we all peered into the small room. It was a strange scene.

There were a bunch of cages heaped in a pile near the corner. There were also even more cages aligning the lime green walls, but it was what was in them that surprised me the most. When I peeked into the cages I saw oddly-shaped beings. It was only until I looked closer did I realize that those were ANIMALS! Those poor creatures, it was heartbreaking. One of them was a hawk, or used to be a hawk. Now it was more of a tangly mess of feathers and flesh. Disturbing right?

All of this was so distracting, most of us forgot what we were here for. Until, of course, Raven warned us. We all made our way past the cages, trying to ignore our surroundings. Towards the back of the room, there was a tiny green door. It was just barely noticeable over the lime walls.

"Is this door protected?" I asked.

"I do not believe so," Raven stated.

Ruidi

Wait a second. Is it me, or are we repeating this entire thing over again? I looked toward Raven, and she gave me a sad half-smile. "I warned you to hurry. This is their security system."

Pranu

"What? You mean we're stuck?" I whisper-shouted at Raven and Ruidi. They nodded. "Oh great. " I said to nobody in particular. "This is just great. How are we supposed to get out of here?"

"Only when everybody realizes that everything is reoccurring again, then the key will appear." Raven replied. "Until then, we will have to re-enact the scene over and over again."

Eshana

Strange. I have a really weird feeling like this happened before. But with much boring colors for the walls. Almost like deja vu, you know?

I was going to have to open the door again.

Everyone was silent. As I reached over to open the door..

FLASH!

Alex

Again we found ourselves in that same room. Yes, FOR SURE this is repeating itself. I glanced at everybody else, and they still didn't look confused at all. Only Raven, Ruidi, Eshana and Pranu looked like they knew anything.

"How-" I began.

"Yeah, it's like everyone is... stuck in some kind of paradox or something." Ruidi said. "I wonder how the scientists were able to make something like this..."

"Well we should just tell them that this is a 'paradox' so that we can get a move on." I said. "This whole security system is pointless."

His eyebrows knit together. "It's not like we haven't tried. It's just..." Ruidi made a random hand gesture, then shook his head, "You'll know when you try."

So I told Caiyi about the system and told him to snap out of it, we have to get a move on. He began nodding, but then suddenly his eyes glazed over then cleared, and he said, "What did you say, Alex? I didn't hear it."

So I explained it again. Once again Caiyi asked for me to repeat it. This happened a bunch more times until I, exasperated, threw my hands into the air and gave up.

"This is stupid." I said to Ruidi. "What's the point of a security system that can be broken?"

"This was not designed to keep us out," Raven said, "but to keep us away."

"Aren't out and away the same thing?" I asked, sick of getting vague answers to most of my questions.

"No, not really." Pranu piped up. "What if they're keeping us away until they get the next security measures set up?"

"So we have to wait." Eshana told me.

"I hate waiting." was my muttered reply.

"Well, then, you'll have to deal with it, won't you?" snapped Ruidi, who was clearly losing his cool, and looked like he might blow up any second. Then, the door banged open, and everyone immediately snapped to attention, the glazed look dissipating from their eyes.