Escape*
Suddenly, arms from the wall grabbed Powder from behind. A hand covered her mouth, stifling her from screaming. The same chill washed over her bones as she felt herself pulled through the wall and out of the mirror.
In a heat wave that flashed from her gut, Powder planted her feet on the ground and clawed at the arms that grabbed her. She twisted and threw her weight against the hallway walls, intent on hurting her assailant as much as she could.
When the person let go, they fell against a wall and slumped to the floor. Powder stood over them and ripped at the crudely made, chicken potholder mask. When she ripped it away, the face she saw surprised her more.
"Ekko?!"
His black button eyes looked sad and in pain. He quickly covered his face with his hands, but Powder caught a glimpse of the wires that contorted the unwanted smile on his face. Powder bent down, gently pulling at his hands to reveal his face.
"Did she do this to you?" Powder asked.
He silently nodded. Letting him go, Powder reached out and untwisted the wires in his cheeks. The skin fixed there drooped down and relaxed. He rubbed his jaw, feeling a little control again.
"Well, I'm glad that's better –"
"Shh!" Ekko cut her off, putting a finger to his lips.
Quickly standing, he took Powder's hand and dragged her down the hallway, toward the drawing room. She almost protested, but he looked around this way and that, Powder realized to make sure they weren't being followed.
Powder followed him as they snuck into the dark drawing room. The bug furniture stayed where they sat but twitched a little. Following Ekko's lead, Powder helped him push against the side of the bettle cabinet. With its top so wide and top-heavy, it tipped and fell over on its side with a crash to the floor.
"Powder? Is that you?" they heard the other mother call from upstairs.
"Let's go!" Powder took Ekko's hand and pulled at the little door. Inside, the tunnel looked different. It was earthy brown like a rabbit burrow and covered in gray dust and spiderwebs. Old toys stuck in the webs: a toy sailboat, a dance shoe, a mitten, a girl's shoe, and so much more.
"Come on!" Powder tugged on Ekko's jacket. "She'll hurt you again!"
But the other Ekko shook his head. He took off one of his gloves and blew on his hand. Before Powder's eyes, his fingers blew away like sawdust.
"Powder? Powder!" the other mother called, her footsteps coming faster, getting angrier. "How dare you disobey your mother!"
Before Powder could stop him, the other Ekko shoved her forward and she fell on her chin in the tunnel. The last she saw of him was his face looking apologetic as he closed the little door behind her. Powder threw herself against it in protest.
"Powder!"
The other mother sounded very close now. Almost in the same room.
Out of fright, Powder backed away. She turned and left as fast as she could, half running, half crawling, hoping Ekko would change his mind and follow her or that he had been quick enough to find a place to hide. Spiderwebs stuck to her face and hands. She ripped at whatever was in her way, trying to forget about what they felt like in her hands. The tunnel started to shake, as though by the other mother's mounting fury.
Powder passed a rocking horse, a nightlight, a bunny slipper, a glove. And children's clothes… it made her sick. She closed her eyes and kept going on, and on, and on…