Rich Kids Don't Die | Featured

Chapter Twenty Two

"What the hell was that?" the man hissed, a stab of pain contorting his features into a gnarled scowl. A bruise had blossomed onto his skin, the etches of bright red and sickeningly dark blue clawing for (medical) attention whilst cheekily peeking out from his wrinkled collar.

His hands had shot out towards his neck instinctively, his gaze roaming nearby proximity for signs of danger. It was absurd - he'd been safeguarded by meters of distance between himself and his colleagues, yet somehow had managed to collide into something. No, someone.

Maddie resisted the urge to let out a string of muffled curses as she caught Annika's eye. Two minutes in and they'd already been greeted by the wicked grin of complete and utter doom. If they couldn't be killed, they could definitely be tortured. For the rest of their pathetically eternal lives.

The victim of Annika's stupidity straightened as she backed away, shooting icy glares at the other men before staring at empty air accusingly. "Who's there?" he growled.

A roar of laughter rose into the air, the other fifty or so guards clutching their stomachs in antagonizing glee. "Talking to ghosts now, si?" they chuckled.

"Not ghosts," the man snarled. "Something else. Fugitives, teppista. I told you to bolt the doors, you foolish morons-"

The arguing went on for minutes, all weary, drunken men bleating and howling at each other in general uproar, tumultuous and agitated as beads of sweat dripped down their brows. The conflict was a product of bottled fury and intoxication, rather than real suspicion. The one factor of this whole mess they had to be grateful for.

Asher caught Violet's gaze, mouthing for her to go. She shook her head and nodded towards Katya, who'd somehow already gotten to the top of the stairs. The last of her had now disappeared into the armory, a blur of gleaming red hair racing towards her prize.

That sly little bitch, Leah thought, peering up at the landing with a smile. Katya had successfully slithered her way through the crowd without so much as a hiss.

Eager to do the same, Leah darted up the stairs whilst the man argued with the other guards. Admittedly, his persistence was admirable. The possibility of magicians had not occurred to them: they were either uninformed mortals or absolute idiots. Or both.

Alex and Maddie were left at one end of the hall, Annika now safely shuffling towards them whilst Asher and Violet remained at the other end. All of this as they remained invisible. 

They'd brought forms of distractions, and it seemed only fitting to use them now that Leah and Katya were relying on precious time. Of course, they weren't going to be hurting innocent guards. Not much, anyway.

Reaching for their bags at the same moment, Asher and Alex both searched through their supplies for something Sonia liked to call a magic bomb. Self-explanatory, for the most part. Except, rather than tearing through infrastructure or flesh, it would simply knock out the guards for long enough for an immaculate escape.

It would act as a mist - they'd fall unconscious, awakening with not a fragment of their delicate, pliable memories to hold against the MIC and their teenage agents. As always, they would disappear without a trace.

"Three, two, one..." Asher mouthed.

A small BOOM.

Thirty seconds was all it took. Puzzled and lethargic, the guards all drew a sharp intake into the mist, which had burst into a despairing cloud that dismally loomed above their heads. Like pouring bullets of rain on a stormy day, small droplets of it formed on their skin. Each bead of liquid magic was almost hydrating, the delirium a fresh relief to the exhaustion and angst pulsing in their blood.