Abington High School Student Arts Magazine 2015-2016 | Page 29

They reached the platform on the opposite side of the building that housed similar red X's plastered on rusting doors. The concrete concourse that was revealed before them was large and seemed to go on for miles, this scene even more overgrown than the previous one and littered with glass and debris. Vines trailed up the sides of the cracking brick, giving the illusion that no one had seen the faces of these walls in centuries, but they knew otherwise. Still, they kept their feet quiet and stealthy, knowing that what was at stake was far greater than the both of them combined.

"There." She finally whispered, pointing to a rusted door ten or so yards away bolted into place. "Do you think you could help me open it?"

"Yeah I think so." He responded, cracking his knuckles in anxiety. She gave him a reassuring glance before she stared intently at the door studying it's every quality. They both stood their ground as she lifted her palms towards their only chance of entrance. He followed the action and they both closed their eyes, pulling on strands of energy from the air to aid them in their conquest. The door creaked as the bolts popped off one by one, sounding like firecrackers as they hit the ground. Not even a minute later the door was open, hanging off of it's hinges, it's red X staring blankly back at them. All done without either of them lifting a finger.

"I'll never get used to that." She said winded, the energy required to move the door with her mind leaving her exhausted.

"After tonight we may never have to do that again." He said back, letting himself sit on the ground with his brow drenched in sweat. She let his words sink in, letting herself be hopeful for just a moment. They just needed to get through the door, that was all that was left. That was all that stood between them and the truth.

She would give them the signal to run in a few moments, waiting for the perfect time to strike. He was nervous, his frame shaking from his exhaustion and fear that he may never see his brother again. She felt it too for her sister that was trapped within these walls, hopefully searching for a way out. Hopefully alive.

"When I run you follow me, okay?" She whispered for the last time, knowing that words wouldn't find her when they crossed the threshold of the door. He nodded and took three long breaths that lasted a millisecond and a million years all at the same time.

She shot forward in what felt like slow motion, their steps perfectly synchronized on the gravel covered platform. One step. She was really fast. Two steps. They're in there, they have to be in there. Three steps. I hope my parents know what to do. Four steps. What’s that noise?

He heard her cry out first, her body sprawled on the ground in front of the door. He felt his body become numb and fall next to her. They should have known. The faint blue glow around their bodies was almost angelic, but was possessing their muscles to be inactive. An imminent buzz filled their ears from the energy surging through their bodies. They couldn't move. They couldn't run.

People, at least she thought they were people, were dressed from head to toe in black. They reached out as if the blue aura didn't affect them and held the boy and the girl in their arms. She reached into her mind to pull on the last spell of her energy, trying to move their hands off of her, trying to stop the possession. It was no use. He was crying because it was over, and she was crying because they were headed towards the door. Only a few more steps. One step. Two steps. Three steps. Four steps...

They made it to the door, but they never made it out. **

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