Char was walking along the wall, one hand trailing against it while the other rested on her head. Ethilia stood at the same spot, leaning back against the cold surface, her breathing shallow.
"Char? This doesn't feel like… a garage or any room," Ethilia whispered hoarsely. Her throat felt dry from the freezing air that bit at her skin.
Char hummed, stopping for a moment. Her fingers brushed against a switchboard, and her face lit up. "Found it," she said, her voice tinged with relief.
Ethilia raised a brow, pressing her palm against the wound on her left arm, which had started bleeding again. "Your brain?" she muttered dryly.
Char smirked. "No, your common sense."
Ethilia exhaled through her nose, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the situation. She'd been trying to be friendly to Char lately due to the situation, but deep down, jealousy still lingered... jealousy over how close Char was to Liana.
A click echoed, and suddenly, bright light flooded the room. Both women squinted and blinked rapidly, eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness.
Char froze, her gaze scanning the place before her jaw dropped. "It's…" she whispered.
Ethilia's eyes widened as she stepped forward, her voice trembling. "The… basketball court of our college?"
Char nodded slowly, stumbling a little closer to her. "It was closed since…" Her words trailed off as her eyes met Ethilia's, hesitation flickering across her face.
Ethilia looked away, lowering her head. She swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "Since I made that stupid mistake," she murmured.
Char placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes, Ethilia. But let's not talk about the past. We need to get out of here before we rot to death. No one comes to this side of the college usually."
She grabbed Ethilia's hand and started walking toward the door. Ethilia followed, though her heart pounded unevenly. Her hands were freezing, and the faint sound of rain outside echoed in the distance.
Then Char suddenly stopped, her expression darkening. "If this place has been closed for over five years," she said, her brows furrowing, "then how is there still electricity?" Her grip on Ethilia's hand tightened.
Ethilia's knees nearly buckled. She clenched her jaw. "Maybe… maybe the authorities just never cut the power line. It's easier to ignore than fix, right? No one uses it anyway."
Char didn't reply. Her eyes darted around the court, searching the shadows as if expecting to find a hidden camera. A loud crack of thunder echoed above them, making both women flinch. Ethilia almost jumped, clutching her arms tightly around herself.
"Char… let's get out of here. Please," Ethilia said, her voice trembling as she walked toward the door.
Char hesitated but followed, her mind spinning with restless thoughts.
Why did they leave us alone after capturing us like that? Out of so many places, why did they choose a college's abandoned basketball court? Why did they capture me in the first place? Wasn't capturing Ethilia enough to make Liana restless?
They reached the door, but it was rusted and locked from the outside. The metal handle was stiff, as if it had been untouched for years. Char bit her inner cheek, frustration clouding her face.
She glanced at Ethilia, "Why aren't you more worried about your daughter?" she asked suddenly.
Ethilia was taken aback. She opened her mouth, but only a shaky breath came out. Char stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Why?"
Ethilia drew in a deep breath and lowered her head. "Because I know she's with Liana," she said softly.
Char chuckled under her breath and nodded. I hope you're right… because my gut is starting to doubt you, she thought and gave Ethilia a sharp gaze.
The sharp look made Ethilia swallow hard. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Char shook her head quickly and turned back to the door. "Someone! Open the door!" she shouted, pounding on it with both hands.
Ethilia blinked, her lips parting. "Char… this door hasn't been used in years."
"I know," Char said, her voice raw. "But there are always students who sneak around and break rules. If even one of them comes here, we'll be saved."
Ethilia nodded weakly, unsure but desperate for hope. "Better than doing nothing," she murmured.
Together, they started banging on the door, calling out for help. Their voices hoarse, their bodies trembling in the cold. But only silence answered back, swallowing their desperate calls.
After a few more minutes, they had no strength left. Ethilia slid down against the door, her back hitting the cold surface. No sound came from her throat; only silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Char kicked the door one last time before slumping beside her. Both leaned against it, their bodies trembling. Char pulled her knees close to her chest and buried her face between them. Her jaw tightened as she tried to fight the pounding pain in her head.
The floor beneath them grew colder by the second, seeping through their clothes and numbing their skin. Char turned her head toward Ethilia, her voice barely more than a whimper. "I don't think… we'll be getting out of here by screaming and punching."
Ethilia slowly looked at her and gave a faint nod. She tried to speak, but her lips only trembled...no words came out.
Char reached out and placed her hand over Ethilia's. "But Liana won't let us die alone," she whispered, her voice rough and broken from all the screaming.
Ethilia sniffed and nodded again, blinking away her tears as she tried to hold herself together.....even when her body was turning numb.
____________
Meanwhile, Liana stepped out of the metro and into the open air. Ashley had already gotten off at an earlier stop, and now, it was just her.
She paused at the exit, staring at the sheets of rain pouring down. The cold wind whipped against her face, and for a moment, she hesitated. Then she took a breath and ran toward the nearest shop, desperate for shelter or at least an umbrella.
By the time she got inside, she was already soaked from head to toe. Her hair clung to her face, and droplets trailed down her jacket. She sighed softly, muttering under her breath, "Great… now I'm soaked and miserable."
She grabbed the first umbrella she saw and headed to the counter. As she placed it down, the lady behind the counter gasped. "Aren't you… Liana?"
Liana gave a small, tired smile. "Yeah… but please, keep your voice down. I don't want anyone else to notice."
The woman grinned and made a zipping motion across her lips, pretending to lock it with an invisible key. Then she took the umbrella from Liana's hand. "So, where are you heading in this kind of weather? It's pouring and freezing out there."
Her gaze ran over Liana from head to toe. "and you're completely soaked."
Liana glanced out through the glass door, watching the rain splash against it. "I know," she murmured. "But I need to get somewhere… soon."