Arius's face scrunched up as if he was trying to find something, then he looked up at Zuna. He stared at her for what seemed like forever.
"Arius?" She asked in a hushed voice like she was looking for reassurance.
He finally snapped out of it. "Yes?"
"What happened just now?"
"Not sure." Arius stood up. "Who are you by the way?"
Zuna looked like she had just been electrocuted. Did he have a concussion!? No, that's not how concussions worked, right!?
Arius couldn't help bursting into laughter. "How's my acting?"
Zuna felt her face go numb, he... he was acting? She had no time to react before he had already happily ran up to her and grabbed her wrist. In a matter of minutes she was pulled away from the book shelves and then out of the library. When she finally wrapped her head around everything that just occurred she was already back in the dark and cold room.
Zuna wasn't upset about being fooled, she was actually relieved he was fine. Though she didn't know how to feel about the hand that remained gripping her wrist. Arius didn't want to let go of her, and so he didn't.
"Can you let go please?" Zuna was uncharacteristically polite.
"No."
"Why?"
Arius smile was bright. He leaned in close to her and said: "I wouldn't want you to run away again, would I?"
"I won't run!" She protested with sudden vehemence.
"I don't think I can trust you."
"Then, forget it!" Zuna said through gritted teeth, quickly turning away from him.
Arius used his left hand, which still had a loose chain attached to it, to take out his phone, and as expected, no signal. He looked at Zuna, she had sharp jawline, like Eirik.
Arius put his phone away, his expression was neutral as he slid his hand down Zuna's wrist and intertwined their fingers. She was caught off guard as her face was overwhelmed by a deep blush.
Zuna was frozen. It was enough that she wasn't used to being touched at all. Arius half expected her to struggle and pull away, so he was actually quite glad she didn't.
As the minutes in silence passed, Zuna lowered her head, glancing at their hands every once and in a while. Her movements didn't escape Arius's notice, and he enjoyed every second if it.
His moment of bliss eventually came to an end when the door to the room opened, and she immediately escaped from his grasp.
"After we get the rest of those idiots out, we can leave." Asrael walked in and didn't pause before heading towards one of the staircases.
"Already?" Arius didn't even bother commenting on the accumulation of blood on the teen's clothing.
"Yes, and apparently, Rana's group gave up on trying to unlock Zuna's cell after finding out that Merlin couldn't pick the lock."
"This seems too easy. Why weren't there any guards to keep us from escaping?" Arius was doubtful.
"Rana 'took care' of them earlier." Asrael was on his way down the stairs by the time he finished speaking.
Arius nodded, and then he and Asrael got the rest out. Lufti, Kane, Ginny, and Bertie had already left the mansion with Rana's group, and so they only needed to leave.
As they were hurrying down the now empty hallways, Arius suddenly stopped.
"You guys go on ahead, I need to go get something."
The group slowed down and looked back at the retreating figure of Arius, though the only people that really cared about where he was going were the members of the Bunny Bunch. Zuna sighed, "I'll go and with him."
Asrael nodded as he watched her try to catch up with Arius, then he signaled with his hands for the five others to continue.
Zuna quickly caught up with the man who obviously didn't know where he was headed. Arius must have thought that if he walked around long enough he would find what he was looking for.
He showed no surprise when she appeared next to him, instead, he smiled. They didn't speak at all while they ran into different rooms and searched the place for something, what it was, Zuna didn't know. It was completely empty in the hallways, but they didn't question it.