Jackie was too stunned to form words. Alaric was running with her towards the ballroom. They were a few steps away when he paused. There was a commotion inside. Jackie could hear the screams and thumping noises, but she was too occupied with her panic attack. Alaric swore under his breath and pulled her towards him and then pushing her against the wall. He was peeking every few seconds. "Did she get you?" she heard him whisper. He was panting. Jackie looked up. His hand was on her shoulder, and the other one was still holding hers. She shook her head. "Good, OK." He sighed in relief.
After counting to fifty, like she had been taught by her therapist, and picturing a calming escape in her mind. Jackie allowed herself to breathe again. She opened her eyes, to the world around her and found Alaric's head turned away from her. He was busy looking at the door's to the ballroom. But his hand on her didn't move an inch. She was grateful that someone was with her during her panic attack. It would've been worse. "What was that?" she croaked, without looking he said, "a cursed one. Someone who's not supposed to exist." Her eyes widened. "My mom, Jade, and all those people. They are in trouble." She said, trying to push him away. But Alaric pushed her back again, he bent down enough so that he was on her eye level, their foreheads inches away. "They are adults. They will be fine. We need to get out of here without being seen. That was a surprise attack. The next time we meet one of them, we will be in trouble. So follow my lead."
Jackie couldn't help but agree with him. He was right. She knew little about the cursed one's, the books on them were banned. No teacher taught or talked about them. All she ever heard were rumors and stories during sleepovers and parties. The only thing true about them was that they belonged to witches. The last witch clan, Celestial Heart, was wiped fifty years ago by the Magister himself. Does this mean another witch clan had been formed?
"Let's go." Alaric said, pulling her out of her thoughts. They walked silently in the empty dark hallway, aware of any noises and foul smell. "We need to reach the emergency exit," he whispered, stopping behind the wall, looking ahead and then beckoning her to follow him. "Is there another witch clan?" Jackie asked when they had stopped. Alaric looked back, "I hope not." That's all he said before moving forward. They reached the nurse's desk, which was empty, and in front of it were the elevators, a red light signaling that it was functional. "The exit is down the hallway to the right. After that we need to run as fast as we can." For someone who claimed to be the best magician, he sounded scared, and Jackie felt pity for him. She nodded.
They creeped away from the wall and walked with light steps. They were in front of the nursing desk when the light above the desk suddenly turned on, and they paused, looking up. "Relax, it's motion censored." Alaric said. She saw him gulp down his fear. "Where are the nurses?" Jackie asked. It was weird for them to disappear, considering that they were in a hospital. "I thought the floor had on-call rooms."
"Upstairs" he answered.
"All of them?" she raised her eyebrow, knowing even he wasn't convinced with his answer.
"Shut up and keep walking." Alaric snapped.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket. "Turn that off." Jackie said, looking over her shoulder. Alaric took it out, "it's my dad." He said and touched the red button. "Won't he be worried?" she asked. "He isn't here, so I don't think so." That meant no more questions. They resumed their walk. They reached the end of the hallway, and Jackie pointed out the exit door signs smiling with relief, but it was short-lived when she also saw a cursed one walking down towards them. Alaric suddenly pulled her behind the wall. "Shit." he whispered, not aware of how close he was standing to Jackie. "Uh, Alaric. We got another one." She was looking to her right where the cursed one was standing and watching them.
Alaric pulled himself away from Jackie, his hands balled into a fist. Jackie saw the other cursed one approaching them from behind. "What do we do?" she asked Alaric, standing back to back with him. Before he could come up with an answer, the curse one attacked them. Grabbing her arm, Alaric side stepped, dodging its hand. "Don't let them scratch you. It's poison." He said, basically telling her to get ready for a fight. The creature lunged again, but Alaric was quicker. He pulled out his hand and vines grew on the creature's hand, pulling him down on his knees. Jackie noticed the second cursed one mutter something. And Alaric was thrown against the wall. "ALARIC." Jackie screamed.
The vines were already disappearing, and both of them were approaching her. She saw the sprinkles above them and raised her hand towards it. After a second the sprinkler started, she needed water. That distracted the creature long enough for her to create two arrows from the water, and, sliding her left hand over them, turned them into metal. With all of her strength, Jackie threw the arrow at the creatures, which struck one in the thigh, and the other one in the stomach. Alaric was already up, massaging his head. "Let's go." She yelled, grabbed his hand, and they both ran towards the emergency exit.
"I think they are dead." Jackie opened the door, and they both ran downstairs.
"They can only die if you aim for their eyes." he said.
"You could've told me that earlier," she said as Alaric pushed open the door and they found themselves behind a glass door. Outside was the parking garage. "How will we escape?" she said.
"Don't worry about that," he said, patting his pocket.
They went out the doors, and Alaric motioned her to follow him. "I parked it here," he said. He took out the keys to his car and pushed the button for unlock. Four cars ahead a black Tesla blinked its yellow light. They grinned at each other, happy to be alive, and ran towards it, but they couldn't move. "What in the world?" she said, horrified to be paralyzed. "Look." Behind them was the woman who Alaric had apparently killed to save her. The thorns were still sticking out from her chest, but she looked healthy and alive and was about to murder them. "How is she doing this?" Jackie said, panic rising in her again.
"It's a spell. Look, her lips are moving." Alaric pointed it out. Jackie moved her arms and thankfully found them functioning. But she needed an element. "Hey, can you take apart the bumper?" She said to Alaric, who looked at her, confused, but then nodded, understanding. The woman was nearing them, and Jackie felt her thighs being paralyzed. In no time, her hands will be paralyzed again. "hurry," she said. Alaric turned his hands into a fist, and the vines broke the bumper off. "Now throw it at her," she said. He did as told. He directed the bumper towards the woman who only got hit in the shoulder, and suddenly, Alaric stopped moving. That was the only distraction she needed.
Jackie pulled out her hand and raised the rock in the air. She twisted her wrist calmly, and the rock turned into a sleek metal stick. The woman was busy focusing her spell on Alaric. She didn't see the flying steel coming towards her. Jackie made sure it stuck in her eye, and it did. With a thump, the woman fell down, and a foul smell emitted from her, spreading in the garage. She found her legs free and helped Alaric up, who looked upset for acting as bait.
"Just go, before the other two catch us." she said, and they ran towards the car without sparing a second.
"Jackie, don't say a word to anyone about this." Alaric said, driving out of the garage.
"What about the citadel? I'm sure they will send Slayers," she said.
"We didn't encounter anyone. We simply escaped." His grip on the wheel was hard, and he looked serious. So Jackie agreed, happy to be alive and worried about her mother.