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WE MADE OUR WAY BACK out of the bathroom and surprisingly none of the guys even batted an eye. They were all pretty focused on the fact that they'd almost died, and no doubt were trying to make sure that it didn't happen again.
"We need to keep moving. Who knows whatever other tricks they have up their magical sleeves." I picked up the supplies pack.
"We know, fire is the last phase. And I'd hate to run into it down here, so we better move fast." Colt stood, ready to go.
I lead the way with my flashlight and Max walked beside me. We moved quick, but being underground made me feel a little safer. At least we knew that the tornado couldn't get to us, or whatever other tactics they planned on using during the third phase.
Max and I walked up ahead and the guys walked a little slower behind.
"So, what's it like?" I asked. "Living outside these walls? In the White house no less." The curiosity finally got to me and I asked the question that'd been on my mind. I imagined all the freedom he probably had. All the restaurants he could go to, movies maybe. He could probably walk outside at night without being hounded by vampires cackling like hyenas.
"Believe it or not, it was lonely." Max sighed. "There's always some scandal being pushed in the media about my dad, or someone trying to extort or blackmail. When everyone knows who you are it's hard to know who to trust. I was to the point where I couldn't tell the real people from the fake people anymore. I didn't know who wanted me for my spotlight, who wanted me for my money, or who wanted me just for me."
"That does sound lonely." My heart ached for him. I knew what it felt like to be surrounded by people but still feel the ache of loneliness deep inside your chest.
"It was, until I met you." He smiled at me. "Scarlett Johnson, the first person I'd met in years who didn't know who I was, and quite frankly didn't give a damn either."
I laughed. It felt good to laugh, even in light of the trials.
"If we get out of this thing, I'm going to take you on a date. A real, true, proper date. I honestly don't care if the three musketeers come with either."
I smiled.
"That would be nice." For a split second I had hope. It actually felt like everything was going to be okay.
But it only lasted for that split second before my eyes caught on to a light far off down the tunnel.
"Hey I see light!" I yelled to the guys behind us. "I think we're getting to the end of the tunnel!" I was relieved because every inch of my body hurt. I didn't know how much longer I could push on for. It matched up to the wall too. By my calculations we were almost past the barrier and should have been making our way out of the tunnel.
My stomach lurched when I realized that the light was inching its way closer to us.
"It's a light at the end of the tunnel, but not the one we wanted." Max whispered.
The faint thrum of a siren sounded off far behind us and it was clear what the light was. The final phase- fire.
We were trapped. Stuck between a rock and a hard place didn't even begin to describe the shit that we were in. I watched as the fireball sped down the tunnel and headed straight for us and I had to accept the fact that there wasn't anything we could do about it. I couldn't spare them the pain that was about to come, and there was no way that they could spare me.
I looked up at Max with fear in my eyes and slipped my hands into his.
"It was really nice meeting you." I half smiled with tears in my eyes. Drax, Finn, and Colt joined our side. I looked at each one of them. "It was nice meeting all of you."
Tears streamed down my face, not because I was sad but because I was so angry at the defeat. Angry at the way I'd go out. So close to my freedom yet so far away.
Max looked at me. His eyes contemplated something. "Promise me about that date?" He asked.
"What? In the afterlife? Sure." I had no idea where he was going with his question.
"Everybody grab hands." He yelled.
Finn took mine, Colt took his, and Drax pulled in behind.
"It better be a damn good date." Max smirked and we made our way toward the fire ball, slowly at first but we picked up speed. The closer we got the hotter the tunnel got. I felt like my skin was going to melt off.
"Whatever you do, don't let go!" He yelled. His hand glowed in mine, and my hand glowed in Finn's. It was a magical chain reaction that went all the way down to Drax. My hand tingled in Max's.
"Here we go!"
I squeezed my eyes shut just as the fireball washed over us. It was hot. Insanely hot. But suddenly it wasn't. I opened my eyes confused, and turned to see the fireball traveling behind us. Max stopped in his tracks and panted.
A smile spread across my face. "You bastard, you did it!" I leaped forward and kissed him. He kissed me back before collapsing to the ground.
"Oh my god? Are you okay?" I panicked.
"A group spell like that is just a lot of energy." His voice was quiet and hoarse. "I'm fine. We have to keep going, we're almost there."
He was right. We needed to move fast, before they realized that we were still alive and sent another wave through.
Colt and Finn hoisted him up and helped him walk. With the fire out of the way I could actually make out the faint light of the actual exit. I was right, we were past the tunnel. And it my calculations were correct we would end up in the middle of Times Square. A bubble of hope rose up inside of me. Every step I took I was one step closer to my mother, one second closer to seeing her again.
"Do you guys hear that?" The sound of peopled shouting was getting louder and louder as we made our way to the exit. It looked like the old entrance had been sealed off with steel panels. Small rays of light flowed in through the cracks.
"I'll go up and see if there are any handles or anything." Finn said. He closed his eyes and disappeared for a few seconds before he reappeared with his eyes wide.
"There are no handles, but you guys got to get up there. It’s crazy."
"Can you teleport us one at a time?" I asked.
"I wished, but even vamp powers have their limits." Finn sighed.
"Let me do it." Max's voice was faint. "I have enough magic left in me to blast them open."
"You're so weak already." I protested.
"And if they find us down here like sitting duck with enough time to send a second wave of fire we're all dead. Let me do it." He sure was a stubborn witch, I'd give him that.
He pulled himself to his feet and pushed his hands up against the smooth metal. It took a few seconds for his magic to kick in, but when it did the steel slates blew off and sailed into the sky. There was a loud crash as they crashed into one of the jumbo televisions and cracked it.
Finn caught him just as he collapsed and it was a group effort to pull him from the cavern.
My mouth hung open when I stuck my head out of the entrance and witnessed the pure chaos that had erupted in time square. It was like a riot, as a horde of people rushed around. People clashed with human control officers, bodies lay in the streets. Cans of tear gas flew all around. I pulled myself from the entrance and stood in the middle of it all. I was engulfed in chaos, and for once I didn't mind it a bit.
Someone noticed us emerging from the pit and screamed "It's her!" Over the chaos.
Even the human control officers stopped and stared at the five us emerging.
The first few seconds were tense. I had no idea who these people were, or what side of the fight they were on until a slow cap erupted into an uproar of applause.
All the jumbotrons switched to the same feed, the winner announcement. I read the words and my eyes filled with tears.
"Scarlett Johnson, winner of The Vampire Trials."
I knew it wasn't over, far from it. But It felt damn good not to be part of the sick mindfuck that was the trials.
The happiness I felt turned to disgust as quick as it emerged when the screen changed and showed a live feed of the three governors. They sat at a desk, with their hands folded menacingly.
"Great job Scarlett. Triad three must be very proud of you." The Governor of triad three said. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Drax flinch just at the sound of his voice. "You know who else is proud of you? Your mother."
You bastard. You wouldn't dare.
"You know what? I think she has something she wants to say to you."
My stomach dropped to the floor as the camera turned to my mother. She had black circles underneath her eyes, I could tell she hadn't been getting her medicine. She looked weak and frail, even more so than usual.
"Go ahead, tell her to do the right thing and turn herself in." The governor urged off camera.
Tears were already streaming down my face. I couldn't handle seeing her like that. I couldn't imagine was hell they put her through, because of me. But when she looked into the camera I noticed something in her eyes that wasn't there before. There was a blaze of passion behind them.
"Scarlett honey." Her voice was almost a whisper. I was on pins and needles for her next words. The slightest smirk crossed her lips. "Do what your father would want. Burn this city to the ground."