14 The Last Piece Of The Puzzle (1/2)
It happened too quickly. The air started becoming to suffocating and heavy. Ms. Ipruk grabbed her purse and pulled out the mask! She practically threw it on Sophia's face.
”Leave… Go!... Sophie…”
Again. She collapses again! But this time she almost falls on top of Sophia. She barely manages to grab her.
”Ms. Ipruk!”
”I can't seem to move.”
Sophia gently props her against the nearest wall and tries to look around for Mr. Johnson. But this mask does make things hard to see! Not to mention this mask isn't suited for someone with three eyes. Of course, the gas all around them isn't helping! Where is he?!
”Listen… Sophie. You have to leave. I'll be fine… just go.”
”Quit your nonsense! I'm trying to think!”
”Go… please… it's too dangerous.”
”Oh please, this is not the first time my life is in danger! We are getting out of here together! I'm not leaving you here alone. I will not lose you.”
”It's different this time… I can't protect… you.”
”I will be the one protecting you.”
”You're always protecting me. You're so loyal… I love you so much. I hope you know that…”
”Shut up! Don't say that like it's the last time!”
”I know. I'm just telling you that I love you. Don't kids like hearing that from their parents. Haha…”
If the situation was any better Sophia would have rolled her eyes. Instead she picks her up as best as she can, throwing one arm over her shoulder.
Ms. Ipruk is significantly taller than her so this must be comedic from an outsider perspective.
”Sophie! What are you... doing?”
”Isn't it obvious? I'm getting us out of here!”
”I'll just be in the way... put me down...”
”Never!”
”Then… go to the final piece of this puzzle… hurry...” and then she goes silent.
She's still breathing and warm. But for how long? Sophia isn't thinking anymore. She's just moving. Leaving the dining room is easier than dragging Ms. Ipruk. The doors aren't locked so Sophia manages to get them out of there. She has no idea where Mr. Johnson went or what he's planning. Her priority is getting her teacher to safety. She doesn't care anymore, she doesn't care about this cursed mansion, no one hurts her family!
Unfortunately, she wouldn't make it far. Outside the dining room in the foyer stood Mr. Johnson and he wasn't alone. Next to him was the Shadow Beast, or Bradley. He looks calm and as if he's waiting for orders.
”How did you-”
”Doesn't matter. It's my home and I know every nook and cranny. Now, Sophia don't make this hard for yourself. I promise that at the very least Ms. Ipruk will be fine.”
As if Sophia will believe that!
”What do you plan on doing to me?”
”I'll just erase your memories. It'll be better that way but if you resist I'll have to send my boy here after you and I won't promise you'll make it out alive.”
Normally, she would scoff and claim that she could take down a Shadow Beast with her eyes closed! She can't though, she can't hurt him. He's innocent and he's suffering.
”So you can control Bradley after all?”
”It's for his own good. It's also not hard.”
//What does that mean? He is using magic to control him obviously, but what kind of magic could do that? Maybe it's something else entirely…//
”How did the gas not affect you?”
//Keep talking. Keep revealing your secrets while I think of a plan!//
”Ha. Most people wouldn't kill a Venom Regian Wolf and use it's poison but I'm adaptable. If you do it right and rework it, you can make it only have the paralyzing effect without actually killing the target. As for why it didn't affect me, I have a-”
She wasn't even listening to his monologue. Since he decided to block the exit then she was going to take them to the last piece of the puzzle. Or whatever Ms. Ipruk meant. She summoned her wings and rushed to the library. Not much of a plan but hey! It's better than just standing there. From the foyer to the library isn't far but it's hard to keep a fast pace when carrying a person twice your size.
Also, having a beast after you doesn't help!
Good thing Ms. Ipruk broke the lock earlier so it wasn't hard getting back in. Sophia quickly and ungracefully tosses Ms. Ipruk on the ground. Sorry! She needs her hands. She makes the fastest and most unstable barrier. It only takes a few seconds for the Shadow Beast to catch up and try to break in.