The staff stood perfectly still. No-one dared move a muscle. All eyes were on the dapper-looking man in the suit, who stood in the middle of the grand entrance hall, below the enormous chandelier that sparkled in the candlelight.

“See that the children are sent to their chambers.” Madame Rose said, without breaking eye contact with the man in front of her.

The staff bustled away in different directions and disappeared behind doors and up and down staircases, leaving the two alone. It was so quiet that you could almost hear the flickering flames of the candles that lined the walls.

“How did you get in here?” Madam Rose said eventually. “How did you get past the wards?”

“Now, now, I couldn’t possibly tell you that, Madam Rose.” the man said, his lip curling slightly. “That would be no fun. Especially if I want to visit again.”

So he knew her name. That wasn’t much of a surprise, though. There wasn’t a witch or wizard in the realm who didn’t know her name. The question was, who was he?

“And you are?”

“Oh come now, you don’t remember me?”

Madam Rose lifted her chin up a little higher. “Am I meant to?”

“I guess most know me as Thanatos. Surely you remember our little meeting all those years ago?”

Madam sucked in a breath and froze, her eyes wide. Surely not. Surely not here, in the entrance hall of her school?

Thanatos gave a light chuckle, clearly enjoying the spectacle of the whole thing. He put on a brown leather glove using exaggerated, almost theatrical movements. “I require three of your students, Ravena. Just on loan. I promise they will not be harmed.”

Madam Rose snorted. “Absolutely not. This school is not a place for hire!”

“Oh, but I think you will loan me them.”

He reached into his pocket with his gloved hand.

Madam Rose lifted her hand in reflex, a golden glowing orb suddenly appearing a couple of inches away from her outstretched palm. “Stop!” she said, directing her hand towards him.

He chuckled again. “Oh please. I do have some sense of decorum, Ravena. Look,” he said, slowly pulling out a clear, glass-like sphere. “See? It’s just my Lunar Sphere. I’d like to show you something.”

He held the hand-sized sphere out towards her. “Come. Don’t be shy.”

Madam Rose took a careful step closer and lowered her eyes to look at it, hand still stretched out towards him just in case. Her eyes locked onto the sphere and she sucked in a breath. Without thinking, a small cry escaped from her lips as she took an involuntary step back. “No!”

“Oh, yes, my dear Ravena.” Thanatos said with a smug grin as he returned the sphere to his pocket. “Such a delight, this little contraption. Nothing like a Luna Sphere to dissolve any doubts. I must thank that student of yours, for inventing it. What was he called? Derek? Such a mundane name for such a talented wizard.”

He sighed and gave her a smile. “Well, I’ve love to stay but… things to do. I think that concludes our little meeting. It’s been a pleasure.”

With that, he turned on his heel and went back out through the front doors. “Prepare them, Ravena. I’ll be back in two full moons.” he called back over his shoulder.

She stood there, mouth open, as she watched the front doors swing back and forth in his wake.

Moments passed, maybe minutes, as her mind reeled from what had just happened. She jumped at the sound of Professor Heary’s hesitant voice.

“Is… is anything the matter, dear? Who was that?” the tiny professor asked, craning her neck as she looked up at Madam Rose.

Madam Rose swallowed, eyes still fixed on the doorway through which Thanatos had exited the building.

“That was the god of death. And he wants our children.”

“Crap,” I pulled at my jacket, hoping desperately that it would dislodge. The police sirens got louder. Closer. “Come on,” I cried, pulled harder. The jacket finally came lose with a loud rip. “Finally!” I exclaimed, running carefully, but hurriedly over the tiles on the roof. I wore all black to blend in with the night sky, but one shine with a police flashlight and I was done for. The art museum came into sight. The tall cathedral-type building loomed threateningly over the small suburban houses. I slid down the side of a house, the rough brick scraping the back of my legs. I raced around the museum to its back door, which no one knows is there. I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t analyze the museum blueprints inch by inch. I pushed the flimsy outer cover of the wall aside and wrenched the back door open. A rush of stale, slightly smoky air assaulted me. It was clear this door was rarely, if ever, used. I walked in and spied a set of creaky, old stairs on the far side of what seemed like an abandoned art studio. The stairs were on the verge of crumbling and I took great care to step lightly. I stepped over the ruins of a door at the top of the stairs and emerged into the museum’s safe. This was where they kept the expensive, luxurious jewels and artifacts. There, across the room, was what I had come for. Queen Elizabeth’s crown. It was beautiful. And worth millions. I was headed for the display, when I heard someone shout. “Hey! How did you get in here? How did you get past security?!” “I couldn’t possibly tell you…” Taking advantage of the security guard’s confusion, I smashed the display box, grabbed the jewels and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Or at least… that’s what he saw.

“How did you get in here? How did you get past security?”

Her voice was incredulous as she stared at me. I replied in a drunken slur, “I couldn’t possibly tell you... A drink, please!”

“I had you banned from this bar.” Regardless of being banned, when I pulled out a green bill, Lila turned and pulled a bottle off one of the many shelves. She paused only once as she thought of something. “You came through the attic, didn’t you?”

I dropped the drunk act and answered normally, picking at invisible dirt under my nails as I avoided her gaze. “Yes... it was too easy.” I leaned forward slightly. “I’m on a job, okay?”

Her caramel eyes widened and dramatically rolled. “Oh, okay. So who are you stalking this time, ‘Sherlock’?” She whispered. She could act all annoyed at my being here but I knew she secretly loved the bar fights... right? I shifted slightly as I sipped the cheap whiskey. She glanced over my shoulder. I could see my ‘target’s reflection in the row of green glass, behind the bar. A large bald guy sat in a booth in the corner. Green ink decorated his neck and part of his face. Lila suddenly shifted her gaze to me. “Okay... please don’t...”

“The guy skipped bail! It’s my job!”

“Look, I don’t care if your a bounty hunter or a PI but please, I beg you, do not start a bar fight with that guy! He’s twice your size! I’m a small bar in a small town, I can’t afford these damages once a month!”

The liquid courage sat on the table in front of me, glinting mischievously. That same mischief was reflected in my eyes. I grinned and Lila visibly paled as I stood. “Too late!” I threw over my shoulder as I walked to the back of the bar. “Hey bud! Yeah you, with the wicked green ink!”

Red light runs the length of the corridor in thin rows, the ominous glow pooling around my feet as my shoes tap delicately on the concrete floor. The cool air chills my cheeks, and I zip my jacket further up my neck.

The guard in front of me startles, his black gun faltering in his grip. “How did you get in here?” He squeals, his voice young—a squeak of an old door frame. The guard fumbled with his gun again, holding it up to his shoulder. Even in the low light, I can see the tremble of his lips, a faint shadow of a first-beard on his chin. “How did you get past security?” I could confess—my mother says I do like to brag—but I haven't the time, and the poor boy looks frightened enough. “I couldn't possibly tell you...” I say instead and take a small step forward, my steps silent, and my plait slips over my shoulder to swing like a pendulum down my back. “Far, far too complicated.” The young guard flinches as I take another step. Now closer, I can see his eyes, round like coins, wide with fear; his finger twitches on the trigger of his weapon. It was clear he had not expected company—especially not a girl. Maybe he never expected company so far down where he thought it would be safe.

I tilt my head—smile—then grab the guards gun, and throw it to the floor with a clatter. And before he has time to react, before he can even blink those sweet eyes, I uncork a glass beaker and waft it under his nose. Within an instant, I can see the gas has worked. A dopey smile flops onto his face, curling up to meet the lazy downturn of his eyes. The guard stumbles, and I hook my arm around him, taking on his weight. I grunt as his shoulder bumps my chin. “That’s right, come with me.”

“Where are we going?” The young guard mumbles, his breath warm, tickling the back of my neck. “I’m going to show you a secret. Do you want to know how I got in?” “Uh-huh.” A bead of sweat rolls down back as I heave the guard a little way down the corridor. His chunky black boots stomp lazily on the floor, the echoes bouncing off the walls, beating with the pace of my heart.

“We’re here,” I say as we stop outside a storage room. I gesture to it, the door opening with a click. “This is how I got in,” I pause briefly for dramatic effect, then add, “In-tru-da door. Get it? Because I’m an intruder, and I came in through a door.” Not this door, mind you. The guard wobbles on his feet, and he wrinkles up his nose, his dark brows knitting together. “An intruder?”

I had hoped for a laugh, at least a shy giggle, but I suppose one can’t have everything. Especially not after successfully breaking into a secure facility without a hitch. “Yes, my dear. Now, take a perch here—there’s a good boy,” The young guard slips down the wall like a drop of water, pulling his knees close to his chest as his butt hits the floor. A roll of toilet paper tumbles from a shelf above, striking the guard hat. His hat tilts, and I righten it.

Then, reaching into the pouch at my hip, I remove a small vial, the viscous blue, bioluminescent liquid glowing in the dim light. I pull up the sleeve of his uniform, my fingers brushing briefly over the black cat tattoo on his wrist, before I sigh and poke the needle into the vein. “There, now sleep. But I’m afraid when you wake; you will be fired.” I pull down his sleeve. “Apologies, but you’ll be safe in here, and that's better than being dead.”

Turning on my heels, I make my way back down the corridor, pick up the guards discarded gun and begin to finish what I started... Getting my revenge.

Franklin inhaled sharply and looked around. It was dark, of course, it usually was whenever this sort of thing happened, and quiet. Didn’t smell like much of anything either, though he supposed that was a smell in and of itself, the absence of one. Not chemically clean but not stale and musty. Just plain, flat, room temperature air. And peanuts. Oh, that was his breath. He had been enjoying a snack moments before. But if he could smell his breath, he was probably facing a wall. Franklin shuffled his feet, carefully turning himself in place. That was a bit better. He could make out more of the room now. It was still dark, but there was a door, and that door let in just enough light through the crack beneath it for Franklin to make out the shapes of shelves and boxes, and the shapes of spray bottles and paper towels on top of these shelves and boxes, and what he would guess as a sink in the back corner. It fit perfectly into his idea of a cleaning supply closet, only short of a yellow rolling bucket and mop, so that was where he supposed he was. He took a few careful steps forward and placed his hand on the door knob. Then, remembering himself, he withdrew that hand and used it to brush his shirt free of any crumbs that may have accompanied him on his abrupt journey. He ran his tongue along his teeth for the same reason, and wiped the corners of his mouth before at last returning his fingers to the knob and turning. Franklin breathed out a sigh of thanks as the door clicked open without any locks protesting, and stepped out into the evening light of an empty hallway. Might as well stretch his legs, he thought. The soft tumps of his argyle socks padding against the floor were comforting to him as he walked. He never seemed to be fully ready before these sudden journeys, but he was thankful that he was only without his shoes this time round. When it first started happening, he had been entirely unprepared. The first was on the train, innocent enough, more shocking than anything, but the two times after that he was in the middle of a shave. After he found himself backstage of a play with wet hair only a towel, he began to take it more seriously. Still, he could never predict when one would come upon him, so slip ups did still happen from time to time. The hallway split in front of him; one path continued forward while the other turned to the right. Right seemed more interesting than forward, he thought, and so he continued on. He tried to enjoy his trips. Most times, his entrance went unnoticed and any strange attire was ignored. At the worst, he would apologize and ask for a change of clothes or directions back home. He often wondered if this sort of thing happened to anyone else, but he never asked. Franklin didn’t like to make waves, didn’t go out much. The few friends he had were not the kind he could risk scaring off with such strange questions. He doubted it was anything genetic, his mother was never very good at keeping secrets, and his father just didn’t seem like the type. With no siblings to compare notes with, and Google searches coming up dry, Franklin figured it would be best to leave that line of query alone for the time being. At the end of the hallway to the right was a door, and through the door a large room with a domed ceiling. Lovely pieces of art were on display all around, each lit up with their own source of light, but none with any admiring viewers. Franklin ventured among them, his socks tumping gently along the smooth wood floor, taking small steps to ensure that he didn’t slip and topple into any of the displays. A clang echoed into the space and Franklin turned, seeing a stunned custodian gripping the handle of his mop very tightly. Beside him was the yellow rolling bucket that had been missing before. “How did you get in here? How did you possibly get passed security?” Franklin offered a soft smile. “I couldn’t possibly tell you... I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

It was an ordinary night at the museum. Stan checked the monitors and saw the same old paintings and the same old antiques. He’d been at this museum for almost 50 years. It mused at how things here changed and yet he remained the same. The same security role that had adapted over time with technology.

He went for a smoke. A old habit that hadn’t changed either. He’d been one of the first to adopt smoking as something cool. When the movies would spend minutes on focussing on that famous actor smoking. Those days it was all glamour.

He went back inside and he saw a figure moving. He wielded his torch and shone the light on the face. A masked face.

“How did you get in here? How did you get past security?” He demanded.

“I can’t possibly tell… we’ll actually, I can Stan.” The masked figure replied coolly.

“You’ve worked here for many years and you know many faces and those many faces become friendly over time. You told me how the new technology has you baffled and so I’ve just put the gaps together. And here I am.”

It was late afternoon and Bill,had been watching the cameras. He was in charge of a large factory. He would constantly watch the cameras to see who would arrive and who would leave. He knew everyone that was allowed on the premises. It was late afternoon when bill noticed a strange man walking down one of the hallways acting strange. Bill, quickly called security to interact with the stranger. Soon the man was surrounded by security. How did you get in here? How did you get past security? I couldn’t possibly tell you said the stranger. I’m not sure where I’m at, said there stranger. Who are you asked security? I don’t remember. What do you mean? I can’t tell you how I got here nor who I am. Security, decided to call the police and the paramedics to assist. Where am I ? What is this place? Your at a secured facility in Denver Colorado, We’re still trying to figure out how you got pass our security. The stranger laughed I fell out of the sky. He said it in a joking way but he was not joking. Yes! I believe I feel out of the sky. When the paramedics arrived they decided to question the man he had lost memory and had a concussion. He said I don’t remember all I know I fell from the sky. Soon the police arrived and decided to assist in the situation. Shortly after a call came in that a man was missing after parachuting out of a plane. They were told that the man hit his head against the plane opening as he jumped. The man was taken to the nearest hospital and friends and family were notified. The camera man was not able to capture the man on camera for they did not cover the sky. Everyone laughed about the incident. I knew I wasn’t slacking said Bill. I protect this facility with my life. You did a great job you caught the stranger once inside and for that we are going to award you with the best camera man of the month. Bill, just laughed thanks but I was just doing what I was supposed to, I was puzzled because no one knew how he got pass the cameras and security. We need eyes in the sky and they all laughed.

                                            Written By:
                                             Ghostrider 
                                              6-13-2021

“How did you get in here? How did you get past security?”

“I couldn’t possibly tell you… I mean, honestly I have no idea how I got here. Where am I?”

“Fort Knox.” The security guy said.

“Huh. It’s a lot smaller than I thought it’d be. Where’s the bathroom?” I ask.

“Bathroom? BATHROOM!? This is Fort Knox young lady! Who are you? Why are you here!?” He shouts, reaching for his gun.

“I’m just a kid who was looking for the toilet!” I blurt, “I’m desperate.”

He looks at me in disbelief, then looks down at my blazer. “Fort Knox high school?”

“Yeah, I’m new and got all turned around I guess. Please sir, I’m just 13…”

Eyes softening, he gives a big sigh. “Okay. I won’t report you if you head right on back.”

“Yes sir, thank you. I was wondering where the fancy vault is for a school project. ”I fiddle with my bag. “If it’s not too much trouble…”

He whispers, “It’s a secret door at the end of the corridor.”

My eyes go big. “Wow! Which one!?”

He gives a soft laugh, “Don’t put this in your report but it’s level 4 section 16… it has a loose brick.”

I give a big grin, “Thank you so much, sir! You’ve helped tremendously!”

Then I bring out my tranquilliser and shoot him in the neck. He goes down with a grunt of surprise. “Works every time.” I bring my earpiece to my ear, “heard that brainiac?”

A voice grumbles in my ear. “Every word. Level 4 section 6.”

“Wrong way. Section 16 with a loose brick.”

“Oh. Oh yeah, thanks. Sending the team in.”

The key turns in the lock, and the door opens. Our eyes meet.

For a few seconds we stare at each other; his face a picture of disbelief, while my own is one of amusement.

This is going to be fun.

His eyes travel down to the gun in my hand, which is aimed directly at his heart. I look pointedly from the gun to the door, my message clear. He closes it.

“How did you get in here?” he stammers, a slick sheen of sweat spreading across his forehead. “How did you get past security?”

I smile, shrug. “I couldn’t possibly tell you…”

My gun still trained on him, I rise to my feet and begin to walk around the room. His beady eyes follow my every movement, and his hands twitch restlessly by his side.

“Sit.”

I point to the chair that I have just vacated. He obeys without hesitation.

“Who - who are you?”

I secretly applaud his attempt at confidence and bravery. Not many men would dare challenge me when facing the end of a barrel.

The seconds and silence stretch on as I refuse to answer him. My heart is beating erratically, revelling in his palpable discomfort. I smile at him coquettishly.

“I don’t think that’s really important, Derek,” I whisper, bracing my hands on either side of the chair’s arms, leaning over into his face.

He flinches. Whether this is from my proximity or the use of his name, I don’t know. Perhaps it’s both.

A thrill of satisfaction runs through me. This is just too easy.

“I’m sorry that we’ve had to meet like this,” I continue, pulling away, deliberately stepping on his toes with the heel of my boot. Hard. “Another time, another place, who knows, we could have had something magical.”

I continue to grind down on his foot through his shoe. Derek bites down on his lip, eyes watering. I press down harder, determined to hear him whimper, determined to hear him suffer. He continues to resist.

I lift my foot up, and he gasps in relief. Before he has time to recover though, I slam my heel down again feeling more than hearing the snap of bone.

Derek opens his mouth to scream, but I quickly silence him with a heavy blow to his stomach, winding him.

“Sorry,” I whisper in his ear as he heaves, desperate to catch his breath. “I slipped.”

The head butt catches me unawares, and I reel backwards as I hear the unmistakable crunch of my nose breaking. Warm blood drips down my chin.

Bastard.

In the few seconds it has taken for me to focus, my captive has tried to launch himself at the door. I lunge for him, dragging him to the ground with a heavy thud, and smashing his head into the floor.

“Nice try, Derek,” I hiss, pulling him back up and flinging him across the room.

I am no longer amused. It is time to end this, once and for all.

Derek lies spread eagled on the floor, chest heaving, trying to push himself back up. Blood pours from his mouth, which he spits out at my feet.

I leer over him, face twisted up in a snarl. Without further ado, I lift the gun to his head and draw back the safety catch.

“Walter Livingstone sends his regards.”

I pull the trigger.

“How did you get in here? How did you get past security?”

“I couldn’t possibly tell you…it requires too much backstory…”

Jaspers response to my question dies on his lips as his eyes drift across the room, analyzing the simple design. As expected his attention isn’t held by the surroundings for long; there is nothing to see in the white walled room aside from a tiny single bed and a desk piled high with books. They had confiscated the matching chair for the desk a while ago, scared that I’d hurt myself after last weeks outburst. Apparently throwing a chair across the room in a fit of rage was a sign I was capable of what? Using said broken chair legs to somehow kill myself? Sometimes I think they went too far trying to protect me from myself; it got rather suffocating.

“I think we have a few minutes to spare. Tell me how you got in here. I’ve been trying to escape this place for months and always get caught”, I say, resting my back against the headboard of the bed with my legs stretched out in front of me.

My older brother, Jasper, who had just barged through the windowless iron door, glances nervously down the corridor before sighing. He walks towards me, heavy boots squeaking along the polished white tiles. Jasper, in his all black ensemble, was the only spot of darkness in the room; even my own jumpsuit was as stark white as the walls.

“We don’t have time, Kit. I’ll explain everything to you as soon as we-“

Before Jasper can finish his sentence I’m already leaping from the bed. He flinches as I draw near but his rigid body softens when I wrap my arms around him, pulling him in for a hug.

“I missed you”, I mumble into his chest.

Jasper replies with a “I missed you too, little brother” and lifts his arms to return the embrace. He seems to have grown even taller since I’d last seen him, soaring far above by willowy figure. I wonder how long ago it was that I was an only an inch shorter than him.

I’m not entirely sure how long I’ve been trapped in this place. I lost track of time around the 3 month mark when I found out they were messing with my perception of time by slipping sleeping pills into my drinks and locking me in windowless rooms.

Jasper pulls away from the hug and gestures to the stack of books on the table.

“Didn’t really peg you as such a book worm”, he teases with a grin.

I let out a laugh a genuine laugh at his statement. We both know that I can’t read, not well anyway. I had been out of school for hospital tests and aptitude tests so many times growing up that my reading skills were comparable to an eight year old. A rather embarrassing fact considering I was nearing 19 years of age.

“I keep telling them that Shakespeare is too advanced for me but they won’t listen. I’ve taken to reciting dramatic monologues out loud though. I’m sure it entertains the dudes watching the cams”, I say, pointing to the rounded camera at the center of the ceiling that gazes down at us like a watchful eye.

Before either of us can open our lips to speak, the blaring sound of the warning alarm travels through the open door. The loud sound instantly pierces the joy in the room, like a needle bursting a balloon filled with helium. Jaspers face goes pale at the sound and he snatches my hand in his.

“We have to leave. Now”, he says, pulling me through the door.

We sprint down hallway after hallway, Jasper pulling me along roughly as my bare feet slap against the cold concrete floors. I can distantly hear the sounds of heavy boots as the guards follow after us. They won’t let us go so easily; they’d never let Jasper escape with their greatest scientific discovery in tow.

When we get to a set of double doors at the end of the corridor Jasper pulls out a walkie talkie from his pocket.

“You can open now”, he says into it breathlessly. The buzzing sound that follows indicates that’s someone on the other side has pressed the emergency ‘open’ button. Jasper nudges the doors open with his shoulder and I follow behind him. I’m fully prepared to thank the person who helped us, but I freeze almost immediately when I see who it is.

My hand slips away from Jaspers and I stumble back a bit, fear urging my legs to run.

“What are you doing here?”, I mumble, barely hearing my voice above the rush of blood pounding in my ears.

Leo watches me, his hand still hovering above the button that opened the door.

“Kit, we are on the same side here”, Leo says, voice rough like sandpaper, “I’m trying to help”.

I turn to look at Jasper who is avoiding my gaze.

“THIS is how you got past security? By working with that monster?”, my voice rises in pitch, a dark edge pulling on every vowel. Leo, the second in command to the man who owns this place, looks at me as though I have offended him.

“I’m not going ANYWHERE with him”, I add, pointing to Leo.

“We have no choice, Kit. This facility is too secure for me to have done this alone. We can trust him- for now at least”, Jasper says, eyes flickering briefly to meet Leo’s before returning to me.

Jasper reaches out a hand for me to take but I ignore it and shake my head. Tears brim my eyes as I look at the man who’s made the past year a living hell.

“No. I’m not going anywhere with him. He’s the reason I ended up here in the first place. Jasper, you don’t know what they did to me in there it-“.

Jasper takes two large steps towards me and pulls me into a half embrace, bending down so his lips touch my ear.

“Kit, I know about all the horrible things they did to you in there. I know about the field tests and the pain evaluations…but listen. We need him to get out of here”, Jasper whispers, and then, lower he adds, “as soon as we are somewhere safe I’ll make him pay for what he did to you”.

As Jasper pulls away I lift a sleeve to wipe my tears and nod.

“Okay”, I say softly avoiding Leo’s gaze. Just then the set of doors behind us burst open and dozens of guards spill through the opening, weapons at the ready.

Jasper looks up quickly and his hand reaches to hover over the gun I hadn’t even noticed at his hip. He uses the other hand to pull me into a run and I follow, Leo trailing closely behind.