by Sarah Noffke
She absentmindedly turned the eight ball over in her fingers while thinking. That’s when she noticed a key taped to the other side. It seemed like a strange place to keep a key, though.
Fueled by something inside her, Amelia removed the key from the eight ball and fitted it to the lock. It slid in without an issue and turned at once. Amelia pulled back the door, again poking her head through.
In the next room, she heard something break the silence. It was a small bistro with soft music and lighting. There were a few tables set with tablecloths and flowers.
“Grayson,” Amelia called, looking around. She stepped into the room, leaving the key in the door. She was both confused and intrigued, unaware that the door behind her had closed and locked.
In a corner booth, Grayson perked up from where he’d bent over what looked like plans. He gave her a confused look as though trying to place her face in that location.
“I’m here,” Amelia offered with a neutral expression.
“Okay…” He drew out the word.
“Well, what is all this?” Amelia motioned to the bistro decorations. “Why did you want me to meet you here?”
He tilted his head and squinted. “I’m sorry, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Paris was unsurprised that she wasn’t hungry at dinner. She didn’t think it was because she’d had the cream cheese cucumber sandwich and it ruined her appetite. Paris thought it was because she had to face a treacherous evil the next morning and still didn’t know how she would overpower the Deathly Shadow.
Maybe sensing her stress, most at the dinner table kept their distance from her, not engaging her in conversation. Christine and Chef Ash had taken off to monitor the Grayson and Amelia situation in case more intervention was necessary.
Paris turned the page of the notes that Uncle Clark had given her on the Deathly Shadow, hoping that something jumped out at her and gave her an idea of how to defeat him. She’d read through the comprehensive details multiple times, and so far, nothing had occurred to her.
The notes detailed many of the horrible things that the Deathly Shadow did to lose his soul and body. Then he’d learned of the prophecy of the halfling and waited, knowing that he needed to absorb Paris’ powers to come back in full—well, better than before. As informative as that was, it didn’t tell Paris anything that she thought she could use to defeat the monster.
Aunt Sophia had sent some encouraging messages and stated that she and Lunis would be stationed close by if things got dire. However, Papa Creola had made it pretty evident that Paris needed to do this alone. That was the only way it would work. Still, it made Paris feel somewhat better to know that she wasn’t entirely alone.
Still, whether she had an army or the container and vortex opener, none of it mattered if she couldn’t overpower the Deathly Shadow.
“Can I offer you something that’s helped me when facing situations I didn’t know how to overcome?” Penny Pullman asked, sitting next to Paris.
She’d been so far off in thought that she hadn’t realized the other girl was there and watching her.
“How do you know I’m facing something I don’t know how to overcome?” Paris looked at the girl with kind eyes.
“I recognize the look on your face,” Penny admitted. “I’ve worn it many times and see it reflected in the mirror constantly.”
“Oh, well, I’m definitely up against a challenge that I don’t know how to overcome,” Paris confided.
“I can’t tell you how to defeat what you’re facing tomorrow,” Penny began thoughtfully. “I don’t think any of us want to be in your shoes.”
“Well, besides Christine who thinks this is all so cool,” Paris interrupted.
Both girls laughed.
“Yes, besides Christine,” Penny agreed. “But I can tell you that the best weapon anyone can ever employ is to believe in yourself. I know that sounds like fluffy advice that won’t really help, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be you against the Deathly Shadow. All you have is you, and I think the key for you to win is to believe in yourself no matter what. As ominous as things get, you can’t let your faith in you waver because that’s when you’ll fail.”
Paris thought for a moment, considering the wise words. They didn’t sound like fluff. She knew that in life, the answers to the biggest problems were simple. Belief was everything. All the self-doubt was only making things worse. It was time for Paris to give herself a pep talk, get some rest, and get ready for the showdown. It was that simple and that complex. It was that easy and that hard. She felt ready for what she’d face the next day. She didn’t know how she’d overpower the Deathly Shadow, but she knew that she would—and all the rest were details that she’d figure out when the time came.
“Thanks.” Paris offered a smile of gratitude to her friend.
“I believe it’s going to work out,” Penny stated with a rare confidence in her voice. “I mean, you should too because when you believe that, you see opportunities. The alternative is believing that it won’t work out. Then you see only obstacles.”
Paris drew in a breath, feeling a renewed courage that she desperately needed for what came next. “It’s going to work out.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
“You asked me to meet you here.” Amelia Rose wished she’d taken the note on the top of the box of chocolate-covered strawberries.
Grayson McGregor shook his head. He looked tired, albeit cute in a blue sweater, his hair tousled. “I’m sorry, I think you’re confused.”
“The box of chocolate-covered strawberries you sent,” Amelia shook her head.
A nervous laugh emerged from Grayson’s mouth. “What? I didn’t send anything of the sort.”
Amelia scratched her head, completely confused. She suddenly wondered if this was a trick, looking around at the strange bistro and remembering the other weird rooms. She indicated the tables. “What is all this?”
He glanced around, appearing disoriented too. “It’s an escape room…well, it’s going to be. It’s still in the works.”
Amelia was intrigued that Grayson was building an escape room in the basement of his building. “So you didn’t send me a note telling me to meet you in the basement of McGregor Technologies?”
His head snapped to the side, obviously not prepared for that question. “Basement? Me? What? No, I didn’t.”
“Well, then I have no idea what’s going on,” Amelia said, looking around. “And the timing couldn’t be worse.”
He nodded. “I agree. I don’t feel like fighting with you after the last couple of days I’ve had.”
“Fight?” Amelia nearly yelled. “Your note said you wanted to talk and come to a truce.”
“I didn’t write that note and didn’t know anything about it,” he stated adamantly.
“Then who is playing this game on us?”
He shook his head. “I have no clue, but why would I invite you down to my unfinished escape room? That’s absurd, especially after everything we’ve been through.”
“Yeah.” Amelia chewed on her lip, disappointment suddenly billowing in her chest. “This is so odd.”
“Really odd,” he admitted. “We’ll have to figure out who’s behind this trick.”
“For sure.” Amelia wished he’d sent the note and the chocolate-covered strawberries, then grew frustrated that she felt that way. Still, that was the truth that she’d only admit to herself. “Well, I guess I better be on my way. Sorry for bothering you.”
“You weren’t bothering me, but yeah, I understand.” Grayson sighed.
Amelia could have sworn disappointment surfaced in his eyes too, but she pulled her gaze away, turning for the door. Her heels made clicking noises on the tiled floor as she crossed the space.
To her surprise, when she tried the door handle, it didn’t budge. She tried it again. It was locked.
“What’s wrong?” Grayson sensed her stress.
Amelia spu
n and pointed at the door. “It’s locked.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
“Locked?” Grayson frowned. “No, that’s impossible. That’s the only way out of here.”
“What?” Amelia’s hands planted on her hips. “How is that possible?”
“Well, we’re still under construction,” Grayson explained, moving around her and trying the door handle. It didn’t budge. He glanced over his shoulder as if he was missing something.
“How is there no other way out?” Amelia pointed at the far wall. “What’s that door for?”
“It’s a bathroom and closet, but that’s it,” he stated.
“So this is a dead-end? How is that possible?”
“We have to build the next rooms. And there are no emergency exits yet.”
“Don’t you have a key?” she asked.
“It was taped to the bottom side of an eight ball,” he answered. “Where is it now?”
She pointed at the door. “It’s in the other side of the handle.”
He threw his hands up. “Oh, great. So we’re locked in here.”
“No, we’re not,” Amelia argued while pulling her phone from her pocket. Her eyes widened. “I don’t have reception.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” He sounded annoyed. “We’re in a basement, and it’s an escape room where I don’t want people cheating on the puzzles.”
“So we don’t have the key to get out of the only exit to this room and no phone access,” she began. “When do you expect your cleaning crew to be here or anyone else?”
“Well, since I’m declaring bankruptcy, I haven’t been wasting money on such frivolities as cleaners.”
“But you had an escape room built?” she argued.
He nodded. “I had a contract. And to answer your question, the construction crew isn’t supposed to return until tomorrow morning.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “So you didn’t send me a package of chocolate-covered strawberries and a note to meet you in this basement, then lock me in here with you? And now it sounds like I might have to spend the night in here with you?”
He held up his hands. “Look, I didn’t send you anything. I don’t know about this at all. It’s a mystery to me, and I obviously don’t want to be locked up in here tonight either.”
Amelia felt ready to explode, but then she realized something important about what he said. Grayson hadn’t said that he didn’t want to be with her. He had only said that he didn’t want to be locked up.
She directed her gaze around the room, looking for escape options. Finally, she laughed, realizing the silliness of the moment. “Is it ironic that we’re locked up together in an escape room that we can’t get out of?”
Grayson chuckled and nodded. “I was thinking that same thing.”
“So there really isn’t a way out of here?” she asked. “A vent where I can sneak through a false wall or something?”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “I admire your ingenuity, but no. As I said, the room is still under construction, but we should be safe here for the night. There is ventilation and airflow. It just isn’t large enough for a human to shimmy through.”
Amelia slumped, looking down at her pencil skirt and blouse, realizing she’d be in these clothes the rest of the night. However, she was determined to make the most of it.
Grayson flashed her a smile to her surprise. “Well, if we have to be locked up all night, you at least want to make the most of it?”
She tilted her head with a skeptical expression. “What does that mean?”
“That means that the props on the table are real.” He lifted a bottle of red wine off the table and held it up. “Are you up for a drink? I’m up for drinking away my problems.”
Amelia nodded and laughed. “Yeah, I really could use a drink or two. One for each of my problems, at least.”
He winked at her and grabbed a couple of glasses. “Great. Go ahead and grab the corner booth. I hear it’s the best spot in this place and fills up fast.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Leaving the comfort and safety of Happily Ever After College to portal to one of the most dangerous places in the world felt like a cruel irony. Staying in bed wasn’t an option for Paris. Hiding inside Fairy Godmother Estate wasn’t going to work. And putting off the inevitable meeting wasn’t smart.
Paris’ fate was tied to the Deathly Shadow. It always had been since before she was born. He needed her to come back into power. She needed him to have the only thing she never knew she wanted—her parents. Avoiding him and using protective charms would only work for so long. Paris hadn’t been able to live a full life, and she was tired of running and hiding. Obviously, she didn’t want to die but she would rather that than live a half-life. Of course, her death would mean the Deathly Shadow came into full power, so she needed to avoid that at all costs.
Preparing to open the portal to Death Valley on the Enchanted Grounds, Paris looked at Faraday beside her. “Are you sure you want to go with me?” she asked the squirrel.
“I’ve never been to Death Valley,” he said in reply.
Paris rolled her eyes, which were still adjusting to the growing sunlight as morning dawned across the grounds. “That’s your reason? This isn’t a field trip to fulfill something on your bucket list.”
“Did you know that Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth?” Faraday mused. “Because of that, it’s home to a whole host of unique animals, an ecological atmosphere like no other, and so many different scientific phenomena.”
“Rattlesnakes,” Paris sneered.
“You mean the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae?”
“No, I meant rattlesnakes you dorky genius,” she muttered. “I hear you can stumble upon huge nests of hundreds of rattlesnakes in Death Valley. If that’s not a sign that it’s the pits of hell, I don’t know what is.”
“Actually, the Badwater Basin where we’re going is the lowest point of elevation in all of North America,” he offered, his tone teeming with excitement.
“Great, so I’m going to the literal pits of hell,” Paris remarked. “To meet someone whose history makes the devil sound like a tame school girl.”
“It’s going to make for a great story at a dinner party,” Faraday offered.
She shook her head. “Great, when I’m hosting my weekly game night, in between Karen talking about her trip to the zoo and Melanie gossiping about the neighbors, I’ll be like, ‘Did I ever tell you all about that time I met Satan’s mentor in Death Valley? Please pass the sour cream and onion dip.’”
He shook his head. “I hope you’d have better sense than to serve sour cream and onion dip at a dinner party. It’s not a football game. There are standards.”
Paris actually laughed, grateful for the stress relief. “What’s the scientific family name for squirrels?”
“I’m a member of the family Sciuridae,” he answered at once. “It includes squirrels, chipmunks, prairie—”
“No, you’re a member of your very own weird family. It’s called the Weirdest Weirdos,” she interrupted. “Any other facts you want to pass along about Death Valley before I portal to see Mr. Angry Pants?”
“I don’t think in his current form that the Deathly Shadow can wear pants,” he countered.
Paris laughed again. “No, that’s why he wants me. So he can finally wear those cargo pants he bought from Gap.”
“I am certain that cargo pants aren’t in fashion anymore,” he objected.
“How would you know?” Paris questioned. “Since you don’t wear pants.” Her mouth popped open suddenly. “Oh, that would be so cute. We should get you little pants and maybe a suit jacket. Oh! What about a top hat?”
Faraday shook his little head, not at all looking amused. “I don’t like hats.”
“Of course that’s your response to my awesome idea,” Paris grumbled. “I think you’ve missed the point.”
“That you want to dress me up like a little dollhouse critter,
” he muttered. “No, I didn’t miss it. I’m simply going to ignore such a ridiculous idea.”
“Well, although this conversation is fun and making me question my sanity, I think I’ll pop off to Satan’s lair,” she joked. “I’ll bring you back a refrigerator magnet as a souvenir.”
“I don’t have a refrigerator,” he muttered and folded his tiny arms over his chest.
“Fine, I’ll get you a key chain,” she offered.
“Well, don’t drink the water,” Faraday advised when she was about to bite the bullet and create the portal to Death Valley.
Paris paused. “Say what?”
“Don’t drink the water in the basin. It’s poisonous.”
She sighed as if the interruption was an inconvenience but was secretly grateful for the delay. Hurrying off to fight a devasting evil wasn’t something she wanted to be early for. “What gave it away? The Badwater Basin part?”
He nodded. “I’m glad that wasn’t lost on you.”
“Although I’m portaling off to the pits of hell without a sporty water bottle, I doubt that I’d get there and be like, oh I’ll take a quick drink from this stream before the devil’s predecessor shows up.”
“It’s more like a pool than a stream,” he corrected.
“Noted. Thanks. Well, I’m off. Water my plants while I’m gone.” All out of jokes, Paris opened a portal to the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, feeling more like she was sleepwalking at that point than fully aware of what was happening.
She took a step toward the portal and noticed the squirrel scurry beside her, keeping up. Like the first time they met, Paris paused and regarded Faraday. “Are you following me?”
“I said I was going with you,” he insisted.
“This isn’t really the opportunity for you to tag along for a science adventure.”