Another fireball shoots past me and almost hits Mercury. She jumps about four feet in the air and all the hair on her tail fluffs up.
We find the energy to hurry up.
They’re getting closer. I can hear their footsteps as they keep up with the loud thumping of my heart. I don’t know who they are or why they are so interested in me. All I know is that they cannot catch me under any circumstances.
We do a complete ninety-degree turn and head in a new direction. I skid around the corner and regain my balance. We’ve bought a few extra seconds as our pursuers have to scramble to make the turn.
I really hope this damn cat knows where we’re going. I never thought I would be putting my life into my faithful cat’s paws.
Mercury leads me into a clearing with a massive tree right in the middle of it. Nothing grows around it, making it stand out in the moonlight.
“Here we are. Turn the handle and step through. Don’t close the door until I’m in too,” the cat instructs. She’s just as bossy as I imagined her to be. “And hurry.”
“I don’t see a handle.”
“Find one.” She’s losing her patience with me.
I squint as I look at the tree trunk. It looks like an old, knotted oak tree. Why would it have a doorh—
Never mind, I found it.
My hand grasps around the smooth wooden knob and I turn it. It easily gives way when I push inside. I expected the interior to be tiny and very much look like the inside of a tree trunk, but it doesn’t. We’re at the beginning of a very long tunnel that is lit with fire lanterns on the walls.
Mercury jumps in behind me and I close the door. I hope this dream doesn’t suddenly turn into a nightmare. None of this feels right.
I take in a deep breath as I try to regain control over my lungs. I needed to train for a run like that. I’m surprised I lasted this far.
“Come on!” Mercury snaps.
“Okay, okay.” I run to catch up with her. I’ve never seen her so active. Normally she is sound asleep on the windowsill of my room. Only treats would move her. And even then, only as far as the kitchen.
“Do you think they’ll find the door?” I ask. I can’t stop picturing the three shadow figures that were chasing us. Surely a door couldn’t stop them.
“Yes, probably. That’s why we need to hurry.”
I fasten my pace.
The tunnel winds around so many times that I quickly have no idea which direction we are going. There is a slight slope so we have to be going downward. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up in the center of the earth.
It feels like we run that far.
Mercury stops in front of a wall. “Press the button.”
I open my mouth to ask what button? but she nudges it with her nose before I can. The cat has some excellent sight advantages.
The walls open up into an office. An office. A lady of about forty sits behind a large desk as she reads through a steamy romance novel.
We step in and close the door.
Five different locks slide into place with an audible click.
“I have Paige North reporting in,” Mercury says.
The woman begrudgingly dogears the novel and places it on the desk. She peers over the counter, takes one long look at Mercury, and then up at me.
“I see,” she replies. “Go through and I will tell Mrs. Shephard to expect you.”
“Thank you,” Mercury says with a flick of her tail. She sets off again as the woman picks up an old-fashioned phone—one with actual, big buttons—and starts speaking into the receiver.
I try not to gape as I follow Mercury.
The office leads into a corridor that looks like it belongs in a fancy building. Not one underground and accessed through a dirt tunnel.
I’m glad Mercury knows where she’s going but it’s all just a maze to me. I wonder how they have managed to build this entire thing underground. Surely it would have been easier building up above.
The end of the corridor is in sight. There is a large door and chairs lined up on either side. Even worse, there are a handful of boys seated on those chairs.
I tug my T-shirt down and wish my pajama shorts were longer. If I knew I was going to be walking around in public all night, I would have dressed more appropriately.
It feels like I’m doing a walk of shame after a big night out. I refuse to look at any of the guys sitting there. I can feel their eyes on me and I can only imagine what they are thinking.
You know what? I don’t care. Let them think whatever they want. There is nothing wrong with my pajamas or the body within them. They can stare all they want.
I put some sass in my walk and pretend I’m on a Milan catwalk. Why the hell not? This is probably all a dream anyway. The most realistic dream I’ve ever had, but a dream nonetheless.
Mercury takes me right up to the large door. “You’re going to have to knock,” she says.
“Oh, right.” I rap on the door a few times.
Nothing happens. I can feel so many eyes on me but I refuse to look at them. I don’t care what they think of me, standing here and talking with my cat while in my pajamas. I can’t even think straight with all that going on.
The door suddenly swings open and a woman stands there. Her hair is a light pink color that has to be a dye job. She’s petite and dressed in a beige pantsuit. She reminds me of a friendly little pixie. I’m taller than her by at least a foot.
Her gaze looks me up and down before a smile settles over her lips. “Ah, Miss North, I was expecting you. Please, come on through.”
Mercury hurries through and I follow behind. Her office is large and more than adequate to hold the desk, couch, bookshelves, and filing cabinets. But it’s not the size that is impressive—it’s the view.
One side of her office consists only of windows. Which is crazy considering we are underground. The office overlooks a very large building with absolutely stunning grounds.
Gardens of all colors sparkle under the bright sun and blue sky. People are walking around on the pristine pathways. From up here, they look tiny.
It has to be the prettiest view I’ve ever seen.
Did I mention we were underground? And it’s the middle of the night?
This is one wild dream.
“I’m Mrs. Shephard,” the woman starts as she settles behind her huge wooden desk. “And I have to say, it is a pleasure meeting you, Miss North. I was waiting for the day when our paths would cross. I had hoped it would be under better circumstances.”
I look at Mercury for some guidance about what is happening here right now. Like how on earth this woman knows my name and was expecting me to show up in this weird place.
The cat just stares at me. Oh, now she’s silent? Great.
“Thank you for having me?” I say, but it’s really more like a question. I have no idea what is going on here.
She smiles again. “It’s our pleasure.” She reaches into a drawer and pulls out an electronic tablet. After pressing a few times on the screen, she hands it over to me. “Here are the details of your schedule. I’m sure you’ll find everything detailed enough so you won’t get lost. Your rooms are ready for you. Take this day to get settled in and your classes can commence tomorrow.”
“Wait, what classes?” I ask. This place certainly doesn’t look like a school—it’s far too posh. And I’ve already graduated from high school. I do not want to repeat that experience, once was enough.