Detour

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Stern

Click.

The handcuffs opened.

CLANG.

The chains hit the wood of the docks.

I slowly lifted my face, my eyes locking onto hers.

The sharpness in her gaze had vanished.

Her lips curved into a smile, her hands clasped together.

“Glad we could come to a compromise,” she hummed. This time, her voice wasn’t cold or unreadable.

It was warm. Disgustingly warm.

-XXX-

Tick. Tick. Tick.

My eyes finally broke away from the ceiling. The clock had struck six, and the sunlight began to seep through the window blinds.

I tossed the blanket off me, sliding my feet into my slippers.

Not a single minute of sleep that night. High chance I had eye bags now.

I dragged a palm across my face, a groan escaping my lips.

Kair was right.

That damn witch.

I glanced to my right.

Laurel was still asleep. The strands of hair falling on her face weren’t enough to hide the smile on her lips.

I sighed. Of course she was smiling.

The bane of my existence was her dream.

-XXX-

“Oh, right!” She tapped a finger against her cheek. “Can’t forget to tell you this.”

She spun around, her boots digging into the floorboards.

Waves rolled beneath the deck.

Birds cawed, circling above us in the sky.

“There’s an exam for joining the Royal Vanguard,” she chirped. “You’ll have to clear it.”

I scoffed. Already giving orders…

Wait…

I crossed my arms.

What’s stopping me from failing the exam?

If I do… then I won’t have to—

“In the scenario that you fail.” She tucked a stray strand behind her ear. “I’ll have you arrested on the spot.”

…

I stared at her.

She didn’t even bother looking at me.

“Anyway,” she continued. “As long as you pass, you’ll join the Vanguard—”

“SCARLETT’S JOINING WHAT?” A loud voice tore through the wind.

My hands shot up to my ears.

Jeez.

That was loud.

My eyes flickered towards Reese.

She didn’t flinch at all. She just stood still, smiling.

My eyes narrowed.

Are you even human?

She tilted her head. “Laurel, right?”

“MHM!” The med student nodded, frantically shaking her head up and down.

My teeth gritted.

What an innocent act after rupturing my eardrums.

“Scarlett will be joining the Royal Vanguard next week,” Reese muttered, scratching the back of her neck.

I snickered.

Considering the amount of stalking she’s done to my life, who knows how much she knows about Laurel too.

“That’s… AWESOME!” Laurel squealed, the planks of the dock creaked as she jumped.

Then she paused.

“Wait, what IS the Royal Vanguard?”

…

Right.

Laurel’s only been here for a month.

-XXX-

Click.

The bathroom door creaked open.

I stepped onto the rug, sliding my feet into my slippers once more.

A towel was thrown over my shoulder, my drenched hair was dripping onto the clothes I’d just changed into.

I dragged myself towards the dressing table, hands gripping the edges of the wood.

The hell was I supposed to do now?

All my leads are gone. The ones I did find were either useless or whatever the hell yesterday was.

THUD.

My fists slammed into the table.

How the hell am I gonna get back to Earth?

“Scarlett?” A sleep-rough voice called out from the bed.

Just Laurel.

“You should get ready.” I snickered, grabbing the hairbrush.

In an instant, I could hear the bed creak, followed by the hammering of footsteps across the entire room.

“YES! FIRST DAY OF TRAINING!” She squealed, dashing around.

My free hand reached a drawer, opening it.

An object that resembled a compass peered through. And a small green gemstone sparkled beside it.

A navigation device or something.

All that damn lady said was it'd show us the directions to our training place.

I grabbed it, clutching it in my hands. Threatening to almost shatter it.

How could I even end up here?

“Scarlett!” She snapped her fingers in front of my face.

I blinked. “What?”

She pointed towards my hand.

"For how long are you gonna hold that hairbrush?”

-XXX-

“Bye, Kair!” She waved, shutting the door.

My fingers fidgeted with the compass.

“How does that even work?” Laurel got off the doorsteps, standing right beside me.

I shrugged. “No idea.”

I turned it over.

A small slot was built into the back.

My hand slipped into my other pocket, pulling out the green gemstone.

I stared at the two objects.

…

Is that where it goes?

My fingers pushed the gemstone in. The slot snapped shut.

I flipped the compass over again.

The needle spun in a circle.

Then it stopped.

North.

“Guess that’s where we have to go,” I muttered.

“Can I hold it?” Laurel squealed, bouncing on the ball of her feet. Her eyes were sparking as she reached out both of her arms.

My gaze lingered on her hands.

…

I shoved it into her hands, turning my head away.

In an instant, she began to tamper with the device. She spun around, the object still in her grasp as her shoes tapped against the gravel path.

“Can’t you use your ability to find her anyway?” I groaned.

“I told you!” She threw her hands in the air. “It only works on objects!” she muttered. “Ones that I’ve touched.”

Her lips turned into a pout. “You should really pay attention to what people say.”

I let out a long breath. “You could’ve touched her hat.”

“Huh?” She tilted her head, tapping a finger on her cheek. “But she already gave us a compass to find her.”

A palm dragged across my face.

Damn it.

Why couldn’t I have that ability instead?

-XXX-

Laurel ran ahead of me, skipping down the bustling street.

I kept my head down, staring at the compass in my hand. I didn’t trust her with it anymore. Not after she’d almost dropped it twice.

My free hand gripped my hair.

What had I gotten myself into?

The soles of my shoes continued to slap against the ground.

“How much longer?” She shouted from the distance.

I snickered. How the hell should I know?

“Keep walking,” I groaned into my hand. I didn’t hear footsteps after that.

Slowly, I lifted my hand from my face.

“Wouldn’t it be great if that mansion was where we’re supposed to go?” Laurel pointed, her eyes fixed on the building before us.

Beige walls, golden finishes, multiple stories. Seems like a generic mansion to me.

But I barely know a thing or two about architecture.

I sighed.

It just seemed so unnecessarily big. Like who would even clean all of that?

I glanced down, staring at the compass. The needle still pointed north.

Guess we’ll have to go around this building.

I picked up the pace, lifting up my foot. It felt like we’d already travelled half the town already.

Before I could even land my first step, a pair of hands grabbed my shoulders.

“How much longer?!” she whined, jerking me back and forth. I slapped her hands away.

Gravel scattered beneath my shoes as I finally walked towards the mansion.

My eyes broke away from the building, searching for any other street.

Honestly, I’d rather it be that we never find that place—

WHRR—!

My shoes dug into the ground.

My gaze dropped.

RATTLE!

The compass in my hand began to shake. The needle spun around rapidly.

The hell? What possessed this thing?!

“Is that normal?” Laurel asked, a finger resting on her chin.

My fingers clawed into the compass, jerking it up and down. Yet, it didn’t stop.

Then—

My eyes widened. A thought struck my mind.

“Don’t tell me this is…” I shoved the compass into Laurel’s hands, making a sprint towards the mansion’s entrance.

“Hey!” She yelled. “Is this thing supposed to shake?”

SKRAP—!

My shoes skidded just before I crashed into the golden gates.

I squinted past the bars. There was a bald man trimming the bushes in there, though his grip on the shears was unsteady.

I glanced towards the tall stone beside the gate. Words were carved into it.

My eyes traced the letters.

“Asphilly Estate.” I read further.

“Residence of the Vale family.”

…

So, this was the place.

“Vale family?” A voice came from behind.

I turned around.

It was Laurel. Still clutching the compass in her hands. Her eyes locked onto the tall stone.

She mouthed the words.

…

“THIS IS THE PLACE?!” She shrieked, her eyes glimmering as she jumped on the ground, gravel scattering beneath her feet.

My hands shot up to my ears. Not in the mood to go deaf.

“Scarlett! Ring the doorbell!” She cheered, stomping hurriedly on the path.

I sighed, turning myself to face the mansion. I raised my head, staring at the building one last time before I rang the doorbell.

Just one click away.

That’s all I had to do now.

“But… I can save you.” A hand reached out.

My breath hitched.

Foot caught on a pebble. My balance gave way as I nearly tumbled over.

“Scarlett?”

I’d have to see her again.

“Join. And I’ll act like this never happened.”

The thought itself repulsed me.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

Get yourself together. Damn it.

It’s just one week.

I swallowed hard, dragging my legs forward. One week.

“Scarlett—”

CLICK.

I pushed my finger into the doorbell.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

THUD.

Objects shuffled from the inside.

Then… there was silence.

Suddenly, footsteps hit the ground.

My blood ran cold.

The docks, the handcuffs. And that gaze. It all came back to me.

My eyes shot open.

Laurel was right beside me, staring past the golden bars of the gate.

Her hands pressed against her mouth, clearly covering a smile.

CREAKKK—!

The chilling wind blew past us. The gate had opened.

“Greetings, madams.”

It was a deep voice. One that belonged to a man.

It wasn’t her.

My head turned, agonizingly slow.

It was a man tucked into a suit. He bowed down as air blew into his olive hair. 

It really wasn’t her.

“You must be the ones Sir Adrias told us about.”

“YES!” Laurel jumped. “That’s us! Probably.”

The man raised himself. “I see.” He extended a hand. “Would you show us?”

“Huh?” She tilted her head.

I paused. My breathing slowed down.

Show what?

I brought my hand to my chin.

Wait…

“Laurel, the gemstone,” I muttered.

“Oh!” She flipped the compass over, opening the slot.

The green gemstone slipped out.

“This?” She held it in front of the man.

He stared at it for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing.

Then…

“It seems you are.” He clasped his hands together. “Welcome to the Asphilly Estate,” he paused. “Madam Scarlett and Madam Laurel.”

I swallowed hard.

Just hearing my name from the mouth of someone I didn’t know sounded off.

In an instant, Laurel’s hand seized the side of my jacket.

“I can’t believe this, OMG.” She began to bounce on her feet.

Jeez.

Learn to keep your hands to yourself.

“Ahem.”

Both of our heads turned.

The man coughed. “If we may escort you?”

“Yes,” Laurel responded, not sparing a single second.

“Very well.” He brought his hands together, clapping twice.

Quickly, two maids arrived. I hadn’t even noticed where they came from.

“Ahh! They look so pretty!” Laurel squeaked, barely lowering her voice.

The man gave her a weird look, but batted an eye.

“Escort them.” The words left his mouth, firm and resolute.

The maids nodded, but only the green haired one stepped forward. The shade of her hair looked eerily similar to the man’s.

Could they be related?

I shook my head.

What am I doing? I should just run away while I still have the chance.

“It’s fine. I can go by myself,” I urged as my eyes darted around. Looking for something, anything, just an excuse so I could leave this damn place.

A hand grabbed me mid-thought.

I lowered my eyes, it was one of the maids. She held my hand in hers.

“Please let us. It’s our duty,” she affirmed, her long green hair tucked into a neat bun while the rest fell over her shoulders. Her eyes fluttered with a light shade of yellow.

If I was still on Earth, I’d have assumed she just got fresh out of college.

She gave a small smile, promptly bowing.

My gaze drifted past her.

The other maid stood just behind her. Her face was softer, more child-like. I doubted she was any older than thirteen.

Her short blue hair swayed softly, giving her an almost gentle look.

Almost.

My jaw tightened.

Then why…

Why was she looking at me that way?

Her purple eyes.

Her crimson eyes.

Why did it look exactly like hers?

~Detour~

Characters:

Scarlett Ernest (MC, and the POV)

Laurel Ains (The fake med student)

Reese Myers (The Vice Captain)

The Asphilly Estate Staff

End of published parts.

Come back next week for Chapter 13!

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