Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Twenty ~ Aurora

"Take a hint, pal." I grunt, pushing him with my remaining strength. 

His hold loosens ever so slightly and it's now or never. With one final push, I run up the spiral staircase, the bane of my existence right now but also the only thing separating us, and make the terrible mistake of looking over the bannister like a curious kitten. 

Our eyes connect and time seems to have slowed between us just as it did yesterday, midnight eyes hold me hostage. Like a void, the darkness in them takes my breath away and causes my knees to buckle. I barely manage to avoid tripping over my feet in the process. 

Underneath the bright lights, he looks lethal with his head tilted in that eerie way, making him look like a predator sizing up his prey. Me. 

I thought I saw the last of this devil but I was wrong. So wrong. I can't explain how daunting his gaze truly is, it's like he's trying to see right through me and actually succeeding in doing so. His short, inky hair looks a little damp as if he just got out of a shower, loose tendrils framing his forehead as he drags his phone away from his ear. I take in his black three piece suit that looks like it was tailor made just for him. He had time to shower and change? 

I shake my head, I don't have time to be analysing the guy when I should be running for my life! I use the distance between us to my advantage, leaping upwards like a supercharged bunny and taking two steps at a time. 

Spoiler alert: my short legs cannot, so I stick to one step at a time. I don't dare look back again, my breathing ragged and uncontrolled as I finally get to room 402. With trembling fingers, I swipe the card and push open the door. Fuck Albert for giving me a room that's taken me forever to get to! 

I close the door behind me silently so as to not give away my location and scramble to gather my things together. My heart is in my mouth, I feel uneasy and suddenly unprepared for my next move, evidenced by my running into the bathroom like an idiot. Deep breaths, Aurora. You got this. You've done this plenty of times..it's a piece of cake!

I can't risk exiting the same way but I still need to check out, so that's going to be a bit of a problem. Nothing Uncle No can't fix. I'm not a rookie when it comes to executing my escape plans and yet I can see that I've made a dire mistake when I catch my reflection in the bathroom mirror. 

Shit. Shit. I don't got this! 

Staring back at me are a pair of dazed sapphire eyes instead of the chocolatey brown I've become accustomed to over the last couple of months.

"Shit." I rasp, screwing my eyes shut and opening them once again. 

As if doing that will magically change the colour somehow. How could I possibly forget? I spent the entire day in this room, had all the time in the world before I got to Club Hades and I still managed to forget. My contact lenses are not where they were supposed to be, I can't fucking believe this. I wasn't going to live this down, was I? How could I be so reckless? Is that why—

I shake my head vigorously, I don't have the luxury to be overthinking about anything. Time is of the essence here, Aurora! Stepping back into the room, I strap my backpack, already packed, and pat my back pockets with shaky fingers. Phone's still there. So is my wallet. Good to know I didn't forget about those too. 

I trudge over to the window with my small luggage bag strapped to my front—I look insane—and pry it open, the cool air soothing my clammy skin as I haul my body out. I freeze instantly.

"Ooh..that's steep..oh shit." I whimper pathetically. It's pretty high up, that's all. 

If I fall, which is highly likely, every bone in my body will be shattered into tiny shards. With that depressing thought, I place my feet onto the small ledge, pushing my weight back against the wall as I manoeuvre myself inch by inch.