Perfectly, Imperfect

#10 Escape

(Mitch's POV)

I eventually let go of Jerome and feel relieved that he's not crying anymore. I'm really glad that I have met him, even though we're both captured. My family is a pretty powerful one, and I was always kept away from all the other kids my age. Mom and Dad are probably looking for me right at this moment. It'll be so fun to have Jerome there with me! We could even get bunk beds! And then my baby sister wouldn't have to be in my room. And my older brother can't mess with me anymore with Jerome and I having these cool powers!

"We need to get out of here and go home, got any ideas?", I ask Jerome. "Umm..... I think we could fit through the vent?", Jerome says while looking up. I follow his gaze and see a small vent opening on the ceiling. Wire mesh is held onto it by metal screws. Jerome is actually a little smaller then me, but I'm pretty sure baccas grow bigger then humans. Jerome would fit through the opening, but it might be a tight fit for me. "It's too night up to reach..... maybe I could somehow use my powers to get you up, and you could rip it off with your super strength? You think that'd work?", I plan. "Best idea we have, I say go for it Biggums", Jerome yells. I smile before closing my eyes.

The colorful outlines immediately appear around me. I can see Jerome outlined in brown, a little lighter then his fur. My outline is still red. I look around the room that's outlined in green. I can see all the other rooms on the other side of the walls, but not further. I must have only a small range. Now, how to get up? Maybe flying? Or some sort of jump boost? Apparently 'jump' was the right word, because a blue glowing circle appears in the middle of the room. It's raised slightly on a metal platform. I reach out and grab Jerom's hand before walking towards the bounce pad. He probably can't even see it. I hesitantly set one foot on it. Bad mistake. I go flying at a side ways angle and hit the wall. Luckily, I had enough time to let go of Jerome's hand before he went flying with me.

My eyes snap open with the impact. Another mistake. I flip over and barf out my guts in the corner. I hear Jerome gag and look away. After I'm done, I lay in the corner and start questioning the life choices that have led me to this point. I haven't really had a lot of my own choices, though. "Are you ok?", Jerome's asks me. "Tired. Never again", I mumble, using as little words as possible.

A low banging-shuffling sound snaps me out of my self pity. I gather my wavering strength and push myself up into a sitting position. Jerome scoots over to me as the sound steadily gets louder. We don't make a sound as dread sets in. The noise stops. Jerome and I glance at each other, before I see Jerome's ears perk up. He has a confused look on his face. Just as I about to risk asking a question, something white and gold slips out of the vent. It looks like a white noodle. The thing moves until the golden tip is in the face of the screws holding in the vent. The thing then starts repeatedly turning like a screw driver. The first screw clatters the ground, the next one immediately being worked on. It too falls onto the ground, the vent falling half open.

Something screeches and falls out of the vent. I lurch back as a white and gold blur crash to the ground. "Ugg..... not again", it moans. It sits up and I can see that it's a boy my age. He has white and gold wings and tail. "Are you ok Lachlan!?", I look up to see another boy wearing a blue and red shirt. His hair is also a very dark brown. Another one with blue eyes and hoodie looks down on the other side. I then see a really tiny person clinging onto the third person. Parts of his skin shift and cast a warm glow.

'Lachlan' looks around the room before spotting us. "Hi! We're escaping right now and came to find you because I could feel you thinking! Wanna come with us?", he asks in one long breath. "You found a way to escape?", Jerome asks hopefully. "Actually, we aren't that far yet. But there's probably a way through the vents", the tiny lava creature says. "I can't use my echolocation because the sound echos too much in the vents.....", blue hoodie mumbles. "I only feel living things, I can't navigate us to an exit. I was using them to bring us here", Lachlan says while gesturing Jerome and I.

Jerome looks over at me. "Why meeeeeeeeee", I groan at him. "I have super strength, and Mitch has video game powers. He can get us through", Jerome explains. "But I barf and get really tired", I throw in. "Well, I'm part dragon and can read minds", Lachlan says. "I'm Vikk. I can move stuff and teleport. But I can't use my powers till whatever the scientist drugged me with wears off", Vikk explains. "I'm Preston, and I'm made out of lava", says the tiny person. "I'm Rob. I don't know what I can do beside use echolocation and turn into a fish thing. I'm also blind", blue hoodie says.

"Nice to meet you all. Could you help us out of here? I don't want to pass out before we can get out of here", I ask them. Lachlan gets a mischievous smile before grabbing onto my arms. I shriek as he lifts up into the air by beating his wings. "Stop squirming or I'll drop you!", Lachlan laughs. His wings are clumsy in the air. He brings me up o the ceiling where rob and Vikk pull me into the vents. Lachlan flies back down and brings Jerome up.

Everyone then looks expectedly at me while I scowl at them. I reluctantly close my eyes and look around. I can only see the vents out lined in green, the room below is just darkness. I mentally urge my sight to move in front of us. It feels like shifting a mountain with your head, but eventually the green outlines move from a radius around me, to just showing what's farther ahead. I urge my senses farther, and try to not think about the effects for when I open my eyes.

I start crawling to the end of the tunnel, the sounds of shuffling tells me that everyone is following. When I get to the first turn, I'm able to see some sort of end ahead of us. A green grid shows up on one side, so I think it might be metal bars leading outside. I quickly crawl towards it, wanting to open up my eyes as quickly as I can. It only take a few turns to get there. Once in front of the exit, I turn back behind me to ask Jerome if he can bend the bars.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of opening my eyes. I only catch a brief glimpse of my new friends before I faceplate onto the floor. My last though is 'I'm glad I don't see green', as my vision fades to darkness.