I stayed silent and searched for Nova. It was better if my abductor thought I was still out of it; I figured it could buy me more time. However, it seems like he had other plans for me.

The priest walked forth until we were face-to-face. I heard him chuckle. The scent of cheap plastic lingered in the air, it made me want to pull away, but I stayed put.

The slap that landed across my jaw caused me to yelp in pain. He definitely knew I was awake now. My eyes shot open. The priest laughed again, and it is then that I saw his mouth wasn’t following. Was he not human? Did he also have abilities like us?

…Did he know about us?

The priest ran a hand along his face and tugged it off. It dropped to the floor. “Surprise,” said a young man, who was the type of sickly pale you’d associate with a dying person or something already dead. He brushed dust off his shoulder and snorted. “It’s amazing what they sell at dollar stores these days,” although his words inspired enthusiasm, his tone was quite the opposite of that—dull, lifeless, like the room around us.

The young man’s back was hunched over. As he observed our surroundings and motioned at the exit: stairs that led to a room above, he said, “You aren’t getting out. There’s about ten floors until you’ll be able to see the light of day.”

I couldn’t tell whether that was a lie or the truth.

Would someone who got his disguises from a dollar store have enough funds to own a secret lair? Or had he spent it all on his lair and that’s why he had no other choice but to use cheaper methods to catch us?

I gulped. Was it truly from the dollar store? Or was that also a lie? I couldn’t think of a worse situation to be in, and there was still no sign of Nova anywhere.

He was waiting for me to reply.

I told him—

A) I told him nothing. If he thought he would get a word out of me, he was dead wrong.

B) I told him, “Thank god.” And then, I laughed. “That woman was absolutely crazy!” With a smirk, I added, “You’re a true savior; if you let me out, I’ll help you teach her a lesson.”

C) I told him, “You know, I get that we were trying to rob you, and I’m sorry about that, but did you really have to drug us and lock us up in your basement? Or are you just the type of lad that enjoys collecting people? Because I’m not worth much if that’s the case. And the girl that was with me”—I cringe—“seriously, she’ll bite your finger off if you try anything with her! We’re both…terrible people to kidnap. So, you’re out of luck, sorry, bud. Better release us while you can, we’re just taking up space here.”