Chapter 8: Codicil
Ecco's brown eyes fly open and she pushes herself up from the ground where she has been sleeping. Sully and Clove are still snoring. She wonders how they can rest so easily when Theo has been locked in a creepy laundromat all night.
For a brief moment she considers just stealing the key from Sully to free Theo on her own. Maybe then she and Theo can escape the boys for a bit. She isn't sure what it is, but Sully always seems to get her to do things without thinking of the consequences. She feels bad for being malleable, for daring Theo.
All she hopes is that he is perfectly okay. That the Cavae Oculos have done nothing to harm him. She hopes they are in fact merely a legend, that they don't truly exist. For Theo's sake.
She wants him to be proven right for once.
Kicking the boys roughly, Ecco manages to wake them. The moment Sully realizes it is morning, he breaks out in a manic grin.
"Let's go free our little daredevil!" He chortles, leaping to his feet and brandishing the key.
Clove looks at Ecco and shrugs as they follow Sully to the laundromat. Dirt and leaves litter the floor. Ecco covers her mouth to smother a cry of concern, and Sully shoots her a look before assuring her that everything is fine.
The building is oddly still and silent. They call for Theo; he does not answer. He isn't there. Not a trace of him.
"He probably snuck through here and went home," Clove mutters bitterly, observing as Sully jiggles the emergency exit.
Sully nods grimly. "He's clever, I'll give him that. Well, this just means he can't take a dare. That being said, he's earned a penalty."
"What should we do to him?" Clove raises his eyebrows.
Sully taps his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm...not sure, but I'll think of something. Any ideas, Ecco?"
But Ecco is also nowhere to be seen. An odd sensation fills the air, and the boys turn around, getting a sense that they are not alone.
There is nothing behind them. Nothing at all. And yet...
"Uh, Clove?" Sully tries to keep his voice low and stable.
"Yeah?"
"Are you humming?"