Dark red

"What do you mean? A curse?"

"That kind of stuff only exists in fantasy books or movies, Patrick!", screamed Josh.

"Stop screaming you rotten fruit! Let me explain my theory!"

Me and Joshie stopped talking, our full attention on Patrick.

"But first, we should move. If we stay here any longer, we'll get caught again. Let's go a a few stairs down."

We nodded in agreement. I asked something.

"Which floor will be the best place to hide and talk for a with-"

"without getting caught?", finished Josh.

"The 16th floor. If I recall well, it is a prohibited area. Was an old cafeteria before closing down due to weird and unusual sounds."

"Okay."

"Wait a hot minute...", suddenly said Josh.

"What?, I said at the same time as Patrick.

"Thirty-one minus sixteen is equal to fifteen floors multiply it by four is...60 stairs. Not again!!"

"Bare with it or die, lazy head."

"HEY! stop calling me nicknames!"

"Welcome to lazy town, Josh.", I said while having a big smile.

"No puns intended!"

"Sure. -_-"

"Sorry to ruin your romantic moment, but we have to go now."

Patrick headed down first, followed by Josh-who gave me a death glare-and me following behind. Clanking sounds from our shoes was loud and clear. Our breathing combined together, trying to make the less amount of noise possible. (The shoes aren't helping, sadly) Glad I didn't skip P-E classes, where we did endurance tests, ran fifty laps without stopping and did the beep test. Sixteen . I did 16 pillars. A few minutes passed by and we took a break at floor 21. Patrick was out of breath, lying down on the floor. I wasn't that tired, climbing up is way harder than going down, after all. Josh, it's a whole other story.

"C'mon guys! 20 stairs to go! Than we can sit at one of the tables and talk in details!"

"How do you have so much stamina, Johnny?"

"Blame The PE teacher."

"Aren't you guys swans?"

We turned our heads toward the one on the floor.

"Yes we are. Why?"

"Can't you guys just fly down?"

"We'll get caught because of the tight space plus our massive wings will get stuck anyways."

"It'll bring attention to those around us, Patrick."

"Ohhhhhh. Right."

He slowly got up, getting prepared to go down the last 20 stairs. Something caught his eyes.

"Guys, look!"

"What?", we both said in unison.

He slowly advance towards the place he pointed, crouching down to get a paper journal?

"1991..."

"What about it??"

"Swan apocalypse"

I took the paper from his hand, reading the description out loud.

"More than fifty swans were discovered, each and one of them being males. Dr.Marshylin, a famous scientist for the discovery of this species, was found dead after they escaped. Police officers are currently working on it. Mister Dracylo, gouvernent of the city, came to have a closer look. We will now interview a victim. Named Jo-"

"Enough. Let's just get going, Johnny."

We all went down the last few stairs, worries creeping up faster, scared to get jumped at any moment. Arriving at destination, wood planks and gorilla glue were blocking the entry. The glue was dried up and the blanks has a beige color with dark brown dots. Must've become rotten over the year.

"How are we going to do this exactly?"

"Watch and learn. Step asides, mans."

Patrick and I did as he said. We we're curious to how he'll open the door. A *pop* was then heard. Two black wings with blue tips grew from Josh's back. The wings had an unusual form. It wasn't big and fluffy like mine. It was medium size and pointy. Sharp like the tip of a katana. Or a knife in general. It was so beautiful. It formed a half "m". It was fascinating to see it from our own eyes. The guy with black and blue wings stood on a defence pose, swinging the left leg from front to back, getting ready to...?

*BOOM*

We both jumped out from fear, immediately snapping our head towards the reason of the noise.

"Did it. Come one, before they see us."

I was impressed by his strength. So strong.

Patrick and I followed behind.

"Oh. Look guys! Anther journal paper."

"Another one over there!"

"And one here."

"Let's bring them over. Like that, I would be able to at least confirm my theory."

"Got you, Patrick."

We brought back the three papers, putting them on the table where he was sitting.

"Ok. So here it is. Firstly, there-"

*Pam* *Pam* *Pam*

Foot steps coming up. No. They saw us! How did they find us?

"Sh*t. We have to get out and go somewhere else or else we here grilled!!"

"Grrrrr! Can they mind their own business for once?"

"This way.", Josh said pointing at the exit door, behind was staircase.

"Lasers...."

"Lasers??"

"Those bastards...."

"We have to deactivate them! Or else we won't be able to pass!"

"I can't jump that high! I can't! I'm still weak!"

"I'll do it. Both of you, watch the door for me."

We walked toward the other exist, guarding as Josh told us.

"It's only a light one. So it'll be fast."

"We believe in you! Not stop talking and do it fast as possible! Their footsteps are getting closer."

Josh nodded, examinations in front of him. Two ropes. The cafeteria's table were on both sides of him. At about 60m from him, was the famous door to get them out of there. Below those ropes was water. But not normal water. It had a •Dark red• colour to it. A weird sound came to Josh's ears. Moans? No. Would've been sloppier and more sensual. A half scream? Didn't burst so can't be if. A loud and deep growl suddenly came out of the walls. Not the walls. Below him...

"Oh my softy pillow..."

Below were millions of dead bodies, laying everywhere. Some has their eyes open, some close, body parts everywhere. They kept floating alone. Wouldn't they have drowned? That must explain that dark red. It was the coloration from their blood...Something in particular caught his attention. Wings. Big, small, skinny, fat ones. Green things were swimming on the surface.

"Damn it. If I fail, I'm dead meat."

"JOSH! QUICK!!"

Without hesitation, he placed himself, getting ready to jump on one of the ropes. He'll balance himself, touch the blue button and it will close the floor below him.

"HURRRYYY! I HATE HAVING DIRTY HANDS!"

Three....

"Get ready, Patrick."

Two....

"I've been born for this."

One....

"ATTAAAACKKKKKK! DON'T YOU DARE LET THEM ALIVE!"

Josh jumped and took the left one. It was about to detached from the roof. He was balancing himself in the void, below him crocodiles looking at him, waiting patiently for him to fall down. He had to jumped on the other rope, and quick. On Johnny's side, he was able to keep up. He successfully dived down, avoiding a blade from his opponent. A lunch was thrown immediately, knocking him out. Knife in his hand, he started to stab while fighting at the same time. A quick jab with the flat place of the knife, then piercing the lame in his body, right through his vital organ. Everything was going well on his side. But not Pat had more difficulty on his side. Not fighting or moving a muscle for about 15 years and suddenly fighting again, it was a huge shock to his body. Being 28, he's starting to get old. He was fighting a guard, bare hands. Left punch. The guard used his leg, doing a left kick, right through his right rib. Right punch on the black uniform man's face. Being a bit sounded from the recent punch, Patrick decided to finish it off with an upper cut and a knees kick right in the middle of his forehead, immediately killing him. Sadly, he absolutely forgot the guard beside him. He was quickly trapped between a wall and a body, receiving a huge impact on his back. Thankfully , Johnny had finished quickly with his ennemies. Blood spattered everywhere on the wall, falling backwards.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just a light shock. That'S it."

"Good. Let's join Josh."

They joined him. On Josh's side, he had to think quickly. Every minute counted.

"USE ONE OF YOUR ARM AND A LEG TO SUPPORT YOU, THEN USE THE SAME LEG TO GIVE YOU A HEAD START, THEN IMMEDIATELY GRAB THE ROPE!"

"AND ARE YOU SURE I CAN REACH IT??"

"YES! BECAUSE IT ISN'T THAT FAR APART!"

"IF I DO IT, CAN I GET A KISS FROM YOU, JOHNNY, ONCE WE GET OUT??"

I was stunned. A kiss? HUH?!? My heart was beating fast and a faint red was on my cheeks.

"YES YOU MORON! NOW DO IT!"

Having said that, Josh did as he was told. He grabbed the second rope. He was swinging his hips, making the rope go from left to right. Suddenly, he jumped, touching the button, doing a flip than dive on the other side.

Metal doors on the floor were slowly closing up. At the front door, I high five Pat. The tallest okie of us pulled me closer to him, thanks to my tiny waist. He hid his head on the crouch of my neck,making me blush.

"Waiting for it, baby."

I played dumb, wanting to avoid it.

"What do you mean??"

I can feel his smile creeping up. He snapped his head in front of mine, holding my jaw, pulling me closer and reducing the distance between us.

"My kiss."

He smashed his lips in mine, shocking the complete out of me. He started to slowly move his lips. After few seconds of shock, I kissed back. My arms went around his neck by themselves, deepening the kiss. A light squishy scream was heard from me, him bitting my bottom lip.

*Cough* *Cough*

"Excuse me for disturbing again, but we have to go."

We separated from the soft and deep kiss, blushing due to embarrassment.

"Sorry Patrick for making you uncomfortable."

"Next time I'll interrupt you love birds when y'all in bed, or??"

"Don't you dare do it, you tiny piece."

"Get going you lovebirds!"

"I DO NOT LOVE HIM!"

"Y'ALL EYES CONTACT AND THE KISS PROVES EVERYTHING WRONG!"

"Ahahaha!"

"ThankS. I know that i'm funny."

We both rolled our eyes, Josh winking before going down and me having a cardiac arrest to to the stupid loud heartbeat. My poor heart....