Escape room

-Ok, I’ll tell you why I was crying IF you promise not to tell anyone-, I demanded.

-I promise not to tell anyone-, you said very seriously with your hand in your heart.

-The thing is. I’m running away from my father because he is always screaming at home. Mostly to my mom, but sometimes to me too. Today was… horrible.

-Why did he shout today?

-Well, it’s a little bit my fault… I… I told him I wanted to go exploring other planets with mom and he started shouting that I’m too young and it’s too dangerous. I…I shouldn’t have said anything-. Remembering that situation made me start crying again. You put your hand on my head and started combing my hair trying to comfort me. It was so silly that it didn’t work, at least at the beginning. Seeing how you were trying to help was sweet.

-I’m sorry he screamed at you.

-...I hate him-, I whispered, scared that my dad could hear me. Hearing my words made you stop combing my hair.

-I… don’t know your dad but… He shouldn’t scream, but… I think you shouldn’t hate him, he is just scared something may happen to you-. I didn’t want to keep talking about my father so I changed the subject.

-And you? Do your parents get along?

-I…don’t know. I don’t have parents-, you said with a hint of sorrow.

-What happened to them?-, I asked, feeling a bit guilty for having brought the subject up.

-I don’t know. I’ve never even met them or know their names. They just… didn’t care I guess.-. I felt that was a big burden you carried with you. I  can't imagine how that must feel growing up. I wanted to cheer you up, even if just a little.

-Well. Who needs them anyway. All they do is boss you around and get on your nerves. I could do that for you if you want, if you ever feel sad or lost, come here and I’ll spend time with you-, I offered, not giving it much thought.

When I saw the face you made… I just knew how much those words meant for you. Even if it came from a girl you had just met. Seeing the light in your eyes made me think you had never heard something like that, ever. And many years later, when you discovered the truth of your abandonment… I wish I could have been by your side when you found out.

---

-Why did it have to be her father’s office…-, cried Nyco. He went to the window and looked at the hallway in case his jump had alerted someone, but thankfully it didn’t. -Well, at least no one heard me jump. Ok, I need to get out of here NOW-, he concluded. -I really don’t want to use another orb, but I’m sure Emma will understand it’s an emergency-.

Nyco opened the Warpy and saw that it still had 4 orbs left. He didn’t know how to use the teleporting bracelet correctly since he had only seen Emma use it once or twice. It took him a couple of minutes but he was finally able to figure it out. He rotated the little wheel and went through all the jumping options to see which one would suit him better. He decided he would go to the city center since he could just walk back to his flat from there. He pressed the Warpy but a big red text filled the small screen in the bracelet. “No energy left. Please wait a few minutes to reload”.

He could not believe it, he was in the worst place possible without a way to get out. He went to the front door of the office but it was closed. He then went to the windows facing the outside in case he could climb out and jump down to the street. His hopes shattered when he looked down...
“What floor is this? F U Floor? I must be on the 100th floor or something. Unless Darwin is on my side and lets me skip a few thousand years and I evolve into a bird right now… there’s no way I can escape this way”, he cried.

It then popped in his mind, “The portal I just came in!! It may be a two way gate!” he hoped. He got in and saw that indeed he could use it as a way to travel to other portals. Some portals could only receive travelers, but this one could also send them to their selected destination. He checked and it was a voice command unit.

-Thank the Lord!!!-, Nyco cheered. -One way to the City Center. Please” he asked the AI.

-Hello user. Identification code please-, the AI asked.

-What?

-The Warpy in your wrist, read me the code to see if you have access-,  Nyco checked the Warpy and saw that on its back it had a number.

-W-E 6875-, Nyco read.

-Incorrect. I’m afraid you don’t have permission to use this portal without direct supervision from your father, Emma.

-What kind of father doesn’t let her daughter have full access??! he, complained.

-I am not able to make any personal assessment of Mr. Litdawn-, expressed the AI.

-No need. I’ll tell you. Mr. Litdawn is a total bast…-.

The sound of someone talking at the other side of the front door made him shut up. He paid close attention to see if he could determine who it was. Thankfully, it wasn’t Emma’s father and he didn't hear him.

-You were lucky not to say any rude words, miss Emma. I have very strict orders to inform Mr. Litdawn of any bad words used by you.

-Shhhh, would you keep it down? They are going to hear you, you dummy-, he ordered the IA.

-Word “dummy” detected, when I see Mr. Litdawn I’ll be sure to let him know.

-What? No! I’m not even Emma, I’m just using her Warpy because she lent it to me. Delete information, delete information!!-, he tried commanding the IA.

Another noise outside made Nyco ignore the portal and listen carefully. His breathing was getting heavy with the stress of being found.
False alarm. It wasn’t him.

Nyco gave up on the portal. He checked his Warpy but it was still generating energy. He tried thinking of all kinds of ways to get out of that room but all he could think of was the teleporting bracelet. He had to wait for it to recharge.

The wait felt like absolute torture. “If Mr. Litdawn sees me here he is going to make such a ruckus. He will scream at Emma, and then she will scream at me. He already hates me being around her… Gosh what a nightmare”.

Nyco heard steps getting close to the door. “Oh no, is that him? The Warpy hasn’t charged yet. Please don’t be him”, he begged.

-... you are a bunch of useless hags. Do I have to do everything myself? Just get out of my sight and leave me at peace at my office!!!-, he screamed.

-Yep, that's him… Nobody would talk that badly to his workers. I’m toast.

He desperately looked for a place to hide but could not find any. He ended up climbing the big wooden bookcase and rested on top of it, hoping he wouldn’t look up. The unfriendly father came in and went directly to his closet and started taking books and files out. He then sat down and started working.

“Great. It looks like he is going to be here for a while. Good God, how can I be so unlucky. How long will I need to hide up here”-, Nyco thought. He soon realised his bad luck was just getting started. Something else also decided the top of the bookcase was a good place to Bee. The little animal was walking straight into Nyco’s face. “Oh come on. Not you now!! Please don’t get closer!”, he desperately whispered to the bee that was getting dangerously close to his nose. The poor boy could not move as this would make noise and alarm Mr. Litdawn. “If this is because of me laughing at you before I’m sorry, ok? But please go”-, he cried. “I promise that if you turn around I will never eat honey in my life. Just go, please!!”. Seeing his pleas didn’t work, he tried blowing air into the small bee, but that was the wrong option since all it did was make it angry and fly towards his face. That startled the teenager, making him fall from the bookshelf and land on his right shoulder. He rolled on the floor trying to rub the pain of his shoulder away when he saw Emma’s father approaching him angrily.

-Heey, Mr. Litdawn. Funny to find you here… You are not going to believe what just…

POW

Nyco could not end the sentence since a hard angry and knuckled fist just landed on his nose.