As Gloria and the others now trailed behind Rexie, they could only give eachother nervous glances. Aaron it appeared had been hurt badly, with Claudia and Haley taking him back to the Magic Shop. "Should we go help Yuriko," teen Lisa asked.
Gloria gazed back at the teenage doppleganger of her step mom. "She should be okay," she said quietly. "Maty Elise is with her. They should be able to handle whatever comes their way." Turning towards the imp, Gloria now cautiously approached. "Any luck finding anyone?"
"We're close," the imp stated. As they reached a fork in the hallway, Rexie studied the path. Concentrating the imp familiar was able to see the faintest image of the chain binding her to her master. "This way," she smirked.
As the group continued down the hall they could see a series of doors lining the walls. "Not exactly what I pictured," teen Katie said. "I mean this looks like a bunch of offices not prison cells."
"Let's just find them," Lisa shuddered. "This place is giving me the creeps." Gloria now stopped short as Rexie came to a stop. "In here," the imp stated. Gloria looked down at Rexie, seeing the imp point towards the door. "Think you can get us in?"
Gloria nodded, holding up her Ring of Age, the teen began to concentrate. Slowly but surely the group wat he'd as the door corroded before their eyes. Decades worth of decay occurred in only seconds until finally to door crumbled from rot. As they peered in they were pleasantly surprised to see Cole, Kumiko, and Mia.
"Cole! Kumiko!"
"Mia!"
Kumiko looked up a look of relief washing over her face as she gazed at Gloria. "Oh thank god," she whispered. "Gloria I need your help with Cole." Gloria nodded, approaching the large ex Marine befire wincing. Cole appeared to have been beaten, his body covered in bruises while his face was tired and swollen. Looking up at Gloria he gave the teen a weak smile. "Good to see you," he croaked.
Taking a look at Cole, Rexie immediately sped to her master, checking over the young witchling. "Are you okay Mia," she asked, her voice tinged with fear and rage.
"I'm okay Rexie," Mia sniffed. "But they took Zack and baby Yuki."
"We'll find them Mia I promise," Rexie sighed. As the group now turned to leave, they stopped dead as a trio of guards now stood in front if the door. "All of you lay down on the ground NOW!"
Gloria, Lisa, Katie, and Rexie exchanged looks as they pondered the situation. The guards were human, not monsters like the Voids. While Rexie would have no qualms about killing, the other three weren't so eager to cross that line. There was also the concern of collateral damage. If they acted their was the possibility the guards could fire before they were incapacitated. Did they want to chance the death of the people they had tried so hard to rescue?
A loud thud now emanate behind the guards. The group now watched curiously as their would be captors collapsed unconscious, only for the most unlikely of rescuers to step forward.
"Mr. Harris?"
"Derrick?"
Derrick Harris smirked, a baseball bat in hand as he rushed in to help. "Cmon we got to get you out of here."
"Mr. Harris how did you get here," Gloria asked.
"I was at the Magic Shop when Claudia and the twins came back," the young teacher said. "I couldn't just my family sit here. I had to help."
"You shouldn't of come Derrick," Cole groaned as his little brother placed him on his shoulder.
"Whatever man," Derrick grunted. "I'm not gonna get my brother, sister in law, and niece just sit in prison. Now cmon, theres a portal to get us back."
"Wait what about Zack," Mia pleaded.
"And Jackie and the baby," Gloria added.
The group looked between one another, trying to piece together an answer. It was finally Gloria who answered. "Can anybody here me," Gloria whispered, hoping the mental link would still allow them to talk.
"Gloria I can her you," Sasha said. Gloria glanced around, still somewhat shocked by the link. It felt as if Sasha was standing right next to her. "Sasha we found Mia, Cole, and Kumiko," she said. "We're going to get them out but Zack, Jackie and the baby are still missing."
"They said they were taking Zack to the white room," Mia exclaimed. "I think it's the same room they had me in."
"Do you think you can find it," Gloria asked, to which Mia nodded.
"Katie, Lisa," Gloria stated. "Get the Harris's out if here. I'll go get Zack and Jackie."
"I'm not leaving Mia by herself," Rexie exclaimed. "In fact why the hell does Mia have to go anyway! It's too dangerous, she needs to be safe. Let the others find Zack and the baby!"
Mia glared at her familiar with all the ferocity her 11 year old features could muster. "I'm not leaving my best friend," she yelled. "And I cant let anything bad happen to the baby! Im going Rexie and you cant stop me."
Despite Rexies protests their was little she could do. She was Mias familiar and bound to her will. Cursing under her breath she now floated to the witchling awaiting their next move.
"Katie, Lisa," Gloria stated. "Help Mr. Harris get Cole and Kumiko back to the Magic Shop. We'll be joining you soon."
Without another word, Gloria now sped after the witchling and her familiar as Katie and Lisa helped Derrick lead his brother and sister in law to safety.