Getting Cornered

The woman gestured for them to be seated as she went upstairs. She walked away as suddenly as she appeared, and her silence made the two friends feel like they were in a mystery movie.

As they waited, Billie and Ivan took in the grandeur of the room. The lighting was subtle yet illuminating, emphasizing the intricate details of the paintings on the wall. The chandelier hanging above them sparkled, providing an aura of elegance to the already luxurious space.

The sofas they sat on were plush and comfortable. The cushions were of different shades, complementing the décor of the room. Ivan could feel his body relax against the soft sofas, appreciating how comfortable it was. The space was an exquisite blend of innovation and antiquity, and they were thrilled to be in it.

The smooth walls of the room were adorned with impressive paintings, and the sculptures simply made Billie and Ivan feel like they were in a museum. Everything about the space was opulent, and they could not help but marvel at its beauty.

"Gosh, I'm gonna move in with him", Ivan declared as he sat there still not over with looking around the place.

Billie ignored him as she felt her anxiety rise all of a sudden.

Miron's mother descended the stairs shortly after, and her grand presence was not to be underestimated. Her short blonde hair was sleeked so well, The crisp white dress she wore with a muffler collar was stunning. Her smile was warm and disarming.

Billie and Ivan can't help themselves but stand at the grand entrance of Her.

"Hello, my dears, How have you been?" Miron's mother greeted them with genuine warmth, extending her hand for a gentle shake.

They shook her hand, mesmerized by her strong aura.

"Miron just went to the bathroom, let me get him for you", she added as she excused herself, walking towards the long hall.

"We'll come with you!", Ivan said eager for an excuse to take a peek inside the mansion. Miron's mother nodded a yes as they walked behind her.

She knocked at the bathroom door before saying, "Miron dear, someone is looking for you".

"It's your friends, Billie and Ivan", she added.

The bathroom door immediately swung open at the mention of their names, revealing Miron who looked absolutely relieved to see them.

"You guys, I'm sorry", Miron exclaimed, out of breath.

Miron's sudden apology made Billie and Ivan quite uneasy.

"I totally forgot that I promised to meet up this evening", He added.

Billie and Ivan exchanged looks. "Oh yeah, it's fine", Ivan replied.

"We're here now, aren't we?", Billie chimed in hiding her nervousness.

As Miron's mother glanced at him with suspicion, Miron hastily made an excuse to go upstairs, leaving Billie and Ivan feeling awkward in his absence.

In a while, Miron came downstairs with his backpack joining the other two as they had come back to the luxurious lobby.

"Very well, Let's go!", Miron urged as Billie followed him.

"What?, Right away? But we just came in!", Ivan interrupted.

Miron's mother looked over them as if she was watching them from a distant place.

"Man, You're welcome to come here anytime!", Miron said as he nervously eyed his mother.

She was smiling nodding.

Billie pinched Ivan as he tried to open his mouth for yet another question. She sensed something was wrong with the way Miron was acting, and all she had in her mind now was to exit the place immediately.

As they started to leave, Miron's mother appeared seemingly out of nowhere and halted them in their tracks.

"When will you be back, Miron dear?", she squinted her eyes as she eyed the three of them carefully.

"Well, I won't be late", Miron said trying to hide his anxiety and Billie nodded furiously while Ivan seemed rather upset.

With newfound courage, Miron refused to back down. He knew that his friends were important to him, and he was determined to escape his mother's grasp, even if it meant defying her.

Miron knew he had to act fast before his mother grew suspicious of his sudden plans to go out with his friends. So without any hesitation, he dragged his friends out of the mansion and onto the stone pathway, much to Ivan's dismay. He had planned to take a tour of the mansion and was disappointed that Miron had cut the fun short.

Walking furiously Miron bumped into the entrance shield and was thrown to the ground.

"Huh? You too?", Ivan questioned as he helped His best friend stand up.

"Oh my god, How are we--", Miron had a look of horror as he thought he was trapped here with his friends when the guard woman in black suit cut him off.

"Move!", she said as she held her palm against the invisible shield, which dissolved with a blue glow in front of them.

Ivan nodded with acknowledgment while Miron stood there taken aback as he had not seen this when he entered the mansion.

"Stay safe, kids!", Miron's mother said out loud waving at them, standing by the front door.

As they walked out Billie saw a smirk on Miron's mother's face, unsure of whether it was a good sign.

They rode away from the mansion, Miron explained to his friends that his mother was involved in some government work, mentioning the name Selena, which caught Billie and Ivan by surprise. They couldn't fathom what kind of government agency requires Miron's mother's attention or why Selena was so important.

"Damn, we almost got ourselves killed", Ivan told as he pedaled faster.

"If we had got killed, it'd be because of you", Billie snapped at him, holding onto Miron's coat as she sat behind Miron while he rode her bike.

"I'm not sure about getting killed, that's a far-fetched Idea", Miron chimed in.

"See? it's far-fetched, Dipshit", Ivan mocked Billie.

"But It doesn't mean we won't get into trouble", Miron completed.

Billie rolled her eyes as Ivan muttered, "Sorry".

As the sun slowly set, the three rode towards their old neighborhood, with Miron in the front, riding Billie's bike, while the other two shared their side of the story on the way. They were all confused as to what was going on, but Miron was trying his best to reason it out.

"You guys were hallucinating stuff like that?!", Miron exclaimed.

"Yeah man, Almost died", Ivan added.

"I didn't experience something like that though", Miron wondered out loud.

"Which means, this has got something to do with that mist", he explained.

"And the woman!", Billie added.

"Shut up, Billie, we're being serious here", Ivan shook his head.

After giving Ivan a death glare, Billie wondered in silence, What Miron said made more sense and cleared her doubts, the mist has something in it that makes people go crazy.

Miron suggested they stay away from the forest and lay low for a while, to which Billie and Ivan agreed. Miron's theory was that if they kept their distance, they might be able to slip under the radar of whatever his mother was involved in. They were just a group of kids, and Miron believed they could get away with it as long as they kept quiet and acted responsibly.

In the end, they were relieved to be out of the mansion and away from the prying eyes of Miron's mother. They knew they had to be careful from now on if they were ever to get to the bottom of this mystery.

As they arrived in their old neighborhood, the sun began to set, and the air began to chill. Suddenly, the joyful atmosphere was broken by the menacing sight of a police car that pulled up next to them. The trio's hearts began to pound harder with each passing moment, and their palms began to sweat as the officer reached for his tablet.

"Sorry to bother ya, kids", the cop said in a hoarse voice as he scrolled through several pages of information before showing them the picture of a woman.

"Do ya know this woman?", he added.

When they saw her piercing blue eyes, they felt their blood run cold, and their pulses quickened.

"Uhh", Billie could hear her heart pounding, she had just met Selena that afternoon. "Not really"

"Huh? Anythin would do kids, Are ya sure ya don't know this woman?", the cop was stubborn.

"Not at all", Miron said as he wiped his sweaty face. Ivan kept glancing at Billie while she was getting wary of her surrounding.

Upon hearing their answer, the officer nodded his head and signaled to a couple of other officers, who were lurking in the shadows, waiting for their cue.

Before they knew it, the other two officers had grabbed them from behind, and the trio was left feeling frightened and shocked.

"We know nothing, we swear!", Ivan shouted desperately.

Their minds raced with fear and anxiety as they were dragged toward the menacing black car instead of returning home. They felt like they were pawns in a game they didn't have any control over, and their emotions were all over the place. Fear, confusion, and helplessness consumed them as they silently prayed and hoped that they wouldn't be punished for something they had no idea about.