Wicked Double Minded

The window was just out of reach. Charlotte was balancing herself on Lucia's shoulders, and she was wavering after standing for a few minutes trying to figure it out, considering the window was taller than she had first expected. She didn't know how Lucia was able to convince her to get on her shoulders, but it was already done.

Charlotte did throw out the idea first, but she meant that she wanted to be lifting not the one balancing. Reaching up as best as she could, her nails brushed against the ledge, but she couldn't get a good grasp to be able to pull herself up at all.

The window was cracked open with a small glow that had to be from a lamp in the corner, but it didn't mean much when she couldn't even get to it. As Charlotte got closer, she was able to discern voices from inside, but she kept on going back and forth since Lucia couldn't even hold her up well. Not that she would be able to do anything different either.

When she was about to get another chance to hold onto the stone ledge, Lucia moved slightly back which made Charlotte lose her balance. With a muffled curse, she stepped forward on Lucia's shoulder making her slip from the curved edge, and Lucia bit down a confrontation before trying to catch her fall.

The bricks ran her hands raw as she tried to slow her fall despite gravity taking over, and Charlotte fell back on her bottom with a grimace while rubbing her red hands on her knees in pain. Lucia irritatedly ran a hand through her lavender hair, and Charlotte sent her an accused glare.

"You can't just let me go," Charlotte said with a deep breath.

Lucia rolled her shoulders. "Be careful where you step."

Charlotte shook her head. "You're forgetting who's helping who."

Lucia stuck out her hand with a sharp glare, and Charlotte grasped it to help her up and brushed the dirt off of her beyond-repair outfit that was torn and loose, yet she didn't want to part with it since Vincent had gifted it to her.

Getting to her feet, she shook out her legs while Lucia knelt on the ground again to boost Charlotte up. Charlotte bit down on her lips and went on her tippy toes as much as she could, and she could almost get it.

"Just a little bit higher, Lucia!"

Lucia grabbed Charlotte's legs and held onto them, as she also leaned forward and up, while Charlotte tried her best to get a good grip on the ledge. Her scratched hands met the cool stone, and she was able to get her elbow up before her other with the strength that was left inside of her.

Breathing hard, Charlotte shoved the window open, and she flailed as her feet left Lucia's shoulders, trying to grab onto something and anything inside of the room. There was a desk directly under the window, and Charlotte wound her hand forward before toppling over after dragging herself inside.

She did make a lot of noise when she tumbled through the window, and she froze with her legs still awkwardly perched above the desk when there were steps that went by praying that the door was locked. There was a pause before the steps retreated, and Charlotte tried to calm her racing heart that was echoing in her ears.

Charlotte eased her legs off the desk and rolled her neck, quickly standing to peer out the window to see that Lucia was waiting from below. "What do you want me to do?"

Lucia sighed. "You can grab the rope that is inside one of my nightstands."

She turned away from the window but started to question why Lucia had a long rope with her. Truth be told, Charlotte did in fact find a large thick rope inside the nightstand, and she dropped it outside the window.

"What's with the rope?" Charlotte asked as Lucia started climbing.

Lucia glanced up, the blue in her eyes catching from the dim lights that were overhead, and she smirked. "I get out often."

Charlotte ignored the connotation of her words. "Get up quickly. There was someone lurking near the doors."

Lucia faltered. "Did they come inside?"

"No, they stopped at the door for a second," Charlotte answered slowly.

"You couldn't have gotten in just a tad quieter?"

Charlotte sighed. "You should be grateful I got inside, and leave it at that."

Lucia pulled herself up the rope, and Charlotte backed away when Lucia didn't have anything more to say, standing in the corner with her arms crossed as she brought her fingers up to her lips in thought.

Lucia came through the window in a moment, and Charlotte had a hand down on the base of her gun in case the woman changed her mind. She wouldn't never let herself get so far led astray.