Welcome to Amaranthine Part 3

    After what seemed like hours of thinking, I finally collapsed to the cold stone floor in defeat. I felt my bottom lip start to quiver, then bit my lip to stop it. I am not going to cry, not now. I laid my hand down on my waist, feeling my bracelet move up and down on my wrist and the soft fuzz of my scarf. Then, an idea hit me. I grinned at myself and hurried to my feet. I untied the scarf, then pulled off my bracelet. I tied one end of the scarf to the bracelet, tightened it, then stood beneath the grate. I tossed the bracelet up, but it only hit the grate, sending a loud clang through the air. I cringed, the tried again. I tried so many more times, then when all hope seemed lost, I thought of Donny. I seen him beside me, encouraging me to keep on and never give up. Never say die, he told me. 
    "Never say die," I repeated aloud. With full focus and confidence, I threw the bracelet up at the grate; it went through one of the holes, then fell out of the hole beside it. 
    "Yes!"
    I stretch out the arm that had a hold of the end of the scarf and used the other to reach for the bracelet. On my tip-toes now, I grabbed the bracelet and pulled the end of the scarf through it, then let go of the bracelet, pulling down. The bracelet hit the grate, making a secure rope for me to climb. I wrapped the scarf once around my hand, gripping it tight. I pulled myself up, reaching with the other hand and wrapping it once. I repeated this until I reached the grate. I pulled Donny's multi-tool from my back pocket with one free hand, and somehow managed to undo both bolts holding the grate down, or up, should I say. The grate opened out, making the scarf-rope swing around, and I almost let go. I cried out impulsively, then used my free hand to grab the other side of the grate. I let the rope go and grabbed the grate with both hands. I pulled myself up inside the hole, my arms feeling like they're on fire. When I was finally inside the air duct, I let my body fall over like I did before, but this time I let a dry laughter escape my throat. I am the luckiest person in the world, I thought to myself. My heart was racing.
    The air in here was bitterly cold, but after the humid heat, I didn't mind. It smelt a lot better in here, too, like a refreshing and invigorating scent, not rotting corpses, however, my clothes, which were now dry, still had the scent lingering on them. I got up and started to walk, the round duct making me wobble a little. I didn't know where I was going, but I didn't care. I wandered around for at least an hour, and the cold darkness made me realize how tired I was. My eyelids started to droop, and I tripped, actually falling on my face. I sat up on my knees, groaning. My palms hurt from skidding on the concrete to stop myself from falling. I tried to look at them, but I couldn't see anything in the blackness of this place. I got up, and continued walking. 
    I was growing afraid that I'd never escape this place, that I'd just die right here, but I mostly feared that I'd go insane. I was already growing delusional, seeing little things every now and then like bugs or light that wasn't there. I kept falling over, my body kept trying to shut down, but I would remind it why we were here and get back up. I had to get out of here for Donny. And Nathan. He's the reason I'm here in the first place, I was coming for him. I will make it out of here and get to him before the shuttle launches. 
    I promise.

    After an eternity, I finally seen a light. It was dim, and I thought to be dreaming again, but as I walked closer, it grew larger and brighter. I reached it to see it was another grate. I looked through the bars and examined the room below. It seemed empty from what I could see, so I pulled Donny's tool out again and unscrewed the two bolts and let it swing open. I sat on the edge of it, letting my legs hang down. I twisted my body around, my palms pressed against the concrete, and slowly let my body lower. When I was hanging by my fingertips, I let go and hit the tiled floor hard. I gasped at the pain pulsing through my ankle as it bent unnaturally. I sat upright and looked up, seeing the rows of cages on both sides of the large room. In every cage was a person, old or young, male or female, it didn't matter. They all stared at me with fear in their glossy eyes. There was a door on the farthest wall. I stood up, hesitantly, then limped across the room as they all stared, surprisingly silent. Close to the end of the cages, I heard a small, feminine voice.
    Ashley. 
    I stopped and looked at the cage to my right where a young girl, probably a few years behind me, stared intently at me. She had thick, wavy blond hair that fell past her shoulders, and olive green cat eyes. She wore a white, button-up uniform shirt with the short sleeves, round collar, and front pocket tucked into a navy blue, knife pleated skirt without a belt. She wore white knee-high stockings with shiny black tap sandals and a large, black bow that sat atop her head. She seemed like the perfect good girl, all except her outfit was dirty and wrinkled and her skin and hair looked as if she hadn't bathed in months. I started to limp away when I heard it again, louder this time.
    ASHLEY.
    I stopped and glared at her. Her stare wasn't like the others, filled with jealousy and fear, it was full of concentration. I stepped towards her.
    "Is that you?"
    She kept silently staring at me. 
    "It is, isn't it?" 
    Her glare never faltered.
    Yes, it is me, if you mean the one talking to you.
    I took a step back. 
    "How can you-"
    How can you freeze time or move things without touching them? 
    I gasped as my eyes widened. 
    We're both the same, Ashley. We're not the only ones either.
    I gave her a puzzled look. 
    Turn around.
    I hesitated, then slowly turned my head to see the cage behind me. Two Japanese girls about my age sat against the wall huddled together. They were dressed in the same clothes with the same hair and face. Twins. They had long, blackish blue hair pulled into thin, high pigtails that would touch the floor if they stood, with straight bangs that fell right on their eyebrows and bright, baby blue eyes with icy pale skin. In their pigtails, each of them had one white ribbon on one pigtail. They wore black, long-sleeved, lolita-style dresses that reached their knees and had a white, semi-circle piece below the neck, which was a high white piece with a thin, black ribbon forming a bow, with black buttons on it and lace on the hem. At the end of the sleeves was a white buttoned piece, and the dresses ruffled at the bottom. It looked like a maid's dress without the apron. They wore high white socks with a ruffled top and black platform lolita shoes with little white bows on the straps. 
    They both turned to face me at the same time. 
    Those two girls are just like us, and they can help you, as can I, but only if you let us out, the blonde girl said behind me. 
    I faced her. 
    "How can I trust you? I don't even know you. Besides, I don't need help."
    I think you do. You are trying to get out of here alive, am I correct? You'll never get past the Bulls without us. 
    "How do you know that? Get out of my head! I can do it on my own." 
    Maybe you'll get out of here, but you'll never save poor Nathan.
    I jumped on the bars of the cage.
    "You don't know what you're talking about. Get out of my head! Now!" I snarled. I stared her in the eye. I didn't see any emotion, just determination. No hate, mischief, or fear at all, just pure determination. I sighed.
    "How?"
    Her eyes lit up with victory.
    See the key rack over there?
    I glanced over at the farthest wall where the door was and seen a small key rack holding a ring of keys glinting in the light. 
    "Yeah?"
    The round key. Get it and release me. Release us.
    I started to step away when she reached through and gripped my arm, making me jump.
    "Hey!"
    Use your powers.
    She let go and I hesitated.
    "Why haven't you just used your powers to escape?"
    A grin pushed in the corners of her mouth for just a split second before it fell back to her lifeless frown.
    I don't possess the ability to move objects with my mind, Ashley.
    "Neither do I!" I exclaimed. 
    Yes, you do, Ashley. I can see it within you. Just concentrate.
    "It's Ash," I corrected, a low growl in my voice.
    I turned and focused on the keys. I concentrated until my head felt like it was going to burst, but they didn't even shake. I breathed out in frustration.
    "I can't do it!"
    Yes you can. Picture it. Believe it. Hurry.
    I imagined myself walking over there and picking up the keys and tossing them into my hand, and sure enough, the keys went flying across the room right into my palm. 
    I gasped and heard a few awes behind me. I faced the girl, whose look of determination had melted and been replaced with a sweet smile and innocent eyes. 
    Good job, Ash. 
    "Now, please, let us free," she said aloud.