Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

The ceiling did not rise and the catwalk did not extend, but Hanna could still reach the ladder on the other side of the tank. As soon as she was able to, she grabbed the ladder, pulled herself up, and wiggled out of the little space between the top of the ceiling and the lip of the tank. She nearly fell off the ladder in the process, but caught herself with her wings and lowered to the ground. Hanna sat against the glass wall for a few moments to catch her breath and recover her strength. How many times? she thought. How many times has he tried to kill me now? I need to end this. Quickly. Hanna stood up and looked down at her armor. It was only then she realized how much it had been torn up from her journey through the castle thus far. This is the last time I trust that cheap smithy. Hanna frowned, inspecting the tears and gashes through the leather. While she was not severely injured in any way, the cuts and scrapes were annoying. Not to mention the damage to her armor. On second thought, that really might be the last time I trust the smithy if even this can’t protect me… She shook her head. I knew I should have splurged on the good chainmail. Hanna shook the water from her partially melted scabbard and began wringing out her long pigtails. A couple industrial fans were going in the room, situated next to a yellow ‘caution: wet floor’ sign. Hanna stood in front of the fans to dry off. “You’re really making this whole process an inconvenience,” Hanna commented. “Things would go much smoother if you turned yourself in. I’m getting tired of this game of cat and mouse.” She glanced up at the drone, but found it still hovering close to the ceiling. Hanna squeezed her fists a few times, feeling the cold slowly return to her fingers. She winced when her stomach growled. I’m not going to last much longer at this rate. 

The little drone flew down from the ceiling and stopped in front of Hanna. “Tell me, hero, have you figured out the greater purpose here yet?” EDJ asked. 

“I was a little preoccupied with trying to stay alive,” Hanna said as she glared at the drone. She broke what was left of the ice seal on her sword and pulled the blade out, spinning it forward once before resheathing it. Finally ready to move on, Hanna walked away from the tank and up to three closed doors. “Greater purpose, huh?” Hanna muttered, giving the drone a critical glance. “Other than killing me?” 

“Yes.”

Hanna turned back to the doors, considering which one to take. “Can I have a hint?” 

The door on her left slid open. Pfft, I’m not falling for that, Hanna thought as she immediately tried the right door first and then the middle door. Neither door would open, of course, leaving Hanna with the open door as her only option. 

“It has something to do with all these cameras,” EDJ’s voice said as the drone flew up to the open door expectantly. 

Hanna rolled her eyes and followed. The door opened to another hallway, which Hanna walked through as the drone flew ahead of her. She could tell her recent swim loosened her hair ties again and it was starting to irritate her. She had half a mind to chop the long hair off then and there. “I dunno, you’re a wacko who likes his security?” she asked, reaching her limit for the day in insanity. 

“I prefer the term evil genius,” EDJ retorted with a chuckle. “Think about it. From the moment you entered my castle, the cameras have been recording your progress. Your entire journey has been a show. All that footage is being made into an action movie by my technicians as we speak. A movie I intend to show off to my fellow super villains at our next meeting.” EDJ grinned. “Hope you don’t mind.”

Hanna gave the drone a weird look. “You actually intend to do something with all that security footage? Creep.” She tossed her hair as she continued walking. “Don’t you need permission or something?” 

EDJ, still in the control room, raised a hand and counted out as he spoke. “Private property. Common use spaces. Film permits. Public servant.” He ended the list pointing at the monitor of Hanna in front of him. “Am I missing anything?”

Hanna frowned. “How on Earth would I know?!”

“Exactly!” EDJ answered with a smile. “You act like I care which laws I break and which countries I break them in. Truth is, I don’t.”

Hanna tossed her hair again in frustration as she marched through the hall. “And you expect me to ignore the kidnapping, torture, lying, and everything else on the list?”

EDJ shrugged. “I am the villain.”

“Still a creep,” Hanna muttered. “As long as the movie doesn’t show me dying or losing in the end, sure.” She shot the drone another glare and spoke with as much sharp sarcasm as she could muster. “Whatever. I’m fine with it. Add it to the pile. In fact, I’ll order five copies just so I can show everyone what I had to put up with to bring you down!”

A low whistle came from the drone. “Someone’s in a bad mood.” 

The hallway finally opened to a room filled with garbage and construction scrap. Broken glass and nails littered the floor while mountains of stone, splintered boards, drywall, wooden framing, wires, and rebar went up almost to the ceiling. Hanna looked over her shoulder to see the door slide shut behind her. She let out a long sigh. “What’s the trap now, evil not-so-genius?” 

“No trap” EDJ answered. “This is where all the leftover garbage from building the castle was dumped. You’re the one who keeps assuming these rooms don’t have functional, everyday value. World doesn’t revolve around you, princess.” 

Not wanting to walk over the sharp debris, Hanna lifted about a foot off the floor and flew between the piles of trash around her. “Seems a bit easy,” she said dubiously. Hanna looked along the walls, but could not locate another door through which to leave. 

EDJ laughed. “You’re completely right, that would be too easy.” Hanna sneered as he continued talking. “If you really want another challenge, I’ll help you along.” EDJ reached over and pressed a button on the control panel in front of him. A low, grinding noise started up in the walls. Hanna pulled out her sword and turned in a circle midair, taking a minute to realize the walls were starting to close in around her. 

“A trash compactor… really?” Hanna asked. “How more cliche could you get?” Just have to find the exit, she thought. Or a weak point… or something... She turned in a circle again. The only visible door was the one she entered from, which was still closed. Hanna sheathed her sword and flew back to the entrance. There was no door handle, but Hanna tried to push it open all the same. She rammed into it with her shoulder for good measure. Nothing. The piles of trash closed in at a faster pace than Hanna was expecting, rocks crunching and wooden boards snapping as they caught against each other. 

“Bwahahahaha!” EDJ’s voice cackled above her. “Better hurry before you end up as a pancake!” 

Hanna looked around the room again for an exit, but still did not see one. Looking up at the drone, Hanna realized there was a folded ladder leading to a square door in the ceiling. Hanna immediately flew up to the ladder, swerving between sharp pieces of wood and rebar sticking into the air. When Hanna reached the ceiling, she pulled on the trapdoor’s handle. It was locked. Hanna jiggled the handle, trying to get it open. The walls were getting closer and the mountains of trash were almost high enough to reach her. With a growl, Hanna yanked the folding ladder down, fully extending it. Grabbing the ladder for leverage, Hanna flipped upside down and kicked the trapdoor with both feet as hard as she could. The trap door flew off its hinges. Hanna flipped back upright and flew out of the trash compactor room with seconds to spare. Her sword was drawn when she landed in the upper room. Hanna glanced at what was left of the trash room as the walls finished compressing. 

“Very good little miss hero!” The drone chirped as it flew in front of her face again. Hanna wasn’t sure how the machine made it out of the room unscathed. She was hoping it was crushed with the rest of the garbage. “Unfortunately, our time together is almost up.” 

Hanna looked around the room she was in. It was tiny and dark, but a single door was outlined with white light in front of her. “Another door,” Hanna muttered disdainfully. 

“The last door, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know,” the drone corrected. “You’ve finally made it all the way to the end of my labyrinth and I have finally run out of traps.”

Hanna still didn’t trust it. She tightened the grip on her sword and shot the drone a dirty look. “What’s on the other side of this door, EDJ?”

The drone sat quiet for a moment. “A monster,” he finally answered, tone strangely melancholic compared to what it had been. “Or so the stories say!” EDJ’s upbeat, gloating tone returned as quickly as it had vanished. “In your case, it’s quite a few monsters. As I’ve said before, I don’t think you’ll survive. You should have turned back when you had the chance. I want you to know I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our visit. This is the final test, hero. If you can make it through the next room alive, I’m all yours. But since we both know you won’t, do try to be at least a little entertaining as you die. I need an action-packed finale for the-” An icicle shot through the drone’s camera lens, impaling the flying machine. It landed on the floor with a noisy crash. Hanna stepped over the broken machine and walked up to the door. 

Finally, Hanna thought, taking a breath. Silence. She closed her eyes and took another long breath, letting it out slowly. I am sick of these games. Hanna opened her blue eyes and stared at the door in front of her with new resolve. My will is as strong as yours. I’m not here to entertain you, but if I go down fighting, I’ll give you a show you’ll never forget. Hanna grabbed the handle with confidence and flung the door open, drowning in white light.