Inside the Barnhouse, past the first three horseless horse stables where only 2 or 3 cows mowed down on hay and grass, was a trapdoor made of wood; it led to an underground bunker of sorts where Stryker sent, according to Reya, those who needed "to take a breather" though the fact that Reya stated to Austin that she had initially wanted to send Austin there when they first met because of the crest he wore on his jacket made Austin wondered if a time-out space was the most accurate word to describe the palace. Honestly, Austin would've just called it a "jailroom," but that might be just his blunt view of things talking.
Anyways, in the bunker, there were three cell chambers, blocking the exit of whoever was behind their metal-bar walls they each had facing forward, towards the ladder below the trapdoor which was the only entrance into and exit out of the bunker. The cells weren't all that big𑁋 they were barely the half the size of my containment cell I'd first woken up in weeks ago. There weren't any beds or chairs and a hole in the ground in the corner to relieve oneself[disgusting, right?]. Truly, the word prison should be what this place should be called, but even they have toilets, right?
Two cells post the ladder in, past the first and second cell where the little girl named Terrora eyed them like prey, stood a waiting Scarleteye. "Welcome. I've been expecting you" she said, looking even more unwelcoming than she sounded. "Please, take your seats. Let's review how we're all gonna die."
She seemed so tired and wore down in her cell that Austin kinda felt sorry for her. 'But she's dangerous,' one part of Austin's brain shoved into his thoughts while another part thought 'She's also your sister.' but Austin still felt unsure of if he saw what he thought he saw was real, or if it was some fucked up hallucination from the Annihilators' venomous poison and antidote that was[is still] in his system at the time. 'Only one way to find out.'
It took Austin a moment to realize all eyes were on him, including Scarleteye and a very bored-looking Terrora. It dawned on him that Scarlet must have said something to him. "I'm sorry, what'd you say?" Reya and Scarleteye just rolled their eyes, Aaroon seemed amused and Terrora just seemed bored.
"The vision…," Scarlet didn't finish her sentence. She didn't need to. The fact that she knew about the vision meant she had it, too, which meant it was real and that she was Austin's sister.
"So… the vision....," Austin began, letting out a breath he had no idea he had been holding. "It was… it was real? I...I have a sister?"
Although Austin was told by the Voice that he did, in fact have a sister, he hadn't really accepted it — or, rather, he hadn't really fully grasped it — until right then.
Scarleteye only absentmindedly nodded. Reya spoke. "Maybe by blood," she said, glaring Scarlet down, eyes locked with the other girl in a battle of glares. "Not by any other commonality."
"Couldn't agree more," Scarleteeye held Reya's gaze as she got her last word in.
"Darlings, don't fight," Aaroon spoke, grinning mischievously. "At least wait until there are others around so you don't kill each other."
Honestly, their glares on Aaroon had the boy smirking, which was not a response Austin would've gone with. Nevertheless, Austin decided to take control of the situation. "Right, Scarlet, how are we all gonna die?' he asked, making a mental note to ask Aaroon what happened between the two girls to make them hate one another so much.
Surprisingly, Scarleteye shifted uncomfortably, as if her next sentence was very unfitting. "The plan… the attack...They promised it wouldn't result in any deaths. They promised we'd only terrorize you Meadowers; I didn't know… I only wanted those responsible for my banishment to know how it felt to hurt; I didn't want anyone else to get hurt...," Scarleteye began, sounding almost regretful for the attack on the Meadows. It was not what he had expected to come out her mouth.
"Gee, thanks for that sorry excuse of an apology," Reya snorted unamused.
"Reya!" exclaimed Austin who turned to her, looking so incredulous at her lack of empathy.
But she just ignored him and went on with what she was saying. "My brother and a lot of my friends were taken and killed because you hung out with the wrong crowd again, so excuse me for my cold response but… I lost my brother, Scarlet." She said that last part so softly, Austin had strain his ears to hear it.
It was so full of hurt and pain and rage and anger; Austin figured whatever history Reya and Scarlet shared was bad blood-level but he didn't have any idea just how boiling the waters the history between these two were…
Locking eyes with Aaroon, Austin received a nod from the other boy who stepped forward. "Look, memory lane is alright n' all, but we didn't come here to reopen your cuts, girls. Austin?"
"When you say they," Austin looked at Scarleteye as he spoke. "do you mean the Bane Brothers?"
"I...Yes, I do," Scarlet eye said, sounding awfully sincere."I didn't know they intended to kill everyone here. I only went along with them initially because there was safety in numbers in the Labyrinth and Dominic… He wasn't mean to me… Then, during the attack, he threatened my life and forced me to hold you all hostage at the Oakhouse. For that, I am sorry."
'So she was the victim as much as us; in that scenario, at least,' Austin sensed that last part to be true. 'Unless she's lying, in which case…'
Austin decided not take her words entirely at face value.
"I still don't trust her," Aaron commented, ripping Austin from his thoughts.
"Me neither," Reya agreed. "Just because she was not the mastermind this time does not make her not the mastermind the next time we let down our guard. Why again are we letting her live?"
"I need answers," Austin answered with a shrug. "Plus, we'd have a higher chance at surviving the escape if we have the numbers."
"But her? Really?" Reya glared at Scarleteye who held Reya's gaze shiftlessly.
"Oh, my god!" exclaimed Terrora's voice, startling everyone. "Why are you people so blind! We were forced into the attack like you. We didn't know anything about killing anyone. Dominic lied to us all. So can we please let the past be past and focus on how the hell we're getting out of this place? I don't wanna be here when the Annihilators return; and they will return."
"I like this one," chuckled Aaroon, pointing his thumb at the pre-teen. "And she has a point."
"So what's your big plan of escape, Scarlet?" Austin asked Scarlet plainly.