For a forbidden building, I have to say, it's pristine and clean. The marbled flooring seemed recently polished, there are people strolling about, either dressed in laboratory coats or suits. Guards were stationed so meticulously, that I could hardly see any gap for anyone to sneak in or out. I could feel their wary eyes on us, and I didn't know whether to feel safe or not.

"Come on, get in." A gruff voice commanded beside me, and I grimaced, reluctant to step into the elevator.

The door remained open for us, none of us willing to take a step into the lift. Nevertheless, the guards assigned to us wasn't patient, and shoved me harshly into the lift.

I stumbled, flailing and almost tripping over empty air. I glared back, infuriated only to see them gently guiding Jessie into the lift.

"Miss Talbot, please. Mr Talbot only wants to ensure your safety."

I gaped openly at the difference in the treatment. In the end, Jessie was coaxed into entering the lift, and I had an impassive look on my face.

"Seriously? For real?" I muttered under my breath and Jessie snickered beside me.

"I'm his granddaughter." She shrugged, her nonchalant tone making me pout. It didn't help that all four of us were squeezing inside the lift, adding further to my annoyance.

"That's just unfair."

"Life is unfair, Jean."

"Ugh."

****************

We were eventually brought to a room, that is probably meant for visitors. The room was well furnished, with one part of the wall being glass panels while the rest of the wall was covered by plain, grey wallpapers.

Paintings of modern art were hung around the room, and furniture with simplistic design decorated the room. The two of us were immediately locked in once we entered the room, and we decided to settle down on the couch after hesitating for quite a while.

"For being hostages, I have to say, this is disconcerting."

"Disconcerting?" Jessie repeated in a questioning manner.

"It's like we are being treated like VIP guests. They even brought us books to read, some snacks and water." I pointed to the various materials that laid on the table, in front of us. Jessie just calmly took one of the books, flipping through it casually.

"My grandfather wants to ensure that I'll stay here like a good, obedient child. Just like you."

I reached forward, snatching the book from Jessie's hands. "This isn't the time to be looking at a book! We need to think of a way to get out!"

Jessie gripped tighter onto the book, nudging her head at the door. "How do we even escape with them here?"

I glanced over, seeing two men dressed in black and white suits, standing guard by the door. They even had the iconic earpieces on them.

"At least they aren't apeirons."

"They are twice of our size!" Jessie raised her voice, causing the guards to look our way. We smiled sheepishly at them as Jessie waved them off, not wanting to draw their attention to our conversation.

"Well, we can't just sit here and wait for help to fall at our feet." I lowered my voice, narrowing my eyes at Jessie.

"How about one of us distracts while the other escapes?" Jessie suggested and I frowned, shaking in disapproval.

"But what's the point? One or two hostages, it doesn't make a difference."

"Makes sense."

A moment of silence passed, Jessie flipping through the book from time to time. However, her eyes weren't focused on the book.

...now that I realise it, the book was upside down all along.

"Jessie, your book is upside down." I said, breaking the tense silence and Jessie made a sound in response.

"You didn't have to say it out loud..." Jessie pouted, embarrassed at being exposed. I snickered at Jessie, not knowing why I still had the mood to laugh in this situation. She continued pouting until her eyes grew wide suddenly. She turned sharply, a devious glint in her eyes and I furrowed my eyebrows, apprehensive at the abrupt change in her.

"Jessie...?"

"I have an idea, Jean."

"What is it?"

"Remember our movie marathon?" Jessie grinned cheekily, lifting the book up and waving it at me.

I gazed at the book in her hands for a period of time, before recoiling back in horror. I pointed accusingly at the book, my finger trembling slightly.

"No, no no no. No—anything, anything but that. No!"

************

It was during one of the weekend, where me and Jessie wanted to relieve our stress from college. We decided to have a movie marathon, with alcoholic drinks, just the two of us.

Our choices of movies were movie with musicals, and halfway through the marathon, we were a little tipsy. Hence, we started to make fun and poke at every single detail in the movie.

"You know, if they are single at every single little thing, why can't they sing about other things?" Jessie giggled, gulping down her drink.

"Like what?" I questioned, putting my drink aside after I took a sip.

"Like...grass, trees, dogs or...or-or, a pen!"

"What?"

"A book too!"

I burst out laughing at Jessie's answer and I stood up, taking a book from one of the cupboards. I held the book in front of her, giggling between my words.

"And how do you plan to make a musical about a book?"

***********

Jessie tapped her foot impatiently, and I glanced at her, letting out a sigh.

"Jean, it has been twenty minutes."

"Why are you tracking the time? Wait no—that's not the focus, I'm not going to do that dumb musical you came up with." She narrowed her eyes at me, crossing her arms across her chest.

"You joined in too, didn't you?"

I sucked in my lips, feeling slightly ashamed. "It-it was a spur of the moment kinda thing!"

"Do you have a better plan than this?"

"...no."

Jessie gave me a look and I bit on my lip, knowing that we have wasted too much time here.

"Alright! Fine! But don't you dare tell anyone what happened here after this!" I said in resignation, restraining myself from shouting.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement and she leaped from the couch, hastily grabbing the book from the table. I grimaced, begrudgingly heading towards my assigned spot. The guards eyed us curiously when they saw me moving in front of them. Whereas, Jessie started to stand on the couch, as if it was a stage for her to perform.

She began to stretch her arms out, acting in a regal manner. I could hear confounded murmurs from the guards behind me, and that's when Jessie opened her mouth.

A sweet melody came from her, and I wasn't surprised. Jessie had a passion for singing and I always liked to hear her singing, except for now. The words that escaped her lips made me cringe in embarrassment, making me wish I can dig a hole somewhere and bury myself in it.

I heard one of the keywords for my cue, making me sigh heavily. I inhaled deeply, 'singing' the words out monotonously and I could feel Jessie glaring at me. She mouthed at me to be serious and I shook my head vehemently. At this point, the guards were snickering to themselves, making me perk up a little.

At least it's working, somehow...

Jessie continued singing and she started to lift up the book in her hand. I knew that was my signal to get into position as she flung the book, and I began to move to the side.

"Wah!" I cried out in alarm, my world tilting as I realised that I tripped over something.

That something was my own feet, which decided to tangle together as I moved.

"Jean! Oh, come on!" I could hear Jessie's frustrated voice, my eyes fixated on the book that flew past me.

It has been quite a while since I tripped myself.

Probably a few days, which I have to say, it's admirable.

I managed to regain my balance, looking on in astonishment as the book collided with one of the guards.

Bam!

It smashed right onto his face, particularly his nose.

"Shit!" The guard cried out in pain, clutching his nose.

"Oh, shit." Jessie blanched, her mouth gaping open in horror.

"Shit! Dude! You okay?"

"Crap." I whispered to myself, glancing quickly at Jessie.

"My nose is freaking bleeding! Does it look like I'm okay?" The guard groaned in pain, hissing at his comrade.

My legs began to have a mind on their own as they pushed me towards Jessie. Reaching out, I pulled her down from the couch and dragged her along, sprinting towards the door.

"Jean?!"

"Just run!"

"Hey!" The guards noticed our plan and I hastily pushed Jessie aside, narrowly avoiding his large hand. Slamming the door open, we both stumbled out in a hurry. They were also guards patrolling the corridor outside, spotting us instantly.

"Jean! We have to split up!"

"What? No!"

"If they surround us, we can say goodbye to our freedom!"

"Jessie!"

Jessie just dashed the opposite way without any hesitation. The guards didn't give us a break, instantly splitting up, half of them chasing after Jessie. I clicked my tongue, not wasting any time and dashing away. 

Damn it, Jessie!

I could hear the menacing footsteps behind me, accompanied with panicked and fierce yells. I panted, picking up my pace, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Taking a peek, I gulped nervously when I saw four guards trailing after me. It didn't help that they were what exactly Jessie said, twice of our size.

"Hah! Gotcha!" A voice suddenly said and I skidded to a stop, the voice belonging to another guard. He stood in front of me, both arms extended out to block my way.

Argh.

He must've cut corners to intercept me.

I expected them to tackle me, to prevent me from going any further. However, I frowned when they remained in their spot, just adamant on blocking the way.

Hmm?

...are they trying not to hurt me?

My eyes glinted with glee and I charged towards the guard in front of me. Alas, my attempt to charge past him failed as his arms were really long.

Ugh.

Screw this.

I growled in annoyance, deciding to crawl under him, his legs were wide open enough for me to squeeze through. Somehow, this action of mine caught them off guard and I easily slipped past, which surprised me greatly.

"I...guess that worked." I whispered to myself, sprinting away happily.

Huh.

Guess it's not so bad after all. 

"The hostages have escaped, I repeat, the hostages have escaped. Exits and entrances will be locked until all hostages are safely brought back to their rooms." The speakers crackled to life and I could only moan in misery.

...I take back my words...

********************

I gasped for air, clutching at the side of stomach due to the stitch. My hair was a mess and I could feel a bead of sweat running down my forehead. I hastily reached out and pressed on a button, the urge to collapse on the floor was overwhelming.

"Great." I panted out, realising that I've trapped myself in a dead end. I didn't expect the elevator area to be a dead end, and I could hear the thundering footsteps behind me.I placed my hands on my knees, bending over and panting heavily. My eyes remained trained on the elevator, observing as the floor went higher and higher.

A little bit more.

The footsteps were so close now, and I lifted my palm, showing them a 'stop' sign. Right when I did that, the guards finally reached me, honestly, I wondered how I even outran them for that short period of time.

"Com-come on guys. Aren't you ti-tired of chasing—god I'm dying—tired of chasing me?" My words were slightly incoherent due to my gasps and pants.

"Miss, please. Just come back with us and we will ensure no harm comes to you."

"Yeah, no thanks, and bye-bye." I waved weakly at them, the elevator beside ringing softly. I used my remaining stamina to throw myself into the lift. Spinning around hurriedly, I pressed the 'close' button frantically and my heart skipped a beat when I saw someone's foot near the lift door.

The door barely manages to close as I blindly pressed at a floor button. Collapsing down on the ground, I heaved a sigh of relief, noting how drained I currently was due to all the running.

"I wish...I had exercised regularly...god I'm dying so hard." I mumbled to myself, jolting violently when I heard a loud voice inside the lift.

"One of the hostages is in the lift, heading to third floor. I repeat, third floor."

"The hell!" I growled out, irked and I looked up, groaning to myself. I hit myself with my palm, shaking my head.

Of course!

There had to be a speaker and a goddamn surveillance camera in here.

Of course, Jean! Of course!

"Now what?" I grumbled to myself, not bothering to get up from the floor.

Though the ride was supposed to be short, it felt agonisingly long. The lift eventually reached the third floor and I was still on the floor, utterly fatigued from all the intense running. I could only sigh in resignation as the door slid open, the elevator announcing its arrival at the third floor.

My breath hitched when I noted a familiar baby blue spandex costume directly at the entrance of the lift. She was turned halfway around, her back facing me and her hair was completely drenched.

Holy mother of everything fishcakes.

Before I knew it, my finger was already repeatedly smashing the 'close' button after I, yet again, blindly pressed on another floor button. Aquarius' face was twisted with anger as she stormed towards the lift, almost making me scream in terror.

She looked like a possessed woman.

The doors were just inches away from closing fully and I managed to catch a brief flash of something tackling her to the floor. I exhaled shakily, clutching my chest, feeling my racing heart.

"I think...I just lost ten years of my life."

A second passed and the speakers crackled to life yet again. It didn't fail to startle me this time round either.

"The hostage is headed for the fifth floor in the lift. I repeat, the fifth floor."

My finger instantly clicked on the sixth floor button.

"Or the sixth floor, I repeat, the fifth or sixth floor."

I directed my eyes to the camera, extremely infuriated at the man announcing my location.

Couldn't he just give me a break?

I was scared half to death by what I saw moments ago.

It was as if the person behind the speaker could feel my wrath, since it was enough make the person emit a meek apology through the speakers.

"...I'm sorry."

His apology didn't quell the anger in me, and I could only continue glaring at the camera. It was only until the lift doors opened, I looked away from the camera, waiting anxiously as the doors slowly slid open.

"Level five. Level five."

Countdown to launch sequence: 2 hours 47 minutes.

Hello everyone! I apologise for the super late update (again), I'm in my final year and phew, my schedule is so packed. Thanks for all your support once again, for reading through my story, all the way! I wish I could give you so many hugs for supporting me, since I'm especially irregular in my updates (my bad habit). 

Thor: Ragnarok is great, albeit, it was a huge change from the previous movie, I still love it. And ahhhh, who doesn't loves Loki? For the longest time, he has lingered between the lines of good and bad, hehe.

Also, to end it off, I'm posting another story over here! It's a werewolf story with some action, romance and mystery. If you are interested, please feel free to check it out :3! And don't worry, I'll update both stories at the same time! I won't neglect either :D.

(crap, this author's note is so long, I'm soooo sorry)