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Leighton rushed back to the apothecary as fast as she could, dodging around people, trying not to trip over the cobbled streets. She had lost track of time and was on the verge of being late. Her breath quickened as she saw the building come into sight, there wasn’t anyone waiting outside for her, so maybe she was in the clear. Entering the building as quickly and quietly as possible, she moved next to Reza in line.
“Where the hell have you been?” He hissed, head down and arms behind his back like the rest of them.
“I lost track of time”
“You better not have been around the arcade.”
“I’m not suicidal, Reza”
Footsteps.
They all fell completely silent. Standing still, perfectly in position like dolls. Heads down, arms behind their backs.
Fingernails against a wall.
Leighton was almost trembling, heart racing, pounding loudly in her ears.
Then everything stopped.
“Looks like you all made it here when you were supposed to. Now let’s get to business.”
Leighton slowly breathed out, relief flooding through her body. She hadn’t been caught.
“Wait”
Her blood froze.
“Leighton dearie, do you want to explain yourself?” Maeve purred, now standing directly in front of her.
“I’m sorry ma’am, I got caught up on my way here”
“Ahhh, I see.” Her fingers caressed Leighton’s cheek. “But rules are rules.” Pain flooded her head as Maeve gripped her hair and pulled.
“Lucky us Maeve, we were just in need of a new test dummy”
“I know right Maddie! They treat us so well.”
“Please, I’m sorry” She breathed, limbs shaking.
Pain flared through her cheek.
“I didn’t say you could speak. Now you’ve really done it.”
Leighton cried as she was dragged forwards by her hair, Maddie taking the opportunity to pat her cheek.
“You can be a good test dummy now, won’t you?” She said mockingly, before shoving her forward towards her doom, cackling as Leighton begged for forgiveness.
Her cries and screams growing fainter, before disappearing into the basement
“Now, where were we again?” Maddie said with a grin.
It would be a week or two before people saw Leighton again.
When they did, she was a little paler, a little skinnier, a little more weak. Eyes sunken in and track marks along her arms. Barely coherent.
No, the Overgrowth never killed their members.
Who else would test their new concoctions?