And nobody contributed anything useful to the conversation. Of course. Adjusting his white lab coat, Archer was about to open his mouth when the blonde woman began to read something on the far wall. He glanced her way, staring to read as well when the ground began to rumble as water poured into the bowl. Gasping, he pressed his back to the curved bowl, hopping from foot to foot as the gravel shook, water quickly rising to his knees.
As the boy began to panic, Archer glanced his way, expression calm. "Remain calm, Nick." He refused to say the "y" at the end of his name. "There's an answer somewhere." Turning, he looked at the plaque, beginning to read it out loud.
"Let us all play hide and seek, though the room has sprung a leak." He paused, looking down. Well, that was true. "But who shall seek and who shall hide? That is where the riddle lies." The water was already at his waist, and still rising. "And with the water rising thick, I recommend you make it quick."
Pressing his palms to the glass of the bowl, he felt the water rise up to tickle his ribs. "The one who seeks is seldom seen, and of this fact he's very keen." He felt a spike of adrenaline in his chest as he read, licking his lips as his mouth went dry. The water reached his chest, and he slowly began to float to the top as it continued to rise. "He keeps it secret, close and quiet." His voice grew thin as his hands began to shake. Griffin was gone, but he knew what he would say. "Let them know," he would whisper. "Your gift is nothing to fear." But he wasn't afraid. Not of his gift. He needed anonymity. To be truly invisible, people couldn't know who you were. If they knew, he couldn't appreciate the freedom of moving unseen. As the four of them began to float towards the top of the bowl as the water rose, the darkness of the room causing him to squint. "But to free you all, he cannot hide it."
His voice began to tremble as they reached the top of the bowl, the gravel they left behind completely submerged. "One more thing before you play." He glanced to them, an expression of mild panic. "Underwater is where you must stay."
Breathing quickly, he looked to them, hoping none of them would bring up the man in the riddle. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. "Alright. That's straightforward. But..." He glanced outside the bowl, looking down at the floor. "Nick, couldn't you fly? You could take us out of here, could you not? It would be much more convenient than...whatever this riddle is suggesting."