AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It took two tries to swallow, and then I let out a shuddering breath. “H-hello?”
“You saw something you shouldn’t have.” Why did voices always seem so much more ominous when they came through the dark?
I scrambled back, the side of my hand brushing the keys still on the floor. I curled my hand around them, praying they didn’t jingle and give away my position.
If I can’t see them, then they can’t see me. Right?
“I know you’re in here. Just come out.”
I had to hold back a snort and remained exactly where I was. Sure, just let me get up and offer myself on a silver platter because you asked.
The light flicked on, so bright I was momentarily blinded.
Squinting against it, I lurched up and rushed for the door, body slamming into the other person. We both grunted, and I grappled for the handle, wrenching the door open and rushing out into the hall.
Instead of running in the direction of the side door, I ran the opposite way and into the auditorium. Heart pounding, I scurried toward the back and then dove between a row of seats.
Once out of sight, I dug my phone out of my bag and quickly made sure it was on silent, then dialed up my emergency contact.
After two rings, I bit down on my lip so hard I tasted blood. He isn’t going to answer.
The second the ringing cut off, I was so relieved I spoke before he even had a chance to say hello.
“Ben.”
He was alert instantly, which made me feel a little calm. “What’s wrong?”
The door to the auditorium opened. Someone walked in. “I think I’m in trouble.”
If he said something, I didn’t hear because I was practically lying on my belly now, trying to see under the seats to know which direction they were walking. But it was impossible to tell because of the way the seats were laid out.
“They’re chasing me,” I whispered.
“Who? Where are you?”
Yes! Tell him where you are.
“There she is!” the voice boomed from across the room.
My head shot up, and I whimpered, seeing them standing across the space, staring directly into the row where I was hiding.
I got up, my limbs feeling like cooked spaghetti as I lurched out of the row to hotfoot it to the door.
Ben called my name.
“I don’t think I can outrun them.” It was really disappointing to learn I wasn’t final-girl material. I was first-girl dead.
“Hide,” Ben ordered in my ear. I liked the sound of his voice. I should have told him that. I should have told him a lot of things.
“I tried,” I said.
“Jessica, baby.” The term of endearment hit my ears and spread through my veins like one-hundred-proof alcohol, the warm rush of it impossible to deny. For long moments, all I did was react. Feel. Yearn. It was better than I imagined that those words on his tongue were directed at me.
“…But you have to tell me where you are.”
“I-I’m not sure,” I said, still overloaded from everything going on. Still trying to hear more than his cajoling baby.
A body burst out of the theater and into the hall behind me. I glanced around, the aggression and resolve of the person advancing enough to make their motives crystal clear.
