Like two shadows in the night, we move down the hallway and towards the stairs that lead to the first floor. I open the regular door to the stairwell—nospecial security this time—and start to creep up the stairs.
Everything is still quiet. Almost eerily so, without the furnace running.
Then I hear it.
A distant voice.
“What the fuck! This isn’t part of the plan!”
Shit.Shit.
I glance back at Nora, who’s only steps behind me. “Someone’s in there.”
Her expression is grim. Determined. Dangerous. “I know. But he doesn't know about us.” Her chin lifts. “And whatever he thinks he’s doing, he’s going to be sorry.”
CHAPTER 5
RYLAN
“Help her!”
Georgia’s desperate cry adds to the chaos, jumbling with Hanna’s wheezing gasps and Lance’s frantic curses.
“What the fuck?” Lance bleats. He takes a faltering step towards Hanna, who’s tipped over in her chair like an upended turtle, before stopping himself. His gun moves in her direction, wavering in his hand. “Stop it! Now!”
Rather than stopping, Hanna lets out another agonized gasp. Her face is bright red from coughing, and her features are contorted with pain.
Or rather, she’s pretending they are. And shit, she’s a good actress. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was really having a medical emergency.
Georgia doesn’t know that, though, so her panic is real. Terrified for her friend, she strains forward in herchair and shouts, “She needs help! Stop being an asshole and call 911!”
Lance turns to Georgia to glare at her. “Don’t tell me what to do!”
“Then help her!” she shoots back. “Look at her! She can’t breathe!”
To back up Georgia’s statement, Hanna jerks in her chair. Her neck arches back. Her legs twitch.
Charlie glances at me, her eyes wide with fear. But before I can say anything to reassure her, she visibly gathers herself. Determination fills her gaze. Her chin lifts and her shoulders set.
“As soon as he turns,” she says, so softly it’s barely audible. “Get ready.”
“Stop it!” Lance bellows. After a moment’s indecision, he advances on Hanna. Once he reaches her, he gives the side of her chair a hard kick. “Stop it! Now!”
“She can’t!” Georgia snaps at him. “She can’t breathe. Can’t you see? She needs help!” Her face reddens with anger. The scared, passive Georgia of five minutes ago is gone, replaced by a fierce warrior who’ll do anything to protect her friend.
Just like Hanna, who’s risking her life to help us escape.
Guilt slashes through me.
It should be me. I should be the one creating the spectacle. Drawing asshole Lance’s attention. I’m the one who fucked up, after all, letting this piece of shit get the jump on me.
“If you don’t do something, she’s going to die!” Georgia yells. Furious tears stream down her cheeks. “If you won’t help her, let me. Just let me go, and I’ll do it. You can just leave. We won’t say anything.Please.”
With Lance’s attention on Hanna and Georgia, Charlie nudges my foot with hers, then rolls her chair back until it bumps the shelf behind her.
My heart leaps to my throat.
I’m so damn proud of Charlie, but I’m scared shitless for her, too.
