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“Mhh, that’s weird,” her forehead creases and her words must be loud enough for the professor to hear because I see him approach out of the corner of my eye, “I think this burner might be broke.”
Professor Keller walks over to our table and takes a closer look, when he touches the knob, the flame shoots up as if he had turned it up all the way. The flame is so large that I can feel the heat of it on my face. Out of instinct, Caroline and I both push away from the table, while Prof. Keller tries to turn off the burner. As soon as he touches the switch, the whole thing blows up in his face. A scream catches in my throat as the entire classroom breaks out into chaos.
Everything happens so fast my brain can barely keep up. Prof. Keller’s face is badly burned, and even though I want to help him, I don’t know how. I’m in too much shock to know anything right now. Caroline grabs my arm and pulls me away further, as some guy helps the professor sit down on a chair nearby. Others around us are running out of the class, and two people are on the phone with emergency services.
A couple other teachers burst into the room telling us to walk outside. Caroline never leaves my side as we make it out of the building. Where a group of people have gathered. A lot of the girls are crying, and even the guys look like they are about to breakdown.
When I look over to Caroline, I realize that she has her phone out and is texting someone. I briefly wonder if I should text someone, do I need to let Shelby know that I’m okay? My thought is interrupted when the ambulance and police sirens approach at rapid speed.
“Let’s get out of the way,” Caroline tells me and starts tugging me away. I follow her mindlessly to the side of the building.
“Don’t you think they would want to talk to us? Maybe we should go back,” I point out when we are already at the corner. Caroline stops and faces me, an unreadable expression on her face.
“Harlow, listen, you have to believe me when I say that I am your friend. It might have not started that way, and I’m sorry about that, but I am your friend now, and I’m doing this to help you.”
“Doing what to help me?” I barely get the words out before someone grabs me from behind. A hand slaps over my mouth, muffling my scream. A pair of muscular arms circle my waist and pull me to a firm chest as I’m dragged backward.
My eyes seek out Caroline, and I see her face before I’m turned away. It is blank as if she is trying to ignore my struggling, as if she doesn’t want to acknowledge my fear. In the midst of my raging anger, my fighting instinct kicks in, and I start kicking my legs out and flailing my arms around me, but it’s no use, I’m basically immobilized. Tears dwell in my eyes, and fall down my cheeks.
When I realize my assailant is pulling me toward an old truck, I dig my heels into the ground, but he just picks me up and carries me to it. The driver’s door opens, and a second guy comes out. As soon as he comes into view, my heart stops. Banks.
Banks opens the back door so whoever is behind me can push me in. I’m guessing it’s either Sullivan or Oliver who has an iron grip on me. My chest tightens, and more tears escape my eyes, making my vision blurry.
“Don’t cry, we won’t hurt you,” Oliver’s smooth voice tickles my ear, confirming my assumption. I expected him to push me into the back, but instead, he keeps a hold of me as he slides into the backseat himself. Banks shuts the door behind us and climbs into the front seat. As soon as he does, we speed off.
The world seems to spin around me. I’m sitting on Oliver’s lap, his hand still covering my mouth and his other arm is like an iron bar across my chest.
Only then do I realize how much danger I’m in. I’m being kidnapped. They’re taking me to god knows where, with the intent of doing who knows what.
Every bad scenario runs through my head. Dread and terror spread through me, making my whole-body shiver in fear.
“Shh, it’s okay,” Oliver tries to soothe, his voice low and comforting. I can’t help but wonder if this is a sick game to him. He can’t actually expect me to believe him. Of course, he doesn’t know that I know now. “I’m gonna take my hand away. I’d prefer if you didn’t scream.”
