“Julia, wake up!”
I squint my eyes open, disoriented and expecting to see hazmat suits. Instead, a hooded figure is silhouetted in the doorway.
I jerk upright and scream, clutching the blanket to my chest.
They sent a hooded henchmen to kill me.
“Shh! They’ll hear us!” A voice whispers in exasperation.
“Evan?”
“Julia, come on!” He wears a jacket with a hood pulled low over his forehead, the rest of his face dark. He turns his head to look down the hall. “We don’t have much time.”
I scramble off the bed. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you think? I’ve come to get you out. Come on.”
I spring through the door and find the two guards slumped against the wall. “Oh, God. What did you do?” I squeak, my throat tightening.
“They’re not dead. They’re only asleep. Come on, we only have about twenty more seconds.”
He grabs my arm and we run down the hall toward the elevator, the thud of our footsteps echoing off the corridor walls. We skid to a halt as the ceiling lights flicker. I look up at Evan, who’s glancing around the hall with worried eyes. The elevator doors slide open. A second hooded figure stands in the back of the elevator, holding a tablet in his hand.
I jump backward, thumping into Evan’s chest.
“Seven seconds, hurry,” the boy in the elevator hisses. His head is lowered as he taps furiously on the pad.
Evan puts his hand behind my back and pushes, following close behind. I stumble and grab the boy’s arm to steady myself.
He looks up and I stare into familiar green eyes. Reece.
I gasp and recoil in shock and confusion, wondering what Reece is doing here. Then I realize there are two of them. This is the Reece of this world.
He smiles drily, hurt crossing his face before disinterest replaces it. “I’d hoped you’d be happier to see me, considering I’m risking my life to save you, but maybe now isn’t the right time.” He winks, but it lacks the playfulness it implies.
The doors close and Reece returns to his tablet. The elevator moves sideways.
Evan pulls me against his chest into a hug. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” He brushes the hair off my cheek as he examines my face.
I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. The worst they did was give me crappy food.”
He exhales, burying his face in my hair. His breath blows the strands at my temple. “I was so scared. Dad said it would be later this morning but…” His voice trails off.
The shock of my escape hits as my legs turn to Jell-O. I sink into his chest and take a deep breath to calm my shaky nerves. “I can’t believe you got me out.”
“We’re not out yet,” Reece says behind me, his words short and clipped. “Here, put this on.”
I glance over my shoulder. He scowls, his eyes focused on Evan’s arm around my back. He tosses a jacket and Evan reaches out, grabbing it before it hits the floor.
Reece searches my face before returning his attention to the tablet in his hands. “We’ve still got to get you outside and somewhere safe until it’s time.”
I turn back to Evan as he holds the jacket out for me to slip my arms into the sleeves. “Time for what?” I ask, thankful my legs can now support my weight.
Evan begins to button the front of my jacket, but I push his hands away, overwhelmed with a need to take care of myself.
He frowns but doesn’t seem to take offense. “Time for our plan. But first we have to get you out of here.”
The elevator slows and starts to ascend.
“What’s the plan?” I look from boy to boy. They shift their eyes away.
“We’d rather not say yet,” Evan finally says. “Reece is still trying to see if he can come up with something better.” He reaches behind me and pulls the hood over my head. “It’s not much of a disguise, but it will have to do for now.” His hand lingers on my cheek as he tucks my hair under the hood.
“If you don’t like the plan, Evan, feel free to come up with a better one. It’s still better than yours.” Reece grumbles.
I wonder if it’s smart to put my life into the hands of two seventeen-year-old boys, yet it’s not like I really have a choice.
The elevator slows and Reece focuses on the tablet. “We have twenty seconds to get out of the elevator and into the side stairwell before the cameras pick us up. I’ll say when to go.”
Evan nods with a grave look. He takes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile.
The doors begin to open.
“Not yet,” Reece warns.
“I’m not stupid, Reece,” Evan mutters, looking over his shoulder. “I really have no desire to get—”
“Go.”
Evan pokes his head out to look in both directions.
“You’re wasting time.” Reece shoves us out of the elevator. “Now we’ve only got seventeen.”
We rush down a hall, Evan’s hand holding tight to my clammy one. I wish I’d thought to wipe it off before he’d grabbed it.
When we reach a door about twenty feet from the elevator, Evan puts his hand up to open it. Nothing happens.
“Reece.” Evan’s voice raises in pitch.
“Shit.” He bends over his tablet, swearing more under his breath.
“How much time? Should we go back?” Evan’s hand tightens around my mine. I can barely feel my fingers.
“Wait!” Reece growls. “That’s not our only problem. Guards, headed this way.”
Evan’s head snaps around. “Why didn’t you pick them up before?”
Reece ignores him. “The second door down has a lower security access. Try it.”
Evan runs to the door and raises his hand to the panel. It slides open, revealing a janitor’s closet.
We scramble inside and the door slides closed as feet pound in the hallway moments later.
I’m sandwiched between both boys and the air is so thick with tension I wonder how we can breathe.
“What happened?” Evan’s voice is only a whisper, but it echoes in the tight room.
“They’ve discovered the guards outside her door and raised the security level. I only gave you a lower level guard status to avoid suspicion. I’ll have to raise it.” Reece is bent over his tablet, his eyes narrowed.
“What’s he talking about?” My heartbeat pounds in my ears.
Evan leans his mouth to my cheek. His face glows in the pale light from Reece’s notepad. “The hand readers would know it was me so Reece scrambled the system to pick up someone else. He’s got to find a higher security.”
I bite my lip and nod, feeling like I’m going to puke.
“Reece knows what he’s doing. Don’t worry.”
“Now!” Reece’s harsh whisper makes me jump. “We’ve only got six seconds this time but more guards are on the way and they’re just going to keep sending more.” The door opens and he pushes us into the hallway.
Evan lifts his hand to the original panel and the door slides open. He drags me through as it’s still opening. Reece crashes in after us, the door closing behind him.
“Did they see us?” Evan asks, turning around to Reece, his eyes wild with fear.
Reece’s face is hard. “I don’t know, but it was close. I suggest we don’t wait to find out.”
“Agreed.” Evan takes off running in a sprint, pulling me along with him. I struggle to keep up since my legs are shorter. Reece falls in behind us.
The hall is a long, door-less corridor, darkly lit. It appears to dead-end until we get to the back wall, where two hallways split off to the side in either direction.
“Go right,” Reece says. “Guards are coming from the left.”
We turn. There’s a door at the end of the long hallway.
“Stop at the door and wait for me to hook into the surveillance cameras. I’ve got to make sure no one is out there.” Reece works on his tablet, slowing down to a jog.
Evan pulls up short in front of the door, Reece following close b
ehind. Both seem slightly out of breath. It irritates me that I’m more winded. I eagerly latch onto the anger. It helps me ignore my fear.
Reece looks up. “We can go now, but we have to turn to the left, around the back of the building. There’s a patrol in the front, heading this way. But if we wait, we risk getting found by a surveillance team winding its way through this level.” He looks up gravely. “I suggest we exit the building. Now.”
Evan lifts his free hand and the door opens. A freezing wind whips around us as we emerge into the dark parking lot. My breath stops at the unexpected blast. The chill raises the hairs on my arms underneath my thin jacket. I’m also shoeless. In my hurry to leave, I didn’t think to put on my slipper shoes and the pavement is frigid against my feet.
Reece takes the lead. Evan follows and drags me by my hand. My breath comes out in wispy white puffs.
The parking lot is completely empty with the exception of a few scattered streetlights, but shouts and sirens ring out several buildings down. This office is smaller than I remember. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize it’s a totally different building. Confused, I wonder when they moved me.
We reach the edge of the building and stop. Reece checks around the corner, then looks over his shoulder. “They’re still searching the laboratory building, but it’s only a matter of minutes before they realize she’s not there. Stay in the shadows if you can and hopefully we’ll get out of here.” He says before taking off again.
Hopefully we’ll get out of here rattles around in my head.
Evan and I race after him, hugging the shadows of the building. It’s enormously long. Rather than face the fear of getting caught before we reach the corner, I look to my right. Trees line the back of the lot, but they don’t look like trees from home. For one thing, they have no leaves at all. They create a forest of trunks and with a few thick branches. Some of the trees are shorter stumps, or are toppled on one another. The blowing wind carries a chorus of creaks and groans of the shifting wood. I shiver at the eerie sound.
“We have to hurry,” Reece calls back.
Evan has an anxious look when he sees my panting, but the worry changes to alarm after he glances at my feet.
“You don’t have any shoes.”
I know it’s more of a question than an accusation, but I’m defensive anyway. My shoulders stiffen.
“Reece, she can’t keep up at this pace.”
Reece flashes irritation. “The patrol is going to find us if we don’t hurry. The side of the building is thirty feet shorter than the back. They’ll see us before we round the corner and there’s nowhere to hide back here.”
“I’m sorry.” Tears spring to my eyes. We’re going to get caught and it’s my fault because I can’t keep up.
Reece grabs my other wrist. “We’ll drag her if we have to. Let’s go!”
They start running. My feet slap frozen concrete until they’re so numb I can’t feel them anymore. I stumble and Evan catches me before I fall on my face.
“Come on. We’re almost there!” Reece pulls harder.
My legs burn and my left thigh aches so badly I’m not sure how much more it can take, but I push forward. My cheeks burn from the stinging wind.
The corner’s close but the terrified look on Reece’s face tells me we might not make it. I surge forward, a sudden burst of adrenaline spurring me faster.
Reece reaches the corner first, swinging me around the edge. Evan releases my hand and skids around the side.
I see more empty parking lot and my heart sinks. There’s no sign of escape here. Another office edges the opposite side of the parking lot. Reece runs for the building, still holding my hand, while Evan follows. I can’t help but notice the difference in their grips. Reece’s hold pinches as though he wants to punish me.
We reach the front of the other building. Reece ducks into a small alcove, pulling me with him and shielding us from the view of the other building. Evan darts in right behind us. I squat and lean over my legs trying to catch my breath.
“She can’t go much farther, Reece.”
“I’m well aware of that, Evan,” he growls. He rubs his face and releases an exasperated huff. “Can you carry her? We can’t drive the car here, it’ll draw attention. We have to go on foot.”
Evan nods, but I notice a satisfied smirk. “Let’s catch our breath for a minute first.”
The thought of being carried is embarrassing. “How much farther is it? I can walk.”
Reece glares at me, his mouth pinched. “Walking isn’t an option. We need to run. The car is about half a kilometer from here. The sun’s going to be coming up soon and we have to get to the car before it gets too high.”
I look up at both boys. “Why?” As soon as I ask, I remember it’s different in their world.
Reece looks at me like I’m an idiot.
“The sun isn’t harmful in her world,” Evan says, reaching a hand down to help me up. “This is all new to her.”
Reece’s gaze drops to Evan’s hand that holds mine. A scowl furrows his brow. “Well, let’s hope she lasts long enough to learn about it.”
I jerk my hand from Evan’s. Suppressed rage and fear erupt. I push against Reece’s chest, shoving him back into the wall. My forward momentum crashes me into his chest. His eyes light up with an emotion I don’t recognize before the veil lowers, leaving his anger.
“Then leave me here if I’m such a pain in the ass. No one said you had to help me.”
His shoulders stiffen and he grabs my wrists, outrage burning in his eyes. “What? And leave Dumbass to do it all by himself? It would have been a suicide mission.”
“Well, we’re out of the building. Take off if you want!” I rip my hands free and shove him again. “I don’t need you.”
“I wouldn’t say that just yet, if I were you,” he sneers. “You may need me more than you know.”
“Julia,” Evan wraps his arms around me and pulls me back. “We need him.” I hear the defeat in his voice.
“This is bullshit.” Reece mutters. “Let’s go.” He turns and points at me. “I’m not getting caught because of you so you better keep up.”
Evan moves toward him. “Back off, Reece.”
Reece looks more pissed than ever. He spins around and starts running.
“I can carry you if you want.” Evan stares into my face with a protective gaze.
“No.” I shake my head. “I can run.”
Evan checks to make sure it’s clear, then takes off after Reece, pulling me behind. I have no idea how far half a kilometer is, but it sounds farther than I’m capable of. I focus on the corner of the building. Make it there. Just make it to there.
We run along the edge of the building. Reece’s dark figure is farther ahead. It’s easy to see he’s sprinting. I can’t help but wonder if he’s running away from me.
When we reach the edge of the building, Evan slows down and glances around the corner, then heads for the next building on the other side of the parking lot. As we run for cover, I look into the trees. Streaks of red and pink fill the sky above the horizon.
Reece has disappeared. I can’t tell if he really left us or he’s too far away to see. We make it to the edge of the second building when I see headlights coming toward us.
I panic and dig my nails into Evan’s hand, sure we’ve been caught.
But Evan waits, his thumb stroking the back of my hand.
The car turns at the corner and parks next to us. The dark windows make it difficult to see who’s inside. The engine’s so quiet I’m unsure if it’s even on. It reminds me of an older Volkswagen Beetle, the top, front and back rounded, only this car seems newer and more streamlined. A lid in the rear pops open and Evan looks at me, apologetically.
“You have to ride in the back. I’m sorry.” He pulls me toward it. My feet are so numb I can’t feel them and I stumble. He catches my arm and hugs me. “I wish you didn’t have to hide in there, but it’s the safest way.”
I nod. It
makes sense. “It’s okay.”
He appears torn, biting his lower lip. “After you climb in the back I won’t see you for awhile.”
“What? Why?”
“They’re going to be watching me, so you can’t be with me. Not yet.” His voice cracks.
I nod, fighting back my terror. The thought of being in Evan’s world without him makes me feel vulnerable. He had to be incredibly brave to come to my world on his own.
He leans his forehead down to touch mine. “I know you’re scared,” he whispers. “I’m scared too. But I promise I wouldn’t leave you with Reece if we couldn’t trust him.”
“He hates me.”
He shakes his head, his eyes sad. “No, trust me. He doesn’t.” He wraps his arms around my back, smashing me to his chest. I welcome the warmth and the closeness. Evan makes me feel protected and I’m about to lose that. His lips lower to mine, making his reluctance to leave me clear. I kiss him back with an earnestness I don’t try to hide. He raises his head, his eyes burning.
“I know you think I see her when I hold you and kiss you, but I know you’re not her. Still, part of her is in you. I can feel it.” He kisses me again. “Wait for me.”
I nod not trusting my voice to answer.
His mouth lifts into a grim smile as he grips my arm and helps me in the cramped trunk. He covers me with a blanket lying on the floor. Standing, he grabs the edge of the lid with both hands.
“I know you don’t believe this, Julia, but I do love you.”
Before I have a chance to answer, he slams the lid shut, plunging me into darkness.
Chapter Twenty
I have no idea how long the drive lasts. The cold penetrates through the metal floor and walls, seeping into my bones. The compartment’s tight and I have to curl up to fit, the lid only inches over my head. At least I can use my own body heat to keep warm.
The boys’ muffled voices drift through the backseat until we stop. I feel the car door slam shut, leaving an unnerving silence. Evan must have gotten out.
He left me.
Calm down. This isn’t a surprise. He told me he would, but being in his world alone with people intent on killing me fills my head with hysterical terror.
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