Page 23 of Artifice

It didn’t matter. As soon as Olive heard anyone in that hallway, she’d do whatever she could to get their attention.

Finally, a bell sounded, followed by the murmur of voices and footsteps.

Using all the strength in her, Olive pounded at the door and began to yell. “Help! Let me out of here! I’m not a student.”

She continued ramming her fists against the door.

But nothing happened.

Why wasn’t anyone responding?

Olive could only imagine the fear the students must feel when they were in here with no one to hear their cries either.

A sudden, horrifying thought hit her.

What if the students were restrained? Then they couldn’t even bang on the door.

Her heart rate quickened again as panic filled her. “Help!”

She continued pelting the door with her fists.

Finally, she heard someone outside the room. A deeper voice. “Are you locked in there?”

“Yes, I’m not a student here. Please, help me!”

Things went quiet.

All she heard was her heart pounding in her ears. Her labored breathing.

Then the door rattled.

Her lungs froze with anticipation.

But it didn’t open.

“Hold on a minute,” the same voice said from the other side. “I’m going to get you out. I just need to grab a key first.”

Maybe this person really would get her out of here.

But in the meantime, Olive felt as if she wanted to crawl out of her skin.

After what felt like hours had passed, the door rattled again.

The hallway had quieted, meaning students were probably back in class.

But, thankfully, the man who’d spoken to her through the door might be back.

“One second,” the same deep voice said.

More rattling.

Then the door opened, and light blinded her.

Olive nearly fell from the room and right into the man’s arms.

She could hardly catch her breath as her adrenaline crashed, morphing into muscle-wilting relief.

“Are you okay?” The man gripped her arms as if he knew her legs might not hold her up.