Page 5

Chapter 5

Scarlett

Aiden, you disgusting piece of shit.

A frustrated growl bounces off the walls of the locker room as I stare down at the ice skates. Thirteen pairs of skates that I’d spent the better part of two hours wiping down, then assembling them at their station. Now, they’re a muddied mess, scattered on the floor.

Is this the best you’ve got, dumbass?

Day one of my internship and I’m not surprised at Aiden’s attempt to frustrate me into leaving, but this is so fricking juvenile. Muddying their own skates. Really, Captain? You’ve got to do better than that.

I’d probably laugh if I wasn’t this close to the end of my two-hour shift. To think I was scared of him. If this is Aiden’s version of ‘not letting me off easy’, then I’ll survive.

Glancing at the time on my watch, I realize my Toastmaster’s meeting will go on without me tonight. Melissa won’t sign off on my hours if I don’t get this task done, which means I’ll be stuck here for another hour, at least.

With a groan, I gather up the skates, dump them on the trolley and wheel them down the long hall to the supply closet where the cleaning stuff is kept. I frown at the empty shelf where I’d placed them earlier. Glancing around, I spot them on another shelf to the back of the room.

This is weird.

On my way to the shelf, a sudden click from behind makes me whip around. Seeing the closed door, knowing I’d left it ajar mere seconds ago, remembering Aiden and the team are out to get me, forces me into an urgent run. I hear a jangle that sounds like a set of keys clashing together. A twist of the handle confirms my suspicions which soon gives way to frustration when I keep beating on the door and don’t get an answer.

No, no, no. God, no.

My phone is locked away in Melissa’s office. The supply closet is the last room at the end of the hall. The janitor’s shift ended at six and it’s almost seven o’clock. This section of the department is a lonely area, which means a low chance of someone passing by anytime soon.

Still, I have no other choice but to try.

“Is anyone there?” I yell, pounding with both hands. “Help! I’m locked in here!”

Five minutes pass, with no answer. Each passing second drains another ounce of hope, adding weight to fear. I keep pounding, keep screaming, begging for someone— anyone to show up—I’m desperate enough to take Aiden at this point—only stopping when my lungs start burning, and my fists numb to the fingertips. I bump my forehead on the hardwood, breathing harshly.

Almost ready to sink to the floor in despair, a sudden shuffling on the other side of the door makes me freeze.

Someone found me! Thank God!

“Hey! I’m in here! Get me out!” I shout, hope coming alive again.

No response.

“Are you there? Listen, Melissa has a key. Just go get her, please,” I beseech.

After another round of silence, I drop to my knees and peer through the crack under the door. It feels like a sucker punch to the gut, seeing a pair of sneaker-clad feet standing there, unmoving. Whoever this is, they’re not here to rescue me. They’re going to ensure I don’t escape.

My chest tightens with fear as I stand up, panicked breathing filling the room. This was Aiden’s plan all along. Muddying the skates; that wasn’t a juvenile prank. It was only a ruse to get me in here. To lock me up. To break me. To make me never set foot in the sports department again.

I dip back down and glance under the door, the bare spot confirming they’ve already left. Sucking in a deep breath, I stand, forcing the anxious feeling away as I scan the room.

No way in hell. I’m not giving Aiden that satisfaction. I’m not sleeping in here tonight.

A sudden jingle sounds by the door as I comb the shelves, hoping for something to break the lock. It soon springs open, revealing an alarmed looking janitor, a bunch of keys dangling in his hand. Instinctively, I glance down at his feet, relieved to see him still wearing the boots I saw on him earlier.

“You are one lucky girl,” Roy breathes. “Two minutes later and you’d be sharing this space with the rats tonight.”

At his words, I dash toward the door, so grateful and happy that I could hug him. “How did you know I was in here?” I ask.

“I was about to leave when a kid came up to me, saying I need to check the supply closet, so I did,” he replies, then frowns. “Kinda coincidental, now that I think about it. Seems he locked you in.”

“What did he look like?” I ask urgently, already sure it’s someone from the hockey team.

Roy shrugs. “I’ve never seen him before. Kinda stocky, wearing a baseball cap. That’s all I remember—come on, let’s get out of here. They don’t pay me overtime.”

Without waiting for my reply, he moves briskly down the hall and I hurry after him, a cloak of confusion wrapped around me. Who was that guy? Was it the owner of those sneakers I saw under the door? Why would he stand there and say nothing, but still sought help for me?

Roy and I part ways at Melissa’s office where I find her packing up to go. “Where have you been?” she exclaims. “If it wasn’t for your backpack in the locker, I’d suspect you’d walked off the job.”

“I got stuck in the supply closet,” I explain. “Roy came and got me out. I think the hockey—”

“Holy crap, I forgot to warn you about that door. It has this thing where it sometimes slams without warning, locking you in. Next time just put a weight behind it. That’ll do until we get it fixed—I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

Clearly, it would be my word against the Wolves if I tell Melissa what I suspect. I know what I heard. The door did not slam shut. Someone slowly and carefully closed it, trapping me inside. To prove it, now that’s a different story.

“I’m thinking you didn’t get a chance to complete your assignment, right?” Melissa enquires.

Do I dare tell her that it was already done, and the Wolves messed it up? “No, I didn’t.”

Her expression deflates. “Such a bummer. I’m sorry, Scarlett, but I can’t sign off on these hours today. You know the rules.”

Biting back my disappointment, I nod, grabbing my backpack from the locker. I keep my expression neutral while I bid her goodnight and head toward the door. The dam of pent-up anger and frustration finally burst as I step into the night, crying all the way to the bike stand. I’ve always known Aiden was an asshole, but tonight, I finally saw him for the monster he truly is.

Hats off to whomever ruined his chance of making it to the semis last year. I hope their vendetta is still alive and well. As a matter of fact, I’d love to know who’s after him. Even without asking, I’d be willing to give them a hand with sending him right to hell where he belongs.