Page 113 of Soul So Dark

“You’re not leaving?” he asks, coming to a halt.

“No, Coach Duvall emailed me and said she wanted to see me in her office after school,” I mutter. “She’s probably going to tell me she cut me from the team.”

I haven’t spoken to my track coach since Evie went missing. I missed try-outs and then after Colson found her, I just avoided the entire team. I don’t even know how I ranked for the season because I never bothered to look.

“She needs to see you in person to do that?” Austin asks skeptically.

I give a shrug before waving and continuing down the hall. I just want to get it over with and hopefully Colson saw my text and doesn’t leave without me. When I arrive at the gym, there are only a few stragglers left in the vestibule. I tug open the gym door and immediately chuckle to myself. The entire back wall is lined with stacks of brand-new flooring to replace the dented and scratched basketball court. I half expect to see Coach Wheeler fawning over it like a dragon over its horde.

I make my way down the long corridor behind the bleachers to the girls’ locker room where Coach Duvall’s office is. As soon as I round the lockers, I see her tall, slim figure at the desk in the back office.

She waves and motions for me to come in. “Dallas!” She sounds downright cheery for someone who’s about to ax me from the team. Her eyes dart back and forth between me and the computer screen, making her gold hoops swing erratically. “How are you holding up?”

“Alright, I guess,” I reply as I take a seat in one of the chairs.

“I wanted to meet with you because I didn’t think this was appropriate for an email.”

Here we go…

She finishes clicking around on her computer and then brushes her shiny brown hair behind one ear. “Are you aware that you qualify for the Varsity team next year?”

I just stare at her.

“No,” I deadpan.

“I noticed you didn’t sign up or attend try-outs, which I completely understand because you’ve been through a lot recently. However, I looked at your times and you’re one of my more consistent runners. If you want the spot, it’s yours.”

My heart starts thumping against my chest and I’m not sure whether to scream with excitement or ask if she’s made a mistake.

“Yes!” I blurt out louder than I mean to. “I mean, yes, that would be amazing.”

“Very good,” Duvall grins. “Well, you have plenty of time before the season starts, so all you need to do right now is take care of yourself. Take your time getting back into training and please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. But, in the meantime, good luck with finals and have a good summer!”

“Yeah,” I stammer, still in disbelief. “Yeah, I will.”

I don’t even remember walking out of Duvall’s office and making my way back down the long tunnel to the gym. I’m still lost in my own head, wondering how I managed to blow off try-outs and still make the Varsity team, when I run straight into someone walking in the opposite direction.

I gasp and immediately mutter an apology, but before I can even look up, he swiftly ducks down and grabs me around my legs.

“Hey!” I shriek as I’m hoisted into the air.

He tosses me over his shoulder and makes a beeline to the opposite end of the gym. I try to look around, but I can’t see much while I’m hanging upside down. I try to wriggle out of his grip, but he holds my legs firm against his chest.

“Put me down!” I shout as the floor whips by.

“Shhh…” he hisses as we’re plunged into darkness.

My heart starts pounding and I can’t see the floor anymore, but I know we’re in the tunnel that leads to the boys’ locker room. There aren’t any lights in it, just like the one on the girls’ side. I start to struggle more as dark thoughts begin to seep in. I still can’t see any distinguishable features besides the Navy-blue t-shirt and jeans he’s wearing.

Shit, shit, shit. What if it’s…

“Rory! Put me down!” I pound on his back.

All I hear is an airy chuckle as we emerge from the dark tunnel. There’s a sharp rattle as he throws open a shower curtain and the concrete floor gives way to dingey tile. When he finally dumps me off his shoulder, I try to bolt, but he grabs my arms and pins me to the cinder block wall. I’m prepared to see Rory’s menacing smirk, but my terror instantly turns to confusion and then relief.

Alex grins back at me like he’s trying not to burst out laughing.

“AlexfuckingBarrera!” I hiss, smacking him in the shoulder.