I saw it long coming—the moment my nightmares became real and my fear would unleash the worst in me. As much as I tried to forget all the things that had happened, I couldn’t. A part of me kept thinking back, hesitating, doubting that the past was over, always wondering if there was something that I could do. Doubt and hope were like a disease—invisible, but always present. Ever so small, they would grow to immense proportions, bringing with them nothing but chaos that would draw me in. So deep that I knew I could lose myself, and make me hate myself for all the things I could have done but didn’t.
Falling into the trap was one of them, as was defending myself and hurting a guy in order to escape.
Maybe if I had allowed him to rape me instead of trying to hurt him, maybe I wouldn’t be in the mess I was in. Instead, I found myself trapped in the staircase, my heart racing so fast, I was sure I’d die from fear.
Liz had been right.
I should have followed their orders and commands. I should never have tried to get away. Now I was fighting for my life and I had to get away, or I’d be killed.
I yanked at the emergency exit door. It was locked. A curse escaped my lips.
Shit.
I couldn’t retread my steps, back to them. To him and his friends. They would never forgive what I had done. They couldn’t get me. Not now. Not when they were so angry with me. I had to act quickly. There was no other option but to try and find a way to escape. Get out of the place as fast as I could.
Forcing my legs forward, I started to climb up the stairs. My breathing came hard and ragged. My blood rushing unnaturally loud, I took two steps at a time as fast as I could until I stumbled and grasped the railing for support. I cringed at the sound. But it was too late.
The door leading from the corridor into the stairwell opened with a loud bang.
“Bitch, I know you’re in there,” he yelled. “Keep running all you want, but I’ll get you eventually, you little slut. And when I do, you’ll pay. You’ll wish you were never born.”
His pounding steps echoed through the air as he picked up his pace, his laughter ringing in my ears. Soon he’d reach me…if I didn’t find a door. Any door I could open and lock behind me.
My body trembled so hard I was sure my knees would buckle under me. But my mind remained surprisingly sharp as my eyes swept the place. To my right was a door leading into the third-floor corridor. I opened the door and darted through, making sure to close it behind me, then stopped again to scan the area. There were more doors, most of them closed. I opened the first door to the left and entered what looked like a storage room with lockers.
Footsteps thudded up the stairs. He was getting closer. There was no doubt about it. Soon, he’d be checking the corridor, opening and closing doors in his quest to find me, like a hunter going for the kill.
There was no time for running. I had to hide.
Without thinking, I yanked open the door to a locker. It was big enough for me to squeeze in. This one had to do. I pushed myself inside the confined space and pressed my nails into the thin slits to close the locker door, holding my breath as I strained to listen.
My whole body shivered. My breathing just wouldn’t slow down and seemed to echo as loudly as a train. If I didn’t calm down, he’d hear me. I pressed a hand against my chest and took measured, shallow breaths, silently praying for a miracle that I’d survive.
The thudding of footsteps rose in volume. He was coming closer. And then the door burst open and the thuds carried over, filling the room. I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath to stifle the whimper forming at the back of my throat.
