Within These Walls

Chapter 4

"Carson!" I rush over to him and fall to my knees beside him. He's flat on his back, his face clear of emotion and his chest still.

"Idiot," Marcus mutters. "What was he thinking?"

His lack of regard burns me. I'm about to reach out and feel for Carson's pulse when his lips twitch.

"Wait. Is he—?"

A laugh erupts from Carson's mouth, cutting off Willow's question. He opens his eyes, sees us looking down with dumbfounded expressions, and begins to laugh loudly.

"What's wrong with you, man?" Alec grumbles.

Carson sits up and grins around at us. "Just wanted to give y'all a break from the testosterone party before someone got hurt."

"You gave us heart attacks instead," Willow says.

"Worth it."

I give Carson a hand up. Even with the fear gone, my legs are still shaky. "Did you eat the bread?"

"Nope. I've taken food from some questionable people before, but I draw the line at trusting kidnappers." He points at the white clump on the floor next to a box of beans and peas. "I broke off that piece and chucked it over there while y'all were distracted."

"You think this is funny?" Marcus asks in a quiet voice.

The grin falls from Carson's lips. "S-sorry. Just wanted to loosen up the tension a bit, that's all. Won't happen again, sir."

Marcus flashes him a glare and marches out of the room. Buzzcut follows him like the bodyguard he's turning into.

"You okay?" I ask Carson.

He scratches his collarbone, laughing a little. "I'll be fine. I've run into his type before. Pushing people like me around. It's nothing new."

"Why did you get involved?" Alec asks.

"It saved you the trouble, didn't it?"

There's a gleam of respect in Alec's eyes. "Guess I owe you one."

I'm impressed with Carson for putting himself on the line to help a stranger out. That takes a lot of courage.

"We'll have to test our food supply sooner or later," I say. "We're going to need it if we'll be here for longer than a day."

"Anyone brave enough to eat what could very well be poisoned food?" Alec asks.

"When you put it like that," Willow says dryly. "Sorry, I'll pass. Carson?"

He backs away. "Not me. I've reached my danger limit for the day."

"I'm good, too," Alec says.

That leaves me. I decide to turn down the offer without compromising my need to put on a strong front. "Why do we have to do all the work? Let's give someone else a chance to save the day."

Alec takes one of the bread bags. We return to the cafeteria and find a quarter of the people we left earlier. When Alec asks a nearby girl where everyone went, she says, "We found a locked door in the gym. Marcus is trying to open it."

We pass the game room and reach a wide doorway labeled GYMNASIUM. The interior is spacious, with a half-court and bleachers on one side. In one corner is some gym equipment: weights, a dangling heavy bag, and half a dozen treadmills. The overhead lights bounce off the gleaming hardwood floor, accentuating the newness of this place.

The rest of the kids are on the other side of the gym. Marcus is next to Buzzcut and another guy, and all three of them appear tired and sweaty. The door in front of them is locked.