her whimper.
Our hearts are beating so loudly it seems like they echo inside the cramped space. We both flinch when we hear the doors to the first cabinet being jerked open. I even have to cover my mouth in case a squeak of fear pops out of it.
There are only two cabinets left before he gets to ours. As the next set of doors swing open and crash into the cabinet next to us, the loud sound of metal on metal, causes us both to jump.
When he opens the next one, a crazy idea pops into my head. I push Phoebe to stand behind me, giving me a little room to move around. I grab a specimen jar from the shelf, then I take in a deep breath when I see the handle on our cabinet start to turn.
The moment the doors open, my vision is filled with the bright red color of his mask. He goes to swipe at me with the blade, but I dodge to the side. Releasing a throaty scream, I smash the jar over his head as hard as I can, causing him to stagger backward. Before he has a chance to shake out of it, I kick him right in the balls, sending him to his knees. The moment he keels over to the side with an intense groan of pain, I grab Phoebe’s hand and run for the classroom door.
We retrace our steps back to the double doors leading to Mr. Whitman’s office, heading to the front of the school. Passing the office, we hurry toward the school receptionist’s desk. When we finally reach the front doors, we push against them.
“Shit! These are chained too,” I shout, digging deep down to shove harder, trying to widen the gap between them. “Go, get out of here!” I scream at Phoebe.
She ducks down and begins to wriggle out through the space. I suddenly feel the door being pulled from the other side and I look out to see Parker helping me. I hear Phoebe call out his name and relief courses through me. That feeling is quickly pushed aside when I realize I still need to get out.
“Hurry, Dani. I can’t do this much longer,” Parker yells. His face is pale and I know he’s in pain. Phoebe tries to help by pushing in on the opposite door, but she’s nowhere near as strong as Parker.
I squat down and put one leg through the gap, followed by the other one. I grab Phoebe’s hand when she reaches out to me. She tugs on me, making me feel like I’m playing limbo with the chain as I try to maneuver underneath it. Emerging outside, I release a heavy breath and move closer to Parker.
I let out an agonizing shriek as I’m suddenly pulled back by my hair toward the door. I flail about, trying to rip out of Unknown’s grip. Phoebe grabs my hands and frantically tries to pull me away from him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Parker lunge forward and shove the door on Unknown’s arm. A yelp of pain resonates behind me. My hair’s released from his hand. I quickly crawl away from the door and spin around to find he’s gone.
The flashing lights and sirens of an ambulance and deputies’ vehicles assault our senses as they pull up to the front of the school. I turn to see my dad rushing over to us. As I make it to my feet, I find myself wrapped up in my father’s arms. I begin to cry uncontrollably.
“Everything’s okay now, Dani. I’ve got you,” he whispers in my ear as he gently strokes the back of my head.
I know he’s wrong, though. After all, Unknown is still out there.
Chapter Thirty Two
Phoebe and I watch as they load Parker into the back of the ambulance. She wraps her arm around me and gives me a light squeeze. I rest the side of my head on her shoulder and savor this brief moment of safety.
“They’ll allow one of you to ride with him if you want,” my father says, walking over to us.
I’m kind of surprised he’s even entertaining the idea of me riding in the ambulance with Parker, especially after he punched him. I turn to look at Phoebe. Before I can tell her that she should go, she pipes up.
“You should go. I’m just his stepsister. I think he’ll want you there more, anyway.”
“That’s not true. You should be with him,”