Page 76 of Gilded Princess

You’re fine, Maddie. It’s just a bathroom. No one’s going to grab you from inside a bathroom.

My mental pep talk does jack-shit to calm me down. I feel the terror bubble up my throat, lodging itself there.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I want to facepalm so bad, but with my luck, I’d miss and give myself a black eye. I should’ve realized this sooner. I can just call Leo, and he’ll open it from his side.

Crisis averted.

Blowing out a breath of anxiety, I slip my phone from my back pocket and open it to view the new text message. It’s from a number I don’t have saved in my phone—I don’t recognize it at all, actually. It has a plus-three-nine-three area code, which must mean it’s international.

Oh, duh, I bet it’s Lainey. I know she’s been using all sorts of different phones lately, so I’m not really surprised. I blow out a breath, already feeling calmer about everything.

I open the text message, intent on sending her an SOS and then calling Leo. But what I see has my heart stopping.

It’s not Lainey.

I don’t know who it is, but I can’t stop the feeling of dread crawling down my throat.

Unknown Number: You’re in danger. Run.

I flip open my flashlight app and spin around, widening my eyes to try and see anything. The last stall is closed, and suddenly, I can’t remember if it was closed when I came in here.

Sweat coats the back of my neck, and I toss my hair to the other shoulder to cool off.

I give myself another pep talk and walk toward the closed door with my fist clenching the phone. It’s the only logical place anyone could be hiding. Not that I necessarily think anyone is hiding in here for me, but someone sent that message. I’m praying it was a bunch of punk kids playing pranks on unsuspecting people.

Bending over at the waist well before the door, I look underneath the door for any feet.

Nothing.

Inhaling a deep breath, I blow it out and kick open the door. It swings on squeaky hinges, opening wide to reveal a toilet and nothing more.

Oh, thank god.

Relief makes my knees weak, and I tip my head back to exhale the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Okay, time to get the hell out of here. I knew watching that scary movie with Dante the other day was going to come back to bite me.

I jiggle the doorknob again, twisting it left and right, but it still won’t budge. These vintage doorknobs are beautiful but a pain in the ass to work. With one hand, I pull up Leo’s phone number and hit the call button, and with the other, I slap it against the door. I’m hoping between the two, someone will be able to help.

“Madison?”

“Leo! I’m stuck in the bathroom. The handle won’t open, and the lights are out.”

“What? What lights?”

Dread tiptoes down my body, leaving its icy chill in its wake. “The power went out. I thought it was a planned thing. But then I got this creepy text. Leo, get me outta here, please.”

Desperation claws out of my mouth, and I start pounding on the door. The feeling of being watched coats my skin, oily and hazardous.

“Don’t hang up. I’ll be right there. Ten seconds.” He’s firm, commanding, and it settles the topmost layer of panic. “I’m here. Step back, okay?”

“Okay.” I jog a few steps backward with a nod.

The handle wiggles for a moment before I hear a loud bang and see the door wobble in its frame. Three more loud bangs, and the door opens, pieces of splintered wood flying into the bathroom.

Back-lit by the hallway light stands my savior, my knight in shining armor. Shadows curl around his black V-neck and dark-colored shorts, holding him in their grips like he belongs there.

“Leo!” I sprint toward him, jumping at him and wrapping my arms around his neck at the last second. Arms open, he catches me with ease, pulling me in tight for a hug. “Thank you. I-I don’t know what’s going on, but I think we should leave.”

He slides me down his body and laces his fingers with mine, tugging me toward the front of the store. The first thing I notice is the power. As in, it’s on.

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