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“It’s okay,” he muttered. “It’ll all be okay soon.”

“I know. Thank you,” I murmured, pulling back. I sat on the trestle table and dabbed at my eyes with my sleeve. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you never came here.”

“Don’t think about that. Just think about our plan. Think about how close we are. Say it out loud. It’ll make you feel better.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “You have everything stored in your motel room on a computer. Tomorrow morning you’ll go there and collate it all. Then you’ll call the FBI and tell them what you’re sending them.”

“That’s right. I’m also going to upload your video to something called YouTube.”

I was about to reply when I heard something at the door. A scuffing sound. Like someone was there, listening in.

“Oh no.” I felt as if my lungs were filling with water. Even the smallest breaths made me feel like I was pushing up a lead weight on my chest.

“What’s wrong?” Mason’s brows wrinkled.

“I think someone was at the door listening.”

“These doors are thick. I don’t think anyone would’ve heard,” he said.

I knew he was probably right. I was just paranoid. But given the circumstances, why wouldn’t I be?

I rushed over to the door and unlocked it, opening it just a crack. Relief flooded me instantly, a sugary rush through my veins. There was a person in the hall, but it was just Lauren, humming as she carried a large basket of dirty sheets down to the other end. She was on her way to the washing room.

“It’s okay. It was just Lauren walking past with some laundry,” I said.

Mason smiled. “See? Everything’s fine.”

I nodded and drew in another deep, calming breath. “Could you explain this internet thing to me again?” I asked. “I’m sorry, I know I’ve heard it a hundred times. It’s just so confusing. So much new information.”

“I’ll explain it a thousand times if it helps,” Mason said, gently patting me on the shoulder. “Do you remember emails?”

I wrinkled my forehead. “It sounds familiar.”

“It’s sending a message from one person to another, using a computer.”

“I think I remember that now,” I said slowly. “My mom had an email address. She used it to send messages to her friends.”

“That’s right. You have to have a virtual address to do that.” He nodded encouragingly. “Anyway, emails are sent via the internet on a computer. It’s like a giant global network. Every computer can connect to this network and ‘talk’ with other computers. But not just via email. You can put anything you want on there, and anyone else can see it, if they look in the right place.”

“How many people have the internet?”

Mason twisted his lips. “Not sure on exact numbers, but I’d say more than ninety percent of the US population uses it regularly.”

My eyes almost popped out of my head on stalks. “Really? So all those people will see my video?”

“No. Not everyone will see it. But a lot will. It’s called…” He trailed off, his face suddenly darkening. “Did you hear that?”

I shook my head. “No. It could be Lauren again, I suppose.”

“It was probably nothing. I’m being paranoid now.” He chuckled, but I could tell it was forced.

I was closer to the door, so I decided to take another peek out there, just to make sure there was no one around. I looked to the left. Lauren was long gone, and the hall was empty. Then I looked to the right, which I hadn’t done before.

Tension turned my body rigid. Martha was standing there, peeking around the corner. When she saw that I’d spotted her, she pursed her lips and ducked away.

I felt cold panic rise in me like floodwaters. My breaths came shallow and rapidly as fear whipped through me, my own personal hurricane, and I slammed the door shut and crumpled to the ground, willing the primal surge to flee.

“What is it?” Mason asked, sinking down to my level.

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