Page 84 of My Heart to Find

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Damien

“THAT’S PHIA!” JANAyells, her face red. She pounds on the basement door, rattles the handle, but it doesn’t give at all. “Help me!”

I throw my weight at the door, and I can hear Phia on the other side.

“Phia? Is Marnie there too?” Trevor shouts. “Marnie? Are you there?”

Someone yells something, but I can’t make out the words. I think it was Phia, though. She just sounds scared.

“Get back!” Trevor shouts from behind me. “Phia, move away from the door. I’m going to kick it down.”

My heart pounds as I step away. Cara. Where is she? My eyes sweep the hallway for her, but I can’t see her. Did she go back upstairs? Because she’s not down here, not—

Trevor lets out a war cry as he kicks the door. There’s a creaking sound, but nothing gives. I hear Phia crying on the other side.

“Try again,” Jana hisses.

Trevor does, and then I try too.

“You need the key,” Phia shouts. Her words sound a bit off though. Distorted.

“Here,” Cara says, and she just seems to appear so suddenly. There’s a key in her hand. I stare at her, shocked. She’s holding it stretched out toward me, so the key’s at arm’s length. “It was on the kitchen table.”

Jana snatches it from her, turns back to the door.

“Cara?” I move toward her.

She’s staring at her hand, shaking. I’ve never seen her face so pale. Her fingers curl a little. Her teeth chatter.

“It’s okay,” I say.

“Yes!” Jana yells, and then the door’s open. “Phia!”

Phia tumbles forward, falls into Jana’s arms, red hair flying everywhere. She’s gulping and crying and I see she’s got a black eye. Her pupils look too large.

“She’s back there,” Phia whispers. “She...she might still be drugged... He drugged me at the café, and...”

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