Page 96 of Lush

“I’m locked in here!”

My mind raced. I couldn’t just stand here. The door wouldn’t open, and yelling for help would do no good if no one was around to hear me. I needed to think.

There had to be another way out.

I pounded my fist against the wood. The sweat dripped down my temples, and my breath quickened, growing shallow. But then I felt it—a ripple of heat, sharper than before. It was getting hotter. The sauna was becoming a hot box, and I was trapped inside.

“Someone! Please!”

The idea of passing out, of succumbing to the heat, clawed at my mind.Get it together, Laurene.

I stepped back, taking stock of my surroundings. There had to be another way out.

I looked around for anything that could help me—something to climb, something to break the door down.There.A small vent high up on the wall.

I needed to climb. I took a step back, my heart racing. The heat was stifling, but I steeled myself and ran at the wall, using all my weight to jump up. I barely grazed the edge of the vent with my fingertips.

I took a breath, wiped my sweaty palms on my towel, and tried again. This time, I focused on using my legs more. I launched myself up, fingers grasping for the edge of the vent.

Praying it would come loose, with a grunt, I yanked. The cover rattled, but held firm.

I drew in a sharp breath, summoning every ounce of strength left in me. I pulled again, the metal groaning in protest. Finally, with one last desperate tug, the vent cover broke free, crashing to the floor with a loudclang.

The opening was small—too small. I couldn’t crawl out.

What if there was no way out?

Hell no. I didn’t come back from halfway across the world to die in a sauna.

Picking up the metal cover, I ignored the pain from the heat on my fingers, and I turned to the glass window.

I swung the metal cover at the glass. A thud sounded, but cracks formed on the glass. I didn’t stop to think. I swung again.

Crack!

The window broke open, sending shards cascading to the floor.

“Please, someone help me!” My heart raced as I pressed my face against the jagged edge, trying not to cut myself, but to see in the hall. “Help! Someone! Please!”

Then I heard it—a soft humming, melodic and eerily cheerful.

Where was everyone?

I caught a fleeting glimpse of movement from the corner of my eye near the fall—a shadow flitting, but I couldn’t turn my head to see clearly. Suddenly, I heard rushed footsteps approaching. Nina’s eyes widened at the sight of me.

“Laurene! Oh my God!”

“I’m trapped!” I rasped, my voice cracking. “I can’t get out!”

“Hang on! I’ll get you out!”

The heat bore down on me, oppressive and stifling. I felt light-headed, my breath quickening as I leaned against the door. “Hurry! Get me outta here.”

To my surprise, the door swung open with little effort, almost as if it had been waiting for her.

“Are you okay?”

“What the—” I stammered, confusion flooding my senses. “I—I couldn’t get the door open. It was locked, it was…”

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