Page 17 of The Shape of my Scar
The lock turned.
The door opened.
And they ran.
Dory’s screams rang in Thane’s ears like a second heartbeat.
They turned the corner of the hall and almost missed the door.
It was different from theirs-stronger with no keyholes; only a number pad with a blinking red light.
“Thane!”
His feet skidded to a stop. The familiar voice was thready now from screaming continuously.
“Thane, please, let me out. Let me out!”
She was already at the door, pressed against the slit near the bottom. Little pink fingers reached out as far as they could.
Thane went down on his knees, his fingers touching hers. “Dory?”
“Thane,” she sobbed. “I can hear you. Please, please get me out.”
Maro shoved past, checking the handle. “Shit.”
Zel was already running a hand along the frame. “This is reinforced steel. I have seen my dad put one in.”
Dory was crying now, her voice shredding with desperation. “Don’t leave me here. Please don’t…”
Thane reached through the slit, his fingers touching hers for just for a second.
“We’re going to the police,” he said. His voice cracked on every word. “We’re going to bring them back. I swear it. Just hold on, Dory.”
She let out a half sob, half scream. “They’ll kill me. Don’t let them…don’t—”
Outside raised voices carried and they were inching closer.
The crunch of footsteps on gravel.
“Back door,” Zel growled. “They’ll be inside any second.”
Lirian was already moving. “Thane. Now.”
Thane squeezed her fingers through the slit.
“I’ll come back,” he whispered.
“You promise?”
“I promise. Pinky promise.”
Then, he was gone.
Her voice chased after him all the way out as Zel and Maro dragged him away.
Chapter 8
They spilled out of the open door into the daylight. The mid-afternoon sun stabbed at their eyes. For a few minutes of panic, eyes that hadn’t seen sunlight in months were blinded before slowly adjusting. The air was cold despite the clear sky. Everything felt unreal, a dream they had never thought possible when they were crowded together in that rancid hellhole.
