I reach for her, but?—
The door swings back shut again, and a red light flashes from somewhere above us.
I gasp.
Eddie gasps.
Charlie gasps. “It ate Bea!”
I shove my boys out of the way and get down on my knees, pushing at the door. “Bea? Bea, are you in there?”
Are you in there?
Bloody stupid question, Luckwood.
Where the bloody else would she be?
And why won’t this door open again?
There’s a muffled answer from inside.
A muffled, higher-pitched answer accompanied by dull thuds from the other side of the door.
My blood runs cold.
How small is it in there?
How small is it in there?
“Charlie. Turn the key again,” I order. “Bea? Bea, if you can hear me, we’re attempting to open the door again.”
Charlie and I count down quickly and turn the keys together.
The door doesn’t open, but another light begins flashing as well.
“Stop turning keys!” Eddie says. “It’s the wrong clue! The police are coming!”
“I don’t bloody care about the police! Bea’s trapped.”
Charlie makes a face at me. “Dad, it’s a game. They’ll let her out.”
Right.
Right.
“Bea?” I call. “Can you hear me? Are you all right?”
There’s another series of thumps on the other side of the door, but no words answer me.
My heart is in my throat, beating madly.
My hands are getting sweaty. Clammy.
My breath can’t come fast enough.
She’s stuck.
Stuck in a tiny place.
