Caleb was already out of the truck. Then he froze. Cold slid down his spine.
Tracks, boot prints clustered near the locker, and drag marks cut away from it, long and uneven, leading straight toward the water.
Whatever had been taken from the locker hadn’t come back. Neither had his breath.
CHAPTER 50
Back in the locker,Mia woke slowly, pain pulling her from a dream where Caleb had found her. Her ribs ached with every breath, a deep, grinding pain.
How long had she been here? One day? Two? Three or more? Time didn’t move right in the dark.
Her mouth was dry. She tried to swallow, but there was nothing there. Her tongue was thick, her throat constricted. Her head throbbed, a dull pressure behind her eyes. The cold never ceased, and she was shivering uncontrollably, the metal beneath her stealing whatever heat she had left.
Somewhere nearby, the water lapped softly. The sun was out. Life was going on as normal. Out there. Nothing was normal in this hellhole. Mia’s thoughts drifted through her life. Her mom. Her dad. Graduating from culinary school. Caleb’s kisses and caresses. The weight of his body, the sound of his laugh. She closed her eyes. She had a good life. She wasn’t ready to let it go.
“Mia,”he shouted. Even though she probably couldn’t hear him.
Nobody answered him. No sound beyond the soft lap of the water and the distant music drifting across the lake.
Normal.
“Check the locker,” Nate said behind him.
Caleb pivoted, already moving, his heart hammering hard enough to hurt.
Mia heard it.
A voice, distant but real, reached her.
Hope kicked hard in her chest.
She tried to move closer to the seam, but the pain from her ribs stole her breath. She froze, straining to listen past the pounding in her ears.
Another voice followed. Closer this time. Male.
Hope surged so fast it made her dizzy.
She opened her mouth to call out. But no sound came out. Her throat was raw. Her chest tightened as panic crowded in. She swallowed hard and tried again.
Nothing.
She slid down the side of the locker, the metal cold against her cheek. “I’m here,” she whispered to the walls. “I’m here.”
She held her breath and listened.
They were close now.
“Cut it,”Caleb said.
Titus was already there with the bolt cutters. The lock snapped and clattered to the ground.
Caleb yanked at the door.
It didn’t open.
He yanked again with everything he had. His shoulders burned.
The door tore open.
