“Holy fuck,” he shouts, turning back around. “Did you smell smoke? I didn’t smell anything!”
He doesn’t wait for my response, already speed walking away and disappearing around the corner into the hallway.
“Everyone calm down!” Nichols shouts. “I’m a police officer here to keep you safe! Let’s all file out of the building, single file!”
Oh my God.
What… a fucking idiot.
If I make it out of this, I need to have a serious talk with Barry aboutsending just any random goddamn officer.
I spin around and hurriedly rush down the wooden steps, adrenaline and fear swirling in my gut. More than a dozen women are already on the bottom floor, running toward the front doors in a panic.
I glance behind me to see the girls from upstairs rushing down the steps behind me, definitely not in a single file line.
We all spill out into the freezing cold air, instantly inundated with chills. Thankfully, I already have my coat, but a lot of the girls are still only in their pajamas.
I hear Nichols shouting somewhere near the main entrance, attempting to get a handle on a bunch of panicking women who all want to know if there’s a fire and where it is.
There isn’t even a hint of smoke coming from the building.
The parking lot is straight ahead, and from what I can see, there doesn’t seem to be a single soul in sight. I can either wait it out with the crowd and call an Uber or just run to my car and take off.
Don’t be fucking stupid.
There’s a single lamp in the parking lot, which means it looks as dark and uninviting as anyone could imagine. I’d be alone in the lot with at least twenty cars, where there are ample places for someone to hide. Living with a serial killer was all the training I needed in life to know better than to put myself in a situation like that.
“Not gonna catch me fucking slipping,” I mutter to myself, my teeth chattering as I glance around the crowd.
It’s quickly become clear to everyone by now that there’s no fire, but apparently, we’re not allowed back in until the fire department confirms it.
Sirens blare in the distance, growing louder and louder as they approach, and I think I hear someone say the residence life director is on their way, too.
Anxiety swirls in my stomach, and I’m vibrating with the need to get away from here.
Who the fuck knows if Nichols is still escorting me, but truthfully, I don’t want him to anymore. The man has no fucking brains, and I don’t think I’d be in any less danger with him.
I’ll just call a goddamn Uber.
I slip my phone out from my pocket, my shivering worsening as I order a car to come pick me up. One is only two minutes away,thankfully.
Once they’re here, I’ll just bolt to the car. By then, the police and fire truck should be here, too, and with them around, hopefully, there won’t be any opportunity for anyone to take me.
But they could follow you.
I’ll call Barry in the Uber and let him know Nichols is a dud. Maybe he can send someone else to meet me at a hotel. He’ll know I’m not going to Sable’s, but I don’t care. He’ll have to get over it—I refuse to lead a serial killer to my best friend’s house.
Not that she’s even home, anyway.
God, Rogue is still there.
I pull out my phone again and send Sable a text, demanding she check in. I know she can handle him, and even though Rogue is an asshole, I don't think he'd physically hurt her. Still, it doesn’t make me feel any better that he’s there harassing her.
I roll my eyes to the sky and exhale heavily, my breath billowing from my mouth in a dense cloud. My bones rattle with impatience and restlessness, and I’m growing irritated with how long it takes for twogoddamn minutes to pass.
My phone buzzes, notifying me that my driver is here, and I let out a relieved sigh. Seconds later, four police cars and a fire truck spill into the parking lot. I can’t see the driver’s car among all the others, but with the flashing lights, it makes the parking lot feel a lot less empty and unsafe.
Fuck it.
