Sipping my water, I saw an exit from the maze which led to the railing at the edge of the building. Just a little balcony tucked away in the middle of the maze. The view from here was gorgeous, with the ocean reflecting the last lingering glow and the lights of Sunset City flickering on.
Behind me, somewhere in the maze, it sounded like someoneshouted something. Probably the crowd I’d seen near the elevator. I needed to go back inside and take more notes, but this peaceful little corner did something to soothe my soul.
Life had been so hectic and busy since my promotion. It felt like I never slowed down. I was tired, and I knew it, but there wasn’t space for relaxation at the moment. We were close to catching up on all the things Tracy left when she passed, and as soon as we did, then thingswouldslow down.
They had to.
I knew I couldn’t keep going like this, and my friends could tell even though I tried to keep it hidden. They were in the middle of their happily-ever-afters. If I told them how much I was struggling, they’d be there for me in a second. And then I would feel guilty taking them away from their packs.
But if it got really bad, I would ask for help.
Probably.
“HELP!Please help me!” The scream shattered the silence like a bullet. A female voice laced with terror and tears.
Chills ran over my skin. She was close. And that didn’t sound like someone acting. It sounded like fear.
I heard the lower tones of someone else speaking, and then?—
“Fuck off. I’m not going with you. No!” The yelp was followed by the sound of bushes crashing and bodies falling. “Stop it.LISTEN.”
Can anyone hear me? Please open the door. Please.
There wasn’t enough air to breathe, and I couldn’t get out. No matter how long I begged or how loudly I shouted. No one listened. No one heard me.
Sobbing and struggle brought me back. My hand clenched around the water bottle. I had to do something. There wasn’t time for me to go get a monitor or Amber.
It had to be me. I wouldn’t let someone else not be heard.
Shoving down my own fear, I ran into the maze, following the sounds through the narrow, shadowed passages.
“Give up now,” a male voice said. “There’s no point in fighting it.”
“Not until I stopbreathing, asshole.”
A low laugh.
I skidded out of the maze into a smaller garden, and there they were. The woman, dressed in almost nothing, pressed defensively into the corner, and a man dressed in black pulled on a rope bound around her wrists.
She fought as hard as she could, but she wasn’t strong enough, and he had all the leverage. She was losing, tears running down her face.
I didn’t let myself hesitate, sprinting forward and shoving the man to the side, and grabbing the rope. “Stay away from her.”
He stumbled, and I put myself between him and her, bracing for the worst.
“What the fuck?” He stared at me, and he didn’t look angry, just really confused. Then annoyed. “What are you doing here? No one’s allowed up here during this scene.”
All the fear drained out of me, quickly replaced by horror. Ascene?
Fuck.
Double fuck.
I turned and looked behind me, and the woman looked back, just as confused, and more, sad.
“I’m so sorry. I thought?—”
“You thought what?” The man crossed his arms and looked at me. “You thought that at a club like Element someone could get attacked and no one would know?”
