“Jess, is that you?” My voice sounds a little more confident but I stay rooted to the spot. I’m not going any closer until I know who –or what, my brain adds unhelpfully – is there. “C’mon,” I try, though I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t pull something like this. “Not funny.”
The shadow melts away.
“Hey,” I call, my legs no longer cemented to the floor. “HEY.” Anger fills my voice, the last few days of fear turning into something more solid and raging. “Leave me alone!”
There’s no reply, of course there’s not. Hot tears slide down my cheeks, burning right through the temporary rage. I scrabble around on the floor and my fingers curl around the book I dropped. As far as weapons go it’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. I shut off my light and feel my way instead, inching along the space between the shelves. If I get out of it I don’t want this cretin to know where I am.
My skin shrinks on my bones when a high, metallic scratch pierces the silence.
I freeze, trying to keep blind panic at bay – I can’t afford another panic attack right now. Forcing myself to think calmly, I start to list off what I know about the room.
There are no windows in here. No phone service or Wi-Fi. There’s only one door in and out, and as far as I know Jess has the key. I can’t scream;itwould find me before anyone came, even if I could be heard through the thick walls. I try to recall what the ceiling looks like – is it full of those little tiles, the kind on movies that hide tunnels and stuff? This room is kept cool, to protect the books, Jess had told me, so I guess there could be air-conditioning vents up there. I’d have to climb the shelves, though, and they’re metal, so again I’d be giving away my position if I even tried. . .
The piercing sound of metal on metal starts up again, but this time it’s got a weird kind of rhythm, almost like whoever it is is making patterns in the metal, drawing circles. A gentle breeze raises gooseflesh on my bare arms, and I realize what the sound is.
Someone is turning the wheel.
“No.” My voice is a strangled whisper as I forget all about making noise. A draught rushes around me now, the closing shelves forcing the air out, creating a vacuum for the books. I stretch my arms out.
I can touch both sides already.
I stumble forwards, dropping both my phone and the book this time. I don’t care, I just need to get out of here. The room is so utterly thick with darkness that I seem to be swimming through molasses, my body moving in slow motion. Something tickles my neck and I jump. It’s just a book.
But it’s a book that is way too close for comfort.
“Please.” I’m begging now, all pride long gone. “Please.”
The scratching stops for a second and I try to run but I’m already stuck, large folios on the bottom shelves barring my exit. I turn sideways and edge along. The noise starts up again, so close now that I know I’m near the opening.
And then I am so nearly out, I hurl my body through the closing gap, but my leg becomes caught and before I know it, the metal ridges of the shelving are pressing painfully into my back. I yank at my leg until something pops, white hot pain searing through my ankle. I don’t mean to cry out. I clap a hand to my mouth a fraction too late and strain my ears to listen for movements, but the room is still.
Someone is banging on the other side of the door.
“Niamh? Niamh! Open the door!”
“Jess!” I scream. “Jess, there’s someone in here, please, you have to help me!”
“But you have the key!” she wails. “The key is inside.”
“No!” I yell. “I don’t have it. Jess? Jess?”
No response.
“No, no, no!” I pull at my foot again and this time it releases, sending me sideways into open air so that my head is free of the shelving.
That means my face is right next to the wheel.
A featherlight scratch traces a path down my cheek and I freeze. It carries on, cool metal curving beneath my chin, grazing up the other side of my face. My eyes fill with horrified tears, but the touch isn’t painful or punishing.
It’s gentle. Almost loving.
A caress.
“Hurry up, Mum, please hurry!” Jess’s voice bleeds through the door and suddenly a dazzling beam of light sears into my eyes.
I can just make out a vague, blurry shape moving past me, and then the door opens and I see Jess and Ruth and I don’t care about anything any more. I close my eyes.
I’m safe.
