Page 6 of No Escape

I’m not sure where Avery disappeared to, but the crowd is so thick that it’s impossible to guess where I’ll find her.

It’s a battle just to make it to the edge of the dance floor, but the walkways aren’t any clearer.

Pulling out my phone, I text her to let her know I’m leaving. The rest of our group from school is coming in later this week, but I wish they were here already. That way, Avery would have someone to stay with her.

This place is too filled with people. My senses are overwhelmed, and if I don’t get out of here soon, it’ll lead to a panic attack. Swiveling my head, I do one last scan of the packed crowd. I still don’t see her, and my hands are starting to sweat.

It’s time for me to go.

I think I can find my way back to the hotel without calling my security team. They’ll give me hell if they realize I slipped out on their watch. That’s another reason to call it a night. They check on me every morning at three a.m.

I was way braver earlier, but the excitement of sneaking out has worn off, and reality is creeping back in. If I leave now, I think I can get back in time so they’ll never know this little excursion happened.

I cringe and breathe through my mouth to avoid the multitude of scents as I weave through bodies, but I get to the exit in one piece.

The cool night air hits my face as I step onto the sidewalk.

My eyes widen.

The line of people still waiting to get in is long. It must be true that clubs here operate way later than clubs in the States.

The bass from inside the building bumps loud enough to hear it as I make my way down the sidewalk, keeping my head on a swivel for any taxis that might be waiting around for clubgoers who are ready to call it a night. There are a few vehicles, but nothing like I’d expect to see back in the US.

Luckily, it’s a beautiful city, and it makes for a nice backdrop as I pull up directions on my phone. The map says to take a right at the next major intersection, and I make the turn. This area is less populated than the one just outside the club, but that’s not a bad thing. The farther away I get from the area with the clubs and bars, the quieter it becomes.

My bag bounces against my side as my phone tells me to take the next left.

There are a few cars and people around, but it’s almost eerily quiet when compared to a few streets ago. Cool air nips at my skin with the breeze that whips between the buildings, and I follow the streetlamps. It smells a lot fresher than the streets in the club district.

The hotel should be just a little farther on the right.

The hair on the back of my neck sticks straight up.

My head swivels, but the only people around appear to be a small group of men lingering in front of the doors to the hotel. Something inside me says to run, and I don’t have any clue why. However, if I’ve learned anything over the course of my lifetime, it’s to trust my instincts.

My eyes widen as the man in front steps forward, pointing directly at me. I’m pretty sure he’s one of the men I saw in the group at the Christmas market.

He calls out something in a language I don’t understand.

My heart races as I spin around.

I’m shaking so badly that my phone falls, bouncing against the concrete.

There’s only a split second to make the choice between bending to pick it up and running as fast as I can.

I stop, snag it, and take off.

Only, I can’t call my security team because the screen is busted to the point it won’t register my fingerprint. My heels bounce against the pavement as I try to dart straight across the upcoming intersection.

I’m only three steps off the sidewalk when one of the men catches a handful of my hair.

He speaks in a thick accent, yanking my back to his chest. I can’t understand a word he says, and he chuckles darkly, switching to English. “Running is useless, omega.”

His palm slaps over my mouth, but I attempt to scream, anyway. Only, something sharp stabs into my neck and the world goes dark.

* * *

The next time I wake, it’s a groggy experience that I can’t be sure isn’t a dream. I’m in the back of a van or SUV, and the men around me speak in that language I’m not familiar with.

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