Rising From The Ashes

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

With a stroke of good fortune I found the corridor to be empty and dim. Silently, I approached the door to my left. However, when I tried the knob this time I found it didn’t turn. This was to be expected, though. Prideful or not, I didn’t make the assumption they would leave such an important room open. 

This meant it was time to attempt another thing Cameron had taught me. Thinking his name sent a throbbing ache through me, every wound he had inflicted reopening, but then I remembered it wasn’t really him and push it from my mind. For now at least. Instead I focused on picking the lock before me.

Obviously, I didn’t have the right tools to do this, but Cameron always said you had to improvise sometimes and so I did. I had only a paper clip that I planned to use as my tool. I bent it so that I could fit it within the lock and started to work it the way Cameron taught me. Before I heard the click of the door unlocking, though, the tip of the paper clip broke right off. 

I wanted to pound my fist against the door in frustration, but instead I took a steadying breath and reassessed the situation. I couldn’t break down the door. I didn’t think I was physically able as these weren’t exactly flimsy doors. I needed another paper clip, but they would be in the school room and I doubted I would be able to get into there either. The longer I stood exposed like I was right now, the sooner I was going to be caught.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration, but then my one hand got tangled and I remembered I’m wearing a bobby pin! It’s just as good as a paper clip, maybe better. Quickly, I pulled it from my hair and inserted it in the lock. This time I heard the click as the door unlocked. 

Praying there was no one on the other side, I opened the door. Once again I lucked out. The lights were out, leaving the room in complete darkness meaning no one was there. I pulled the door shut behind me and then moved my hand blindly along the wall, searching for a light switch. I found it and the room became fully illuminated by fluorescent lighting. 

Filing cabinets lined the walls on either side of me. There was also a desk with a computer on it towards the back wall. Mostly, though, the room seemed like a sort of basement. I began to search the room for the power switch, knowing I didn’t have very long. Luckily, the switch wasn’t hard to find considering it stuck out of the concrete wall and even had a nice little label apparently meant just for me. With my breath held in my lungs, I flipped the switch.

Immediately the room was plunged into darkness. It worked. It actually worked. I didn’t have long to dwell on the success of my plan thus far, though, as I was sure I had maybe a few seconds max before security would be hunting me. 

I took off running, avoiding the filing cabinets to the best of my ability as I went. I reached the door within a matter of seconds and darted straight into the hall. Lily stood in the hall with the majority of the girls behind her, their faces a mix between surprise and determination. The other girls that hadn’t been included in the plan stuck their heads into the hall haphazardly, unsure what was going on. With no time to spare, I stepped forward.

“For those of you that don’t know, we’re planning an escape tonight. It will be dangerous and we may not make it, but we’re going. Any of you that want to join, come with us now. Those that wish to remain, well you may never get this chance again,” I announced. 

Two of the girls stepped forward to join us, but the rest remained. Then a shrieking alarm pierced the quiet and it was time to go. The two doors stood before me and the others and we still didn’t know which was the right to chose.

“Which one, Kaydance?” Lily asked and all the others looked to me for my answer. No matter what I had intended they now looked to me as their leader. Hoping I looked more confident than I felt, I choose the one to the right.