International Affairs

Trapped

Chapter 24: Trapped

"I really hate people who bash on other people's ideas without a good idea themselves," Katelyn said, crossing her arms.

"Ouch," Derek said, teasingly. "I'm hurt, Katie."

Katelyn gave him her best death glare.

"Alright. Alright," Derek sighed. "I'll come up with a plan...do all the work-"

"Wait a minute," Katelyn interrupted. "Who wanted you to do anything? This is my exam. I don't need your help."

"What are you going to-"

Before Derek could even finish, Katelyn backed up and then launched herself into a sprint. The robots detected her motion and began moving after her. Katelyn sprinted down the hall and around the corner.

Her ankle was killing her but what other choice did she have? The robots could only move at a walking pace so as long as she moved fast enough, they wouldn't be able to touch her.

"Crap!" Katelyn exclaimed when another robot rolled around the corner. She turned away from the first stairs and headed toward the back stairs.

There was a whirling sound behind her and her head whipped around. The robots were gaining on her. Why were they following her?! Katelyn gritted her teeth and forced herself to run harder. Suddenly, something grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into darkness.

"Shh..." a voice said by her ear.

Katelyn found herself in a janitor's closet. The door was closed but there was still the whirring sound of the robots outside in the hall as they slowly left.

"Derek!" Katelyn hissed. "What are you doing in a closet?!" she demanded.

Derek flicked on the dim light and cleared some space for them to stand. There wasn't very much room.

"I was worried about you..." Derek said, innocently.

"Be serious!" Katelyn ordered.

"After you ran away with an army of bots chasing after you, I went after you in the empty hallway to try and find you."

"So you hid in a closet?!" Katelyn demanded.

"Actually I was coming around the other way when I saw you," Derek explained. "You almost got caught by them."

"I know..." Katelyn said, sitting on a crate. "It was a stupid move after all."

"So...who was right?" Derek asked, feigning innocence.

"Certainly not you!" Katelyn said, feeling her cheeks heat up. She just got shown up by Derek Livingston!

"No?" Derek asked, stifling a laugh.

"No!" Katelyn said, firmly. "What was your idea? Camp out in a tree and wait for breakfast?"

"Okay. Okay," Derek said, satisfied. "Since you gave me such a nice hug outside, I'll let you be right."

"It wasn't a hug!"

"What was it?"

"I hate you, Derek," Katelyn said, feeling red as a tomato.

Derek chuckled as he leaned casually against the wall. Katelyn felt rather uncomfortable in a closet with Derek. The space was so small that they were always touching in some way.

"Do you think they're gone?" Katelyn asked after a while. She just wanted to go take a shower and go to bed.

Derek nodded. "Probably. We should go back to our dorms."