Dancing with Shadows ✔

Behind Locked Doors

Dancing with Shadows

Chapter 24

Emma's heart raced as the policeman's grip tightened on her arm, his rough tug sending her stumbling. In a desperate attempt to break free, she kicked one of the men, but her efforts only threw her off balance, and she began to fall. Before she hit the ground, another officer caught her, preventing the fall but not her rising panic.

"Please, I didn't do anything! I want to go home!" she sobbed, her voice raw with fear. The commotion attracted the attention of teachers and students, their faces peeking out from classroom doors, their eyes wide with shock and confusion.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Valentina's voice rang out as she rushed to help, trying to pry the policeman's hands off Emma. But they shoved her aside, causing her to stumble. Cody, quick on his feet, caught Valentina before she could hit the ground. Despite the growing crowd, the officers continued dragging Emma toward the exit, their determination unyielding.

As the doors opened, Emma's gaze locked onto a black van parked ominously outside. Its pitch-black windows and intimidating presence sent a cold wave of dread through her. The closer they got to it, the more her hope faded. This was it—she felt her life slipping away.

But just as they were about to force her into the van, a loud crunch echoed through the air. One of the officers staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose, and Emma's eyes widened as she saw Greyson standing over him, his fist still clenched from the punch.

"Greyson!" Emma cried out, her voice a mix of relief and disbelief. She hadn't seen him in weeks and had thought he despised her, but now he was here, fighting for her.

"It's okay, Emma," Greyson said, his voice filled with regret as he took a step toward her. "I'm sorry, so sorry for being an ass."

But before he could reach her, the other two officers tackled him to the ground, pinning him down as he struggled to break free. Emma felt her heart shatter as she was pushed into the van, her tears blurring the sight of Greyson fighting against the officers.

As the doors closed behind her, shutting her away from the outside world, Greyson's final words echoed in her mind, a haunting refrain that played over and over again. "I'm sorry."

The van's engine roared to life, and it began to pull away from the school. Emma turned her head, straining to catch one last glimpse of Greyson, but her view was blocked by the dark presence of her grandparents' car following closely behind.

**

As the van slowed to a stop, Emma's heart pounded in her chest. She strained to hear the conversation between the officer and the guard as they handed over some papers.

"Morning, we're here to drop off a patient," one of the officers said.

"Name?" The security guard glanced at the documents before his eyes landed on Emma, scrutinizing her.

"Emma Alma Hunt."

"Oh yes, newcomer." The guard handed back the papers and pressed a button to open the gate. The van rolled forward, and as they passed through, Emma's eyes caught a sign: Ellerslie's Mental Institution. Her stomach twisted. Why am I here? She wondered, panic setting in.

The van pulled up to a large, sterile-looking building. The officers finally let go of her, and she took a shaky breath, relieved to have a moment of space even though her dread only deepened. They walked inside, straight to a reception desk where a young woman sat, her face lit by the glow of a computer screen.