After Hours

Chapter 22.

Ember's POV.

  "There has to be a way in!" I say again.

  "There isn't," Vanessa says from her sitting place against the tunnel's walls.

   Eva nods. "Yeah, there isn't."

   I look at them and notice Eva holding her arm and wincing. I kneel down next to her and touch her arm. She grimaces and I know the scratch is worse than she's been letting on.

  "Can I see it?" I ask gently.

   She rapidly shakes her head and stands up. "I'm fine. Really."

   Vanessa stands as well and takes Eva's hand. "Come on, Eva. Let us look."

   Eva shakes her head again. "I'm fine."

   I look at Vanessa and she shrugs. "Whatever you say."

   I sink down against the tunnel walls and my stomach growls. I haven't eaten since last night when Grayson was at my house.

   Grayson.

   Where is he? I feel like he's ok, but the other part of me knows he's not. Maybe the same thing that took Cameron and Ethan took him. I wish we just would have stayed with Vanessa and Eva. What good did we do going out for Jess? She's still out there. We failed at trying to find her. She could be dead for all we know. I take my phone out of my pocket and try the power button. Still nothing. I sigh in frustration and stuff it back in my pocket. I hear footsteps above me and cock my head to listen.

  "Disneyland must be open," Vanessa says, sitting down next to me.

   Disneyland is open with us trapped in here and there are people above us who could help! I jump to my feet, almost knocking over Eva.

  "I've got it!" I say, a huge smile breaking across my face. "Why don't we go back up out of the tunnels and try to ask people for help?"

   Vanessa stands up next to me and grins. "Couldn't hurt."

   Eva nods happily and we begin to jog back to the entrance of the tunnel. It took about an hour when we walked to the end of the tunnel about two hours ago, so running only took us about thirty.

  "We're going to be ok," I say as we face the long stairs leading up to above ground.

   I lead us as we climb the steep steps. Vanessa hands me her phone and I shine it on the wall where the door is...suppose to be?

  "No, no, no," I say, feeling my hands all over the wall. "No! It has to be here!"

   Vanessa looks at the wall and a look of hatred comes over her face. She stomps down the steps and stands beneath us.

  "You can't keep us in here forever!" she screams to the ceiling. "We will get you out and we will kill you! You hear me?! We will kill you!" she rips of her jacket and throws it on the ground, and I can see the sweat on her forehead.

   I walk down the steps, not knowing what to think. I sink down on my knees on the ground as Vanessa shouts terrible words I would never say to the ceiling. Eva stands next to Vanessa, rubbing Vanessa's shoulder. I look down at the ground and rub the sweat off my forehead. It is getting hot again in here. I notice Eva picking up Vanessa's jacket and wrap it around her own shoulders.

  "What are you doing?" I ask, standing up slowly.

  "It's freezing in here," Eva says.

   I grunt in frustration. "Not again!"