Page 6

I found the bookshelf.

My fingers searched desperately along the edge.

Nothing.

Behind me, I heard footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Coming closer.

I pushed harder.

Suddenly, the bookshelf moved.

A narrow opening appeared.

I stepped inside with Lily.

The door closed behind me.

I could hear my own heartbeat.

Then I heard Noah.

“Come out.”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

A man’s voice answered.

“You really thought you could disappear?”

I recognized it.

Ryan.

My entire body froze.

“Noah,” Ryan said, “you should have stayed dead.”

Dead?

I covered Lily’s mouth gently.

Noah replied:

“You’ve been following me for months.”

“You have something that belongs to us.”

“What?”

A pause.

“Her.”

My blood turned cold.

Ryan continued.

“The child.”

Noah laughed quietly.

“You don’t even know what she is.”

“I know enough.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Noah, give her to me and this ends tonight.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Then Noah said something I will never forget.

“She isn’t yours to take.”

A gunshot exploded through the house.

Lily screamed.

I pressed her against my chest.

Another shot.

Then silence.

I waited.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Then Noah’s voice came through the hidden door.

“Open it.”

I hesitated.

“It’s me.”

I opened the door.

Noah was standing there.

There was blood on his shirt.

I screamed.

“Are you hurt?”

He shook his head.

“Not mine.”

Then he looked behind me.

“Where is Ryan?”

“He’s gone.”

Noah’s face became pale.

“He wanted you to think he was here.”

“What?”

“He wasn’t trying to get Lily.”

I stared at him.

“Then what was he doing?”

Noah looked at the computer.

“He was distracting us.”