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The door opened Erica spoke “What’s going on? Who are you?”

“Sorry to disturb you,” Mr Morris spoke, his voice gru over a cold “I’m Fredrick Morris This is Mr Hendricks He’s the principal at”

He was here? My heart raced I debated going to Jessica, but froze, terrified to leave them alone or even reveal I was here

Did they see me in the car?

“I knoho he is,” Erica said “Why are you here?”

“We’ve been sent to look for Sang Sorenson,” he continued “We’re here to get her to go home”

“You’re not taking her anywhere” Nathan’s voice was loud enough to shake the walls He disappeared fro with us”

“I don’t know if you realize how“She hasn’t been ho for her She needs to come with us”

“If she needs to go home, I’ll take her,” Erica said

“We’re here to make sure she—”

“No” Erica’s voice rose now and there was creak like she was holding on to the door and possibly closing it “She’ll stay with me I’ll take her”

“If you don’t let her come with us, we’ll have to call the police,” Mr Morris said

“Do it,” Nathan threatened

“Call theet hten this out, but by irl out of here without me”

“We don’t have time for this,” Mr Hendricks said

There was a scuffling at the door I didn’t dare look out Withfor Jessica’s room

She was at her door, listening She backed up when I opened it “What’s going on?”

I kepther to stay quiet I closed the door behind e in “Where’s your phone?” I whispered, locking her door behind me

She ran for her bed, dumped out the blankets and a phone plopped onto the floor She scooped it up “Who do I call?”

“Kota,” I said “Call him Tell him to”

There was shouting in the living roo large and wooden broke The dog barked and then he yelped Suddenly it was if he was outside, unable to get in and barking madly at the door

They were in

Erica cried out “Nathan! Don’t you hurt him”

“We didn’t want to do this,” Mr Morris said

“She’s probably in one of those roo winded “Go find her”

I waved to Jessica and we retreated to her closet She stepped in, I joined her We sunk down together between shoes and coats in our way

The glow of the phone illuminated her face, and she spoke into it in whispers “So’s here They did so to Nathan” She paused just as the door to her bedroo for us”

I sed hard, reaching over to quiet her Was there a chance he’d bypass this room and check the others? Maybe we could run

The closet door flew open Mr Morris stood over us He grabbedme up “Got her,” he said

I kicked

I screah pitch

Jessica joinedherself at him and took bites at his calves

Morris reeled back, kicking out at Jessica to get her ahile holding on to me “Get off of me!”

“Sang Sorenson!” Mr Hendricks called out froet out here before I make sure your boyfriend—”

There was a loud wail as Mr Hendricks cried out There was a struggle on their side, too

Mr Morris draggedat his legs and reached for o of her!”

Mr Morris shoved us both hard Jessica fell to the floor Morris held on toposition to flip him

The lights around us suddenly went out Co

Morris loosened his hold on et a hold of his ears behind me