That was until I almost jumped out of my skin when my own phone suddenly rang. I held my breath, only to deflate when I saw it was Amelia.

“Evelyn?” her voice crackled through the speaker. Both Seth’s and Jasper’s expressions darkened immediately. “My roommate told me you were looking for me earlier. I just came by your room to talk to you, but you weren’t there. It is the middle of the week and bedtime started ten minutes ago. Where on earth are you?”

“In the car,” I said, distracted when the robotic voice told Seth to take the next exit towards Gloucestershire Airport. “Noelle is gone. We’re getting her back.”

“I . . . what? Are you in danger?”

“Not yet,” Seth murmured.

“Jesus. Shall I—”

I ended the call before she could finish her sentence. We didn’t have time for this; ahead of us, the airport was already coming into view. With his jaw set and his hands clutching the steering wheel, Seth pulled into the car park—and abruptly slammed onto the brakes.

As the airport’s operation hours were long over, the car park, which was surrounded by woods, was deserted. The only other vehicle was a black rental car with tinted windows that was parked right beneath a streetlight.

Seth swallowed hard before he neared it at a snail’s pace, coming to a stop right behind it. All three of us were holding our breaths, waiting for something to happen, but there was nothing. The engine of our car was still running, but other than that there was complete silence.

Seth was the first one to shake off the initial shock. “Quick, we need to get out and check if Noelle’s in that car. We don’t have time to wait.”

“One second,” Jasper said and reached into the space between his seat and the door. I sucked in a sharp breath when I saw what he was holding. The knife glittered menacingly in the lights on the dashboard as he held it out for Seth. “Here, take it. Just to be safe.”

“Is that a bloody kitchen knife?” Seth asked, sounding close to hysterics.

“Well, it’s not bloody yet,” Jasper said. When both of us only stared blankly at him, he muttered, “Sorry, bad joke. I went by the kitchen after I went to Gina’s room. Just so we’re not completely defenseless.”

“Jesus, Jas, you don’t seriously expect me to—”

“Fine,” Jasper said. “Then I’ll take it. Let’s go.”

A nervous shiver ran down my spine as he got out of the car, followed by Seth. I hesitated for a moment before I stepped outside as well, watching as Seth put a hand on the passenger door, blinking in disbelief when it swung open just like that.

Seth stood frozen for a moment before his head disappeared inside the car. A moment later, he stuck his hands inside . . .

and then he suddenly reemerged, lifting Noelle out of her seat and carefully setting her down on her feet.