I know how good Claus is at stalking. All that time, I had no idea it was him. It was me who approached him at the candy machine. I told him about my stalker. I confided in him.

He must have thought it was so amusing.

I thought it couldn’t be Claus, because he seemed so friendly. How naive can you be? Even the most dangerous serial killers can turn on the charm.

“So how is Claus getting into these rooms?” asks Kate.

“I think he has a master key.” Fender sighs. “That must be how he got into your room to write that letter all over the walls.”

Kate shivers. “The thought of him being able to walk in and out whenever he wants…”

“Try not to think about it. Kate’s dad made a dinner reservation for us. Let’s go eat.”

“Eat?” I stare at Lucas in astonishment. “You actually want to go have a nice meal out?”

“So what are we supposed to do?” Lucas says. “We were told to act as normal as possible. That’s what it says in the rules. Anyway, we have to eat something, especially if this goes on all night.”

I try not to think about the fact that Lucas could be right. Who knows when this is all going to end?

“He’s right.” Fender looks at Kate and me. “It’s ridiculous, but we have to do it.”

I know I won’t be able to eat a bite.

I rub my arms. Is it really that cold in here, or is it the tension?

“I’m going to fetch my hoodie.” I stand up. “See you in a minute.”

“Kate will go with you.”

I look at Fender in surprise. “Why?”

“You’re not going alone.”

Reluctantly, I go upstairs with Kate. As we walk up the three flights of stairs, she doesn’t say a word, but when we get to our room, she grabs my wrist.

“I’m sorry, Spinner. I know you’re mad at me, but…”

I look at her. “I’m not mad.”

“Disappointed, then?”

“I feel…betrayed.”

Kate’s face clouds over. “That was never the idea.”

“Why did you never say anything about Isolde?”

“Where was I supposed to begin?” Kate runs her hand through her hair. “By saying that I had a best friend but that she left town last year to get as far away from us as possible?”

“That would have been a start.”

I turn the key in the lock. As I enter the room, the feeling that I’m walking onto the set of a horror movie hits me again. The black letters grin at me from every wall.

I quickly unzip my weekend bag and take out my gray hoodie. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. Every minute in this room is one minute too many. I’m never going to be able to sleep in here.