Downstairs, Fender hits a wrong note. I realize that I’m holding my breath, but luckily he recovers quickly.

Where’s Claus? Why isn’t he keeping to the agreement?

I look at the big gold clock above the entrance. It’s five past eight now.

I lean over the balustrade and make eye contact with Lucas. I shake my head and he signals at me to come back.

Maybe this was a test to see if we would do as we were told. Or maybe Claus saw Lucas after all.

What will the next message from Room Service say?

I nod at Lucas and go back to the stairs. Then I walk along to Room 311 and pause for a moment.

As Fender’s music slowly dies away, I look at the gold numbers on the door.

Why did Claus choose that particular room? Sneaking me into a strange room was a huge risk, unless he knew no one was there at that point.

But how could he have known that?

I look at the little peephole in the wood. Every hotel room door has one.

The penny drops.

He could keep an eye on this room because he was in the room opposite!

At that moment, I feel a hand over my mouth and someone roughly pulls me backward.

Give him his due: Fender plays beautifully.

But I’m not going to be distracted.

I can see that he’s following her.

Do they really think they’ll get away with this?

They’re not following the rules of the game.

I go back to my room.

Even in here I can hear the music.

It’s time for a new plan.

If they don’t make a sacrifice, I’ll choose someone myself.

But who?

The music stops.

I walk to the door.

When I open it, to my amazement, I see Linnea standing there.

On her own.

As if she has come to offer herself up.

I grab her and pull her inside.

Finally the endgame has begun.

Let’s see if the new girl is worth saving.

Evacuation Plan

Fender

As I walk back to Kate, everyone congratulates me on my playing. There’s applause from the balconies.

“Where’s Linnea?” I ask.

“You did brilliantly,” says Kate.

“Where is she?”

Lucas comes to stand with us. “It all went fine, but Claus wasn’t there.”

“Why aren’t you with her?” My eyes flash to the stairs.

“She’s coming,” says Lucas. “Calm down.”

I look up at the balconies, where the audience is slowly drifting away.

There’s no sign of Linnea.

“I played a wrong note,” I say.

Kate shakes her head. “No one noticed.”

“You’re making me nervous,” says Lucas. “Chill a bit.”

I look at the clock above the entrance. Ten past eight. Where is she?

My heart leaps when I see a blonde girl coming downstairs, but it’s not her.

The seconds tick away.