Shaking my head, I reply honestly, “I have no idea, but I’m scared.”

“Don’t be. We’re okay,” he whispers, pulling me into his arms.

While I’m here with him, I can give in to the weakness inside, the part of me that fears for my life, who wishes someone would rescue me. Although we share an inner strength that I certainly didn’t know I had, Evan still allows me to be weak without judgment.

With everyone else, I feel an intense pressure to always hold it together because that’s who I’ve been, the together girl. I don’t let things get to me, and I keep myself firmly in the positivity camp. But it’s such a relief when I get to be vulnerable, even if it is just for a minute.

I step back after a few seconds. I’m okay now. There is a time and place for weakness, and right now is not the time. We don’t know why we’re here or what they have planned.

The sound of metal clanging, a door unlocking, startles me. I grip Evan’s hand. We’re united. Whatever Caleb, Matt, and Owen are about to do, we can get through this.

The door to the long hallway opens. Caleb and Owen storm in. Matt stands by the door frame holding a gun.

I press into Evan’s side, but I don’t cower.

“What’s going on?” Evan asks, his voice strong but wavering at the end.

I’m not the only one who is scared.

Caleb smirks, loving doing something that we don’t expect. “Come with us,” he orders.

Evan’s eye twitches. “Why?” he challenges.

Caleb’s smirk widens. “Come with us.”

Oh God, what is he doing?

Owen lunges toward me, grabbing my arm. I’m jerked forward and his death grip on my wrist bites, but I steady myself and stand tall.

Evan grabs my other arm, his eyes burning a hole in Owen. “Let go,” he spits.

Caleb reaches out and grabs Evan’s upper arm. He pins him to the spot with dark, dead eyes.

“You come with us or Matt will shoot you,” Owen says, addressing both me and Evan.

“Just do what he says, Evan,” I plead. There is no need to make this harder than it’s going to be. Not when we’re out here like this.

They don’t physically bring themselves into these rooms unless it’s room five.

They tug us roughly through the door. I gasp as I’m shoved into their room with all the games. I thought this place was so cool when I first saw it. But it’s just a front for evil.

“What are you doing?” I demand as Owen pushes me down. My hands curl around the edge of the seat as I’m forced onto a hard plastic chair.