For some reason, we’re getting a break. For how long? Every time that speaker crackles, my heart takes a dive and my palms sweat.

That’s probably why you’re getting a break. To drive you crazy always fearing it.

Evan walks into the room from his shower. His messy dark hair is damp. His eyes lock with mine as soon as he turns around, always to me first, as if he’s checking to make sure I’m still here and I’m okay.

He frowns, sensing the tension in the room. “What’s going on?”

“My best friend has finally lost it. That’s what’s going on,” Hazel tells him.

He walks to the sofa and sits. Ignoring everyone else, he says, “This should be fun.”

“I’ve thought of a way out of here.”

“No, Piper, you’ve thought of a way to kill us all at once,” Lucie says, cutting in.

Evan looks at her, frowning. He leans more on the positive side, like me, so I appreciate that he’s at least willing to hear me out.

“What’s your idea?” he asks, tilting his head. I can tell he’s half-amused, but I have a feeling my idea will wipe away his smile.

I look at him dead serious and say, “We set fire to this room.”

He stares for a second, and I can see his mind working overtime. “Fire? Really?”

“Yes. People will see the smoke, and the fire department will come. Caleb, Matt, and Owen can’t leave us in here to burn because the officials will find our bodies and a lot of questions will be asked. Don’t you see? They have to let us go for their own survival. And while they’re opening the door for us, we have a chance of getting away. Six on three, it’s not bad odds.”

It’s not great odds, either, but there isn’t much we can do about that.

His mouth curls into a grin. “God, I love how you think, Piper.”

“Are you kiddin’ me?” Theo yells. “I know you back her on everything, but this is ridiculous!”

Evan’s head snaps to Theo. “We can’t break out. There are too many doors and they’re always locked. What else would you suggest? She’s right, Theo. This is the only way. They can’t let us burn in here; they have to let us out. It’s our best chance.”

Silence cloaks the room like a blanket.

I chew on my lip while they all consider our chances. This is the best way.

It’s the only way.

What else can we do that would force them to let us all out at the same time?