THE GIRL WHO LEFT NO SHADOW

THE MESSAGE

Chapter Eleven —

Noah rushed to the door.

Locked.

He tried the keypad.

Nothing.

Emily searched the room.

"There's got to be another exit."

"Emily."

"What?"

Noah pointed toward one of the monitors.

It had turned back on.

A video was playing.

Daniel Carter appeared on the screen.

He looked younger.

Healthy.

Alive.

Emily stepped closer.

Her father looked directly into the camera.

"If you're watching this, Emily, then I'm already dead."

Emily's eyes filled with tears.

Daniel continued.

"But if you're watching this and you're eighteen years old, then there's something I need you to understand."

He paused.

"Your mother lied to you because I asked her to."

Emily stared.

"I knew someone would come for you."

Daniel leaned closer to the camera.

"And the person you're standing beside..."

Noah looked at Emily.

Her father continued:

"...is the reason they will find you."

The video stopped.

Emily slowly turned toward Noah.

"What does that mean?"

Noah didn't answer.

The screen turned on again.

A final message appeared.

DON'T TRUST NOAH BENNETT.

Emily stepped away from him.

Noah looked devastated.

"Emily..."

"Don't."

"I can explain."

"Then explain."

He opened his mouth.

Before he could speak, the room's lights turned red.

A loud alarm began.

Then a countdown appeared on the largest monitor.

00:09:59

Emily stared.

"What happens when it reaches zero?"

Noah looked at the screen.

His face had lost all color.

"It opens the second door."

"What second door?"

He looked at her.

"The one your father warned me never to open."

The countdown continued.

00:09:41

Emily looked toward the opposite wall.

A seam appeared in the concrete.

A hidden door began unlocking.

From behind it came a sound.

Three slow knocks.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Emily's phone vibrated.

One new message.

From the unknown number.

She opened it.

There were only six words:

I'M INSIDE THE ROOM WITH YOU.

Emily slowly looked around.

No one else was there.

Or so she thought.

Then Noah whispered:

"Emily..."

She turned.

He was staring at the ceiling.

A small ventilation grate was hanging open.

Something moved inside it.

Then a photograph fell from the opening.

Emily picked it up.

Her hands began trembling.

It was a picture of her.

Standing beside Noah.

But the photograph was dated tomorrow.

On the back, someone had written:

ONE OF YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE.

The hidden door finally opened.

And a woman's voice came from the darkness.

"Emily..."

She recognized it instantly.

It was Madison.

Her sister.

"Please," the voice whispered.

"Don't let Dad find me."

The lights went out.

And somewhere in the darkness, someone began laughing.