“Don’t go into that room, Ella!” someone called from the end of the hallway.
Ella stopped instinctively, her hands still gripping the handle of a cardboard box filled with Charles’s gear.
She turned around, but the corridor in the event building was empty. There wasn’t a single person in sight. Ella glanced around, searching for whoever had warned her, but no one was there.
The ceiling lights shone brightly, but parts of the hallway were dim because stage decorations blocked some of the light.
“Who is it?”
There was no answer. Ella frowned, but she didn’t have time to think about it because her phone vibrated. Charles’s message was still open on the screen.
Charles: Please bring my gear bag to the storage room backstage. I left a few things behind. I’ll pick them up after the event.
Ella read the message again. She hadn’t wanted to come in the first place. After their argument, all Ella wanted was to sleep and forget that miserable night.
But about thirty minutes earlier, Charles had called. “I really need it, Ella.” His voice had sounded rushed.
“I’m at home,” Ella had replied.
“I know. But you’re the closest to the event building. Please bring it to me.”
Ella had fallen silent for a moment. Then, as usual, she had given in. Now she stood in the building where Charles had been assigned to oversee the safety systems during a charity event.
But Charles wasn’t there. Ella stared at her phone screen and typed a message to him.
Ella: I’m here. Which storage room is it?
The message was sent. Yet, as usual, Charles didn’t read it at all. Ella sighed.
“Great.”
Even so, Ella continued down the hallway while the box in her hands grew heavier.
In the distance, music from the main room drifted faintly through the air. Several event staff members passed by carrying equipment.
Ella finally found the door matching Charles’s directions.
STORAGE ROOM — STAFF ACCESS ONLY
She pressed down on the door handle and ... it opened. Without waiting any longer, Ella stepped inside. The room was fairly spacious, filled with folding tables, chairs, boxes of decorations, and various event supplies.
Ella set Charles’s things on a table. “Done.”
She pulled out her phone. She was about to send a photo as proof that she had put the items there. But before she could open the camera—
Bang!
The door behind her slammed shut, making Ella jump. She quickly spun around. “Charles?”
There was no answer. Curious, Ella approached the door and tried pressing down on the handle, but it wouldn’t move.
Ella furrowed her brow in confusion. “Wait, what’s wrong with this door?”
She tried again, harder this time, but it still wouldn’t open. “Excuse me!” She knocked on the door. “Is anyone out there?”
Silence.
Ella checked the door handle once more. It was locked from the outside, and her heart began beating faster. “Locked? That’s impossible.”
She took out her phone, but there was no signal. Ella walked to the corner of the room and raised her phone. One bar appeared, then disappeared.
“Seriously, there’s no signal in here?”
Ella tried calling Charles. But the call wouldn’t go through. She tried Leah, with the same result—the call wouldn’t connect.
She returned to the door. “Heeelp!”
There was no answer. Ella began pounding on the door with her palm. “Excuse me! This door is locked!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The pounding echoed, but still no one came to help her. Then—
Ella smelled something. She stopped and sniffed the air. Her brow furrowed; the scent was faint. But the longer she stood there, the clearer it became.
The pungent smell stung her nose and made her throat feel dry. It was gasoline. Ella slowly turned, her eyes sweeping across the room.
“No ...”
She took a step backward. Near the shelves in the back, the floor appeared wet. A clear liquid gleamed beneath the light.
The smell of gasoline grew stronger. Ella’s breath caught, and she immediately ran to the window. But ... it was closed. Ella pulled at the latch, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Open!”
Ella pulled harder, but the window remained locked. Panic began spreading through her body. She rushed back to the door and pounded on it with all her strength.
“Help!”
There was no answer.
“IS ANYONE OUT THERE?”
Her voice cracked. Ella grabbed her phone again and tried to call Charles. The first time, it failed. The second time, it still failed. Even on the third attempt, the call wouldn’t connect.
“Pick up, Charles ...”