In a Split Second by Sophie McKenzie

Author:Sophie McKenzie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

CHARLIE

Where was Nat? I’d seen him leaving the room about ten minutes ago and assumed he was just going to the bathroom, but he still wasn’t back.

George was chatting away at me and Parveen, but I was barely listening anymore. My eyes were on the door, waiting for Nat to return.

But he didn’t come.

Another minute passed and I turned to George. “Where d’you think Nat’s gone?”

George shrugged. He was in the middle of some story about getting kicked out of his school, but I was too worried about Nat to listen. I went over to the door and pulled at the handle. It didn’t open. We were locked in.

“Guys, look!” I rattled the doorknob, then put my ear to the door. I could hear muffled voices, but not who was speaking or what they were saying.

“Hey!” I banged on the door. “Let us out!”

Parveen and George rushed over. They started hammering against the door too. We yelled our heads off for about ten seconds, then we heard Taylor’s voice outside.

“It’s just security,” he said. “For your own safety. It won’t last long.”

“Where’s Nat, sir?” I asked.

“He’ll be back soon,” Taylor said.

“When can we leave the room, sir?” Parveen added.

But Taylor had already gone.

The three of us went back to the sofa. George tried to resume our conversation, but all I could think about was Nat. Our phones were all still up in the bedroom so I had absolutely no way of contacting him. Another fifteen minutes passed. I banged on the door several times, but no one came. At last Taylor opened up.

“Security lockdown’s over. Go upstairs,” Taylor snapped in a voice that made it clear he didn’t want to have to deal with any more questions.

“Where’s Nat?” I demanded. “If this lockdown or whatever is over, why isn’t he back?”

Taylor glared at me.

“Where’s Nat, sir?”

“Special training,” he said.

I stared into his green eyes. Was that true? Taylor’s expression was unreadable. He led us up the stairs to the second floor. There was still no sign of Nat anywhere. Taylor led us to a different room from the one we’d slept in last night. Four mattresses were laid on the floor, two on either side of the door. “Lights out in ten. Nobody leaves their mattress except to go to the bathroom. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” we chorused.

As soon as Taylor had gone, I peered outside. There were three other rooms off the landing. I crept over and opened the first two doors in turn. The rooms beyond were all empty.

“Get back here,” Parveen hissed from the doorway.

“You gonna make me?” I hissed back.

We glared at each other for a moment, then Parveen shrugged and turned away. I checked the next room. Also empty, though more mattresses and sleeping bag rolls were lined against one wall. I went back into the shared room, where Parveen was scowling at me from her mattress. I could hear George whistling in the bathroom. I told myself Nat was about to walk in, but he didn’t.

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