The Inn Between by Marina Cohen

Author:Marina Cohen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626722033
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

15

“EMMA,” WHISPERED QUINN, HER EYES FRANTIC AND WIDE.

“What?” Kara sighed. “Not again.”

“Listen! Can’t you hear her? She’s here. She needs my help.”

Quinn was about to dash in the direction of the sound when Kara grabbed hold of her arms and held tight.

“We need to focus on finding Josh and my parents. Emma’s not here. Your mind is playing tricks.”

“Emma is here. Why can’t you believe me?”

Kara’s eyes were fixed on Quinn. She had a strange, almost frightened look. “Emma is gone, Quinn.”

The sobbing grew louder. It rippled through the hall. Then silence. Then it began again. It sounded just like Emma.

Quinn struggled to break free from Kara’s grasp. “I saw her. In the window. She’s here. I swear!”

“Think about what you’re saying,” said Kara. “It makes no sense.”

“Nothing makes sense!” shouted Quinn, pulling herself free. “How can someone be there one moment and then gone the next? What sense does that make?”

Hot tears welled in Quinn’s eyes. Tears of anger and frustration. She swiped at them. “Listen, Kara. Someone took Emma. What if they brought her here? What if they’re holding her captive? I need to find her. Before it’s too late.”

“You have to stop this, Quinn. You have to stop thinking you see Emma everywhere. Hear her everywhere. Smell her everywhere.”

“If it were Josh, wouldn’t you want to know? What if he’s the one crying? Don’t you want to be sure?”

Quinn had hit a nerve. Something in Kara shifted.

“Okay,” said Kara softly. “Let’s make sure.”

Quinn wiped her face with her arm and hugged Kara. Together they raced down the winding hallway, following all the twists and turns. They came across several intersections and each time paused to listen. Between the two of them, they figured out which direction the sound was coming from.

Finally, they ended up at the far end of a hall, in front of a room. The number was 0707. The number made no sense unless Quinn’s theory was right. Whoever was in the room had arrived a day before them.

The door was shut, but beyond it the crying was clear. It was definitely a kid. Quinn pounded on the door. “Emma? Emma—is that you? Open up!”

The crying stopped. It didn’t start up again.

“Are you sure this is the right room?” Kara said, staring down the long line of dark doors.

“Positive,” said Quinn. She knocked again loudly. “Emma, open the door.”

No response.

“Josh, is that you?” tried Kara. “Open up right now.”

Silence.

Quinn took a deep breath. “Emma. Please. We’ll stay here until you open the door. Or … or we’ll call the front desk. We’ll get a maid to open it for us. We’ll bring the whole staff here if we have to.”

Quinn heard a faint shuffling from the other side of the door, a rattle of a chain as it dropped into place, a click and a turn, and the door opened a crack, not enough to pull the chain tight. A pale blue eye stared out, looking her up and down.

Quinn’s heart plummeted into her boots. It wasn’t Emma.

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