29. Hannah

TWENTY-NINE

HANNAH

I shut the book and shove it into my backpack. "Come on."

Maddox stands at the same time I do, taking the bag from my hands before I can put it on. He slings it over his shoulder and follows me out into the main part of the library.

All the overhead lights are off, and it's dark, but the moon outside sends just enough light through the windows to illuminate our way.

The library is always quiet, but this is different. And when the study room door slams behind us, it makes me jump.

Maddox drapes his arm around my shoulders as he moves to walk next to me. "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the ghost."

I'm pretty sure he's teasing me. But…

I glance up at him. "There's not really a ghost, is there?"

Maddox pulls me into his side. "I'm just kidding. It's in one of the science buildings."

"Not funny." I try to keep the smile out of my voice.

Since the lights are always on during business hours, I haven't paid attention to any light switches. So I'm not going to bother looking for them now.

Together, we make our way to the stairs.

The stairwell is lit with a red Exit sign, so we can see the steps as we take them down, but the darkness waiting for us on the first floor tells me all I need to know.

Everyone is gone.

"Huh." Maddox doesn't sound concerned.

He dropped his arm from around my shoulders on the stairs, and I feel his fingers brush mine.

They brush mine a second time, and I know it's not an accident.

Turning my wrist, I let our palms meet, and Maddox wraps his fingers around mine.

Our steps are quiet on the carpet as we cut between the low shelves and seating areas toward the front doors. The entryway is four doors across, all made of glass, with a small vestibule beyond— home to the vending machine— then there's another row of glass doors that leads outside.

Moonlight illuminates the entrance, but the lights there are off too.

A mixture of anxiety and excitement zings through me as we close the distance.

And when Maddox stretches his free hand out, I hold my breath.

His palm connects with the door, and he pushes.

But it doesn't budge.

Because we've been locked in.