Chapter 2

The entire room went dead silent.

Charlotte and Brandon’s hands froze mid-air.

A coworker whispered in the back, "What did Chloe just say?"

No one answered.

Charlotte was the first to break the awkward silence, forcing a laugh to smooth things over.

"She’s just startled. It’s fine, guys, don't take her seriously."

She turned to me, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.

"Chloe, your hands are shaking so bad. Brandon, babe, rub her back. Comfort her a little."

I didn't look at her. I only stared at Brandon’s hand.

That hand had just been squeezing my wrist, his thumb pressing against the inside of my pulse point.

That was our secret signal, one we had used for five years.

It meant, “Don't worry, I'm here.” But the very next second, he had let go.

All because Charlotte had looked over.

I turned on my heel and headed for the exit. "I'm leaving."

No one ran after me.

I stood in the dim corridor outside the escape room for a long time. It wasn't until the game officially ended that the heavy doors finally pushed open again.

Charlotte was clinging to Brandon’s arm, laughing and joking with the rest of the team.

She spotted me immediately, her grin widening. "Look at her, Brandon. She touches one little dirty thing and goes completely mute. She actually walked out by herself."

The smile on Brandon’s face faded slightly. He walked over and stood beside me. "Are you mad?"

"No."

"Then let’s go. I’ll drive you guys home."

When we reached his car, Charlotte naturally opened the passenger door and slid right in. She did it so casually, as if that seat belonged to her.

I pulled open the back door, just like I always did.

As Brandon started the engine, Charlotte began babbling about how fun the escape room was and who screamed the loudest.

Halfway through, she suddenly spun around in her seat and reached back, trying to pat my knee.

"Chloe, you were so brave today!"

"If we practice a few more times, you’ll definitely be able to live like a normal person."

She leaned further back, her hand moving toward my leg.

I slammed myself against the car door, flinching violently away from her touch.

Charlotte’s hand swiped empty air. She pouted, looking incredibly hurt.

She pulled her hand back, her smile tightening. "I was just trying to compliment you."

Brandon glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "Chloe, she’s trying to be nice."

Charlotte turned back around, but a few minutes later, she spoke up again.

"Chloe, are you feeling better? Back in the room, did you get that urge to wash your hands again?"

"No."

"Liar. You always do that when you touch something gross."

She let out a soft giggle. "But you really did improve today. Remember in middle school? You used to pass out if you saw a bug."

I stared at the textured pattern on the back of the driver's seat.

She remembered that I used to faint.

That was exactly why she had pushed that roach box in my face today.

When the car pulled up to my apartment building, I opened the door and got out immediately.

Brandon rolled down his window. "I’ll pick you up for work tomorrow morning."

"Don't bother."

"Chloe." His voice carried a heavy sigh of exasperation.

"Stop acting like a child. I'm going to drop Charlotte off now. Wait for me to get back."

I stood on the sidewalk, looking at him.

He was wearing the navy-blue jacket I bought him last year. One of the cuff buttons had come loose last week, and Charlotte had been the one to sew it back on.

"Okay," I said quietly. I turned and walked into my building without looking back.

The second I stepped inside my apartment, I ripped off my jacket, threw it straight into the laundry basket, and ran to the bathroom.

I turned the faucet on high, letting the freezing water rush over my hands.

I pumped a massive glob of soap and began scrubbing. Over and over.

Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. Forty minutes.

I didn't stop until the skin on the back of my hands was raw, bright red, and bleeding from the microscopic cracks.

As I finally turned off the water, my phone buzzed.

It was a notification from Snapchat. Charlotte’s story.

I tapped it. It was a group photo from the escape room. Everyone was smiling, except me—because I wasn't in it.

The caption read: "Such an adrenaline rush today! Best squad ever (minus one)!"

Someone in the comments asked: "Where’s Chloe?"

Charlotte replied with a laughing emoji covering its mouth.

I scrolled down. Brandon had liked the post.