by Tina Chan
The trapdoor swung open and a body fell through the entryway. Troop jumped to his feet.
“Kristi?”
His heart sank immediately when he saw that the person was a guy.
The guy stood up and shook Troop’s hand. “I’m Pier. Nick sent me to let you know it’s safe to go back to their apartment. The door-to-door search has been called off for the day.” Pier ceased his talking for a moment to look about him. “I thought there were four of you.”
“There are,” Chelsa said.
“Then who’s missing?”
“Kristi,” Troop answered. “You haven’t seen her by any chance, have you? The last time I saw her was…about four hours ago.”
Pier shook his head. “Come on, we better leave before curfew’s in place.”
“But what if Kristi comes back here and doesn’t know where we are?” He faced Chelsa and Finn. “You guys go ahead with Pier. I’ll wait here for a bit and see if Kristi comes back.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Pier said.
Chelsa flashed Troop an understanding countenance. “You stay here if you really want to. Don’t get caught on your way back to the Filches’.”
Pier didn’t protest against Chelsa. “See you in a while,” he said to Troop. “I’ll leave you a change of clothes behind the koi-pond plaque. You’ll attract too much attention if you walk around the city in soaked clothes.”
With that, Pier pushed open the trapdoor and allowed Chelsa and Finn to exit the hideout before him.
You can’t stay here forever, Troop’s conscience nagged him. It’s almost midnight. It’s time to face the truth: Kristi got caught. He clenched his fist and cracked his stiff neck. It was time to leave.
He repacked his belongings into his backpack and zipped it shut. Then he shoved the trapdoor upwards and jumped, breaking through the thin gel membrane acting as a barrier between the water and underground shelter. The sudden change of pressure shocked Troop for a second, and then he swam towards the surface.
The full moon radiated a strong glow, making the droplets of water suspended midair fracture the rays of moonlight shining through. Using strong strokes, Troop made his way to the pond’s perimeter and located the spare clothes. He exchanged his sopping t-shirt for a dry one and left the Meditation Garden.
chapter fifty-two
[ Kristi ]
