Epic Escape by Emily Evans Page A

stack of papers landed on Megan’s desk. “We’ll need you to stay late.” With that, the manager left.
    Megan hopped on her counter and propped her legs against the armrest on her chair. The high-heeled pumps got kicked off first. She reached under the edge of her skirt and yanked her stockings down below her knees.
    Chase entered her cubicle. “That door’s jammed.”
    Megan didn’t look up from her stockings. “Off,” she said. She frantically rolled one stocking down her leg.
    Chase raised his eyebrows, but he went over and put his hands over her other calf and rolled the second stocking down. Megan wanted rub his fingers on her first calf too, to wipe away the feel of Mr. Steve. Chase’s hands were warm not intrusive and damp. She grabbed his waist. Chase took a step closer.
    The woman in the tight dress walked by, sneered, and shook her head without saying anything. Megan hopped off the desk. “Thanks Chase. I’ll meet you at the door. I just have to do one thing.” Megan lifted the large stack of papers and stalked down the hall.
    The woman in the tight dress kept pace with her. “My, you’re like watching the all access channel.” She followed her all the way into the manager’s door.
    Megan stepped inside without knocking, and threw the stack at the manager. Papers fluttered haphazardly to the floor, flying out of order, littering the space in squares of white.
    “I’m not your bitch!”

Chapter 32

FILLMORE’S CALL
     
    T he gummy bears stuck to the theater screen by the delinquent spittle coating their backs. He’d told the manager they shouldn’t sell gummy candy. Kids couldn’t be trusted with snacks of any kind, much less sticky candy that had the ability to tear and destroy the surface of a screen. The surface where light, action and magic filled the room.
    The usher edged an orange one off with his fingernail, and the little bear bounced to the ground creating a new spot to clean. He checked his walkie-talkie, and patted his utility belt. The cell phone vibrated under his hand. The usher’s breathing raced and he climbed down from the ladder and scurried to the corner before taking the call.
    “Get Chase out,” the feminine voice said through the speaker.
    “He hasn’t learned anything.” His anxiety spiked. Chase was only one kid. She hadn’t seen what the hordes had done to the theater. “There’s popcorn everywhere. I haven’t gotten to the balcony. And the candy…”
    “I didn’t realize some of the money was his. I need it. Get him out, now.”
    “Money? But the lesson. They were bad, no one understands how bad.”
    “I don’t care about the others. Leave them, but Get Chase Out.”
    The usher gritted his teeth and nodded. “Okay.” He clicked the phone off and examined the empty theatre. The screen, the balcony, the carpets, all the surfaces needed to be sanitized.

Chapter 33

OFFICE ESCAPE
     
    W e will get free. We will leave. Megan stalked to the exit, determination fueling every step. Chase, Veronica, and Riley met her in the hall. Veronica raised her eyebrows.
    “I don’t want to talk about it.” Megan shoved at the silver door lever. It didn’t budge. She put her shoulder to the door, pressing so hard she knew there would be a bruise. “Over here. Now,” she ordered the others. They added their weight. Whoosh.
    Megan blinked when the daylight hit her eyes, the brightness of the sun shocking after time spent in the florescent oppression of the office. Sunlight glinted off the towering glass buildings up and down the street, but the sunlight wasn’t any brighter than their reflections. The guys wore black, but she and Veronica wore futuristic lamé Capri pants with neon-edged halter tops. The fashion pollution was almost as nauseating as the acrid car exhaust on offer.
    Veronica said, “Weird. We only had to get up and walk out together to leave that office.”
    Megan shook her head, stomach churning at the memory. “I don’t know why I thought I