Teddy stopped about six feet away, picked up the phone I had dropped when I ran out of the elevator, and switched it to speaker.

Chad's grating voice cracked through the line. "Why the hell did you call Mom and Dad, J? What the hell? Can't you help me out for once? God, you're already in your 20s. Stop acting like some snitching kid."

If he had been standing in front of me, I would have ripped those words straight out of his mouth. How could he say any of that after siccing me on a murderer who was coming for him?

The comments began to roll in.

[He's doing this on purpose!]

[He called J so the killer would find J and go after him instead!]

[What the hell is wrong with this psycho?!]

I forced myself to calm down. I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep even the smallest sound from escaping.

Teddy toyed with his knife in silence while Chad continued, "By the way, remember the basement parking lot? You can escape from there. I bet Teddy doesn't even know that."

The comment section exploded.

[What the hell is wrong with this punk-ass bitch?!]

[I can't believe this idiot just tipped off the killer!]

[I remember the last time J died. This same jackass got away with it and was never punished!]

Teddy burst out laughing. "Oh dear. Do you think Teddy might still be in the dark about that?"

Silence followed. Then Chad screamed, "Go take your rage out on Jason! Don't take it out on me! I know I wronged you, but I don't deserve to die for it!"

The call was cut off.

Teddy slipped the phone into his pocket, walked to the master circuit board, and opened the panel.

Every electrical appliance in the building fell silent. Darkness swallowed the world around me. Only the sickly green EXIT sign continued to glow.

I shuddered. The elevator was dead. I had no way out.

Black spots crowded my vision, but I dug my nails into my arm to keep from fainting. If I made even the slightest sound…

Moonlight filtered through the glass panel of the apartment's front door. It outlined the killer's towering, hulking figure as he stepped closer.

"Hello, hello." His voice rasped low and dangerous. "I bet you're right… here."