Chapter 215

Stella was running like crazy, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. The sound of boots thudding and angry yelling behind her kept her adrenaline high. Turning a sharp corner, she slammed to a stop. Two armed guards were standing at the end of the hallway, alert and searching. "Crap!" she hissed and ducked into a small utility closet nearby. The tight space reeked of bleach and ammonia, stinging her eyes and nose. She clamped a hand over her mouth, straining to hear the voices just outside. "He went east!" "Miss Grace said if we screw this up, we're dead meat!" The footsteps faded. Shaking, Stella reached for the emergency beacon Charles had given her. Just as her fingers brushed the cool metal, the door burst open. A flashlight beamed straight into her face. "She's here!" someone growled. Thinking fast, Stella grabbed a bottle of disinfectant and hurled it at the guard's face. While he screamed in pain, she bolted. The sound of shattering glass exploded