"Let's get out of here."
Ariana pulled him to his feet, and he leaned against her. They struggled around the side of Ketlar toward
Drake. It was extremely slow going with the snow as deep as it was, and his weight seemed to grow heavier
as they neared the dorm. Ariana's muscles burned with
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every step, and her mind raced with thoughts of Daniel. She hadn't wanted to believe that he could hurt her
like this, hadn't wanted to think that he could.... She shook her head, trying to clear her.
Drake rose up in front of them, looking just as cold and dead as Ketlar had. Even though they wouldn't have
electricity, at least they'd have heat. She stopped when they rounded the side of the building, leaning against
Drake's frozen exterior. She wasn't sure she had the will to walk another step. She reminded herself that the
dorm was heated. Almost there. She gritted her teeth and took another step.
"Basement windows are always unlocked," Thomas mumbled. "I've gotten in this way a few times. Never
fails." Ariana braced herself against Thomas's deadweight. He had definitely taken too much Vicodin. It
wouldn't be long before he was unconscious.
"Just stay with me a little longer," she demanded.
Four large windows, evenly spaced along the back edge of Drake, looked over the dorm basement. She made
it to the first window, collapsing against it.
"Think you can hold yourself up while I open the window?"
She lifted Thomas's face to hers. His eyes were half-closed, and a smile played across his lips.
"Thomas," she said sternly.
"Yeah..." He nodded.
"Good."
She crouched down in front of the window, pressing her palms against the glass.
"It's warm," she announced, wiping the pane with her sleeve and
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peering inside. The basement was cluttered with large cardboard boxes stacked to the ceiling and buckets full
of cleaning and yard sup -plies. A large furnace was situated on the other side of the basement, next to the
long flight of stairs that led to Drake's first floor.
She gripped the window and tugged it upward. It gave instantly, and a blast of warm air escaped from inside.
Surprised, she fell back and landed on her butt.