Excerpt of The Sixteen by Ali B.

I heard their thundering feet long before they reached my
room. Someone blew a whistle. The sound stabbed my ears,
and I had to force myself to keep still. My eyes were shut
tight. I tried to relax them. I tried to relax all of me,
but I couldn’t. I started to get a leg cramp. Lewis didn’t
say a word, but I could feel him near me like a vibration.
I swear I could hear him breathe. I rolled onto my stomach,
hoping I’d have better luck holding still if I lay flat.
And then they were there. The guards crashed into my room.

I wanted to run!

“She was trying to escape.” It was Lewis. “I heard a noise
and came to check on her and found her trying to break the
lock on the window.” I could feel them staring at me. Every
muscle in my body was screaming to move, but I fought to
keep each and every one absolutely still.