another word, she slipped through the door into the room, silently pulling the door closed behind her.

 

Tess ducked down behind a lab table as she pulled the door closed behind her. The air in the room was warm and stifling, and it smelled terrible.

She reached up and patted the heavy table as she searched for the metal spigot that paired with the Bunsen burners. Eventually, her hand brushed metal and she moved it.

There was no hiss as she turned the nob, and there wouldn’t be until she turned the safety valve at the teacher’s desk off. The metal knob creaked abruptly. Her heart nearly stopped.

Her hand shot down to her side. The munching sound from across the room stopped, and Tess prepared herself to run, but it started again seconds later.

She scooted...

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