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“We just need to get somewhere high enough for my phone to work. Everything will be ok,
Riley. We will get Terry back.” Drew assured her, while also hoping for himself that it was
true.
The two hurried back to the school, along the road of gravel and dust. Their race back was
hot and tiring as the tips of rocks and stones tried to pry through their shoe soles with every
step and the burning Australian sun sizzled the sunblock on their necks. They crashed into the
school and ran up the stairs, despite their legs stinging from exhaustion and as they reached
the highest window they could find they came to an abrupt stop.
Drew held up his phone, squinting as the reflection of sunlight struck his eyes. The bars on
his phone remained empty. They weren’t high enough. However, any higher would be up on
the roof, and the only way to the roof was to climb through the window.
Drew and Riley looked each other in silent agreement. It was now or never. If they didn’t get
help soon, they may never see Terry again.
Sticking his legs out of the window, Drew took in a sharp breath, concentrating on keeping
his eyes from the ground below. His knuckles were white as he gripped tight to the top edge
of the window frame as he stretched his other hand up to the edge of the roof. In one daring
leap, he pushed off from the window and dangled dangerously before clambering onto the
fry-pan of a roof.
Riley poked her head out of the window, watching as Drew held his phone high in hope for
just one signal to push his call through. Each second passed like a lifetime. Every moment the
phone rang out was a moment Terry was stuck in the clutches of his kidnappers. With his
phone still unresponsive to any possible service, Drew’s face scrunched up as if he ate a
lemon and he angrily began to strike his phone against his palm in frustration. And then in a
split second of absolute horror, his phone slipped out of his hands.
Drew’s phone crashed to the ground below and shattered upon impact.
“NO!” he yelled. Drew looked down to where the remains of his phone and his hope of
finding Terry lay. What else could he do now? He knew he needed Miss Lotus’ help, but then
again, she couldn’t do anything all by herself.
He needed the rest of the children to help him as well.
As he scanned the area below him, he spotted the gathering of kids waiting excitedly for
Terry. With the utmost care in his step and some help for Riley, he slowly made his way off
the roof.