He wanted to call out to Erica. For a moment, all he could think of was the brave expression she'd worn when she defended him. He couldn't just do nothing!

Finally he got himself to move. With trembling hands, he took out his phone and dialed Gifford's number. He didn't have anyone else from the

Leonard family in his contacts.

Gifford had given Hyatt his number after returning the money for Erica; he'd said Hyatt could call him if he ever needed help.

Hyatt pressed the call button and held the phone up to his ear, his face bloodless.

It started ringing. Afraid of being heard, Hyatt frantically stepped away from the corner.

A stone's throw away, he heard Gifford's voice on the line and came to a stop.

"Hello, Hyatt?"

“Giff... Gifford...“ He was so nervous that he could barely talk.

Gifford was immediately worried. He said, “Hyatt, what's going on? What happened? Calm down. Take your time and tell me!"

"T-they..." Hyatt stammered, trying to form a coherent sentence.

"They cornered Erica. They're right outside the bathroom. Hurry up and get here! Help!"

Gifford frowned, wondering who he was talking about.

"ALL right, where are you? Tell me the address.”

“Alorith, No. Eighteen. . Hyatt choked, then swallowed in an effort to moisten his throat.

"No. Eighteen Primary School, the teaching building

-Ah!" As he said this, he nervously turned around, and screamed hoarsely. He was face to face with a very unfriendly-looking figure.

His voice failing him, Hyatt reflexively put the phone behind his back.

Staring in horror, he recognized the figure as one of the boys he had just seen in the hallway.

“Who are you? Why are you here?" snarled the assailant.

Hyatt simply wheezed in fright, unable to say a word.

But as the boy grabbed him by the neck and dragged him into the hallway, Hyatt managed to pocket his phone without it being noticed.

The hallway was deserted. Dragging Hyatt into the bathroom, the young man threw him roughly to the floor in front of his friends and Erica.

“This guy was snooping around behind the corner," he explained.

"I bet he knows Erica!"