Dizzie couldn’t see Portia’s face, but she was sure she was staring at the man on the floor. “Fine,” Portia finally said.
“Good.”
It was too late, though. From the corner of her eye, Dizzie saw Leopold twitch again. She had to move faster, but it wasn’t easy. She took another step and met resistance.
“This would be a whole lot easier if you helped,” she muttered.
“I’ll help, little girl.” Leopold rolled over and grabbed Portia’s foot.
Portia screamed again and shook her leg to dislodge him. “Get him off! Get him off!”
Dizzie kept pulling and they moved, but not very much.
Portia yelled again. “You have the gun, don’t you? Shoot him!”
Yeah, that was easier said than done. If Dizzie pulled out the gun, she’d have to let go of Portia. Nothing would stop Leopold from getting her then.
Dizzie couldn’t believe that help hadn’t come yet. Leopold must have been telling the truth about the cameras being turned off.
She’d process her feelings about her sister’s apparent plan to kill her later. For now, she had to get them both out of this alive.
“Hit him with the shoe,” Dizzie instructed. Her abandoned shoes were within reach.
“That’s stupid!” Portia yelled. Still, she grabbed one and swiped at Leopold.
It didn’t do much but it looked like she still got a few good hits in. And it bought Dizzie some time.
She dug her bare heels into the floor and bent her knees. Then she straightened her legs and pushed off with all the strength she had left.
Dizzie landed on her butt right outside the door and she gasped to catch her breath. The effort had been enough to tug Portia’s leg free. If it were only Dizzie, she’d be free and clear. But Portia was still mostly in the cell.
Shit.
“Keep kicking,” she said, gasping.
“Get me out of here,” Portia demanded as she kicked.
With slashed tendons, Leopold wasn’t able to get up. He inched across the floor on his hands and knees, his mouth a rictus of pain.
Despite that, Leopold was gaining on them. He grabbed Portia’s foot again.
Portia had landed in the vee of Dizzie’s legs. Dizzie wrapped her arms around Portia’s waist then braced her feet on the edges of the cell door and shoved off again. She didn’t get nearly the distance as before, but it was almost enough.
The same trick wouldn’t work a second time. Dizzie tightened her arms around Portia’s middle and threw their bodies sideways.
Fire burned up her side, so intense she wanted to pass out. But they weren’t home free yet.
As soon as they were fully clear of the door, she released Portia and scrambled back toward the cell.
Leopold had steadily gained ground, leaving a trail of blood behind him. He cursed continuously as he crawled across the floor.
Dizzie reached the door before Leopold could and slammed it shut. She knew from experience that he wouldn’t be able to open it from the inside.
Breathing heavily, she dropped to the ground and let the last few minutes sink in. “We did it, Portia.”
No response.
“Portia?”
