He wraps his arm around my head, and when his hand clamps over my mouth I bite as hard as possible. Tasting blood only fuels me harder to keep going, and I kick back as hard I can.
If nothing else, at least I gave my best this time. I didn’t fawn or freeze. For the first time I’m fighting for the peace we deserve.
He squeals and pushes me away before running out the door. He’s left it open, and while my body throbs to stop I run as fast as I can until I reach a dusty hallway.
“Clara,” Bailey whispers.
Staring around the dirty space, I inch closer to a small light. Glancing around to check my surroundings, I find a flashlight and some supplies in an alcove.
Grabbing the metal cylinder, I continue walking through the space. It’s only one level, and when I find the door to freedom, tears spring in my eyes.
Red taillights speed down what looks like a very long path, and as weak as my knees feel, I exhale the fear I was holding and struggle back through the hall.
“Bailey, it’s time to go.”
“I can’t get up.” Tears stream on her swollen face, and as my head swims, my flesh tightens and throbs.
“I’ll figure something out.” Staring at her, I step closer and kiss her forehead. Leaving her isn’t what I want to do, and I’d never forgive myself if he came back.
Using the flashlight, I sweep the space, looking for something to use. Finding pieces of wood and a few bags of old twine, I bring them back to her.
“Listen, we’re fucking leaving. You’re gonna have to fight against the pain like you’ve never done before, baby, but we’re going. Let’s see what I can do.”
Using the twine is basically pointless as it breaks from age. I use one of the boards to keep her leg straight and throw the rest of the stuff to the side. Heading back out to the supplies, I find a broom and snap the handle over a metal table edge.
“Lean on me. Use this like a cane. We’re going now.”
We hobble out of the barn together. The flashlight dims and comes back on, so I turn it off as we stumble through the forest.
Roots and debris trip me, but we work together to slowly walk. A sharp pain radiates through my stomach, and my face throbs with its own heartbeat.
“Clara, leave me.”
“Never. I’ll die before that will ever happen. You’ve got this. Think about the couple that comes into the diner. They’ve faced shit, right? And they get their happy ever after.”
“I’ll never get mine.” Her voice trembles, and I’m confused.
We continue shuffling along the old path, because I refuse to use the one I saw the car on. The moon is almost full and helps a little, but the canopy of leaves covers us, and I curse inside.
Reaching a small clearing, I glance over my shoulder and cannot see the house anymore, providing me with a small amount of relief.
Resting against the trees, I look over the area with the bit of light we have left but cannot find anything worth our time.
As headlights speed by, I lower quickly and realize we must be near a road. Hope fills me, but the world spins and I focus only on Bailey as I turn to look at her.
“Bailey, keep talking.”
She cries, and it's at least distracting. I head toward her voice, but the world becomes scrambled again as it dances around my vision.
“It was George.” Her words tilt the sky, and everything goes black.
Fifteen
Burke
It’s been a week since finding Bailey and Clara at the forest where her watch was. Curt and I checked the area every day and set up cameras.
The night I drove there, and both were lying in the dirt, was one of the scariest times I’ve had, other than the last two weeks she was missing.
