I hate to agree with the man’s comment. The only thing my father ever knew how to do right was run away. And manage bees.
I manage to gain some composure and open my eyes.
And see even more blood.
This entire room will be filled to the ceiling with blood by the time this guy’s finished. And I certainly don’t wanna be around for that.
I need to get out of here.
I shut my eyes and pretend I’m elsewhere. The first thing that comes to mind is the forest, though I’m not wandering through it alone.
Caleb’s hand presses firmly into the small of my back, saving me from a tree root.
Our eyes linger.
Little do we know how much of an effect we’re soon going to have on each other.
I smell the sap, the cologne on his skin, and open my eyes after sucking in the biggest breath.
I tear open the door and let the adrenaline carry me out of the motel. My legs wheel under me, kicking my butt as I run faster than I ever have in my life.
“Hey!” I hear the stalker growling.
Oh no.
Please don’t fucking tell me I just heard the creaking sound of that door opening back up.
I make it to the old reception area and barrel out of the front doors. I’m more breathless than an optimistic marathon runner, but I’m out and that’s all that matters.
I exit the parking lot, expecting to run close to a marathon back into Maple Crossing. I’m dehydrated and terrified, and don’t know which one of those two things is worse. One half of my brain wants me to stop before I sweat out what little water I have left inside of me. The other side of my brain wants me to run for the fucking hills until I’m back at Caleb’s with my family.
Scrap wanting to explore the world.
I’ve seen enough of it today.
The distant sound of an engine has me running even faster, since it seems to be coming from the direction of the motel.
I need a car to pass so I can hitchhike, but the only vehicle around is the one chugging behind me. I run as fast as my legs will take me, still using that adrenaline to keep me moving. But the stalker sure loves to speed.
He soon catches up, cutting me right off. The car skids across the road. I’m screwed.
Sonny. Caleb. Ellie. My unborn child.
I don’t need to see the world.
All of themarethe world.
“At least we can rest knowing that your father won’t be going very far,” cackles the man. He clambers out of the driver’s side, his hand wrapping around my wrist like before. “Whatpossessed you to run away? I thought you’d have liked to stay and watch the rest of the show.”
My tongue twists into knots, my brain totally scrambled. What am I supposed to say here, when he has a gun in one hand and me in the other?
“You might be keeping that mouth shut for now, but we both know that you’re fond of opening it.” The man narrows his one working eye down at me. “You can be a bit of a chatterbox at the coffee shop, can’t you? And that boyfriend of yours—you look like you don’t keep many secrets from each other.”
Clearly, he’s not paying close enough attention.
His grip tightens, and I’m thrown forward into his chest. We’re on the roadside, out in the open. In broad daylight. And he has a gun. That he’s about to use on me.
“I take it you no longer want to sell me?” The adrenaline has me acting all kinds of crazy. I don’t know why I just said that.
