Life now included extreme danger. Living on the edge. Not knowing one minute to the next if she’d end up with a bullet in her brain because of her vocal protests against the government, who—in an effort to quickly repopulate the country—had with the stroke of a pen removed all women’s rights, forcing them to be nothing more than men’s sexual possessions and baby-making machines.
She sighed again as more snowflakes drifted out of the sky and clung to her eyelashes. This would be the first snowfall of the season. In the past, before the Terrorist Wars, she’d loved the crisp cold air slapping against her face. Had enjoyed the fresh, virgin-white snow blanketing the ground and draping the trees. The snow always turned this area into a sparkling winter fairyland.
Not anymore. These days the presence of snow on the ground meant extreme danger. She, as well as all the women in hiding, could be easily tracked in the snow.
Besides, she’d been surrounded by so much activity over the last few years a constant state of adrenaline had her in automatic survival mode. That’s why she’d let herself get talked into coming here. To help herself unwind. Unfortunately her hiatus wasn’t working. Every noise alerted her to possible danger and, as she stood on the embankment overlooking the meandering creek that led back to the cabin, the silence almost overwhelmed her. It was so quiet the snowflakes splattered against the frozen ground. But something that didn’t belong in these woods whispered along the soft, flowing wind.
She tensed as a warning seared through her like an explosion. Was that a footfall from somewhere nearby?
The hushed crunch came again.
Yes, footsteps. Light. Fast. One person.
Shit! Someone is following me!
She ran even before she could inhale her next breath. Zig-zagging around trees and boulders, her feet hit the ground with assurance and confidence. She’d been in situations like this before and had always escaped capture, except for the one time she purposely got caught for the pleasure house.
Involuntary shivers of angst zipped through her and, in an instant, she tamped down the anxiety, refocusing on running, praying and escaping.
Despite someone keeping pace with her, she concentrated on keeping her breathing even. Soon an odd, familiar calm melted over her. Quickening her pace, she smiled as the person chasing her cursed.
Figures. A man. Just as I suspected.
She picked up more speed. He cursed again. The son of a bitch was still keeping pace. Usually she had no problem outrunning someone. That’s why she made a point to jog several miles every morning, to keep herself in shape just so she could elude potential captors. Perhaps this guy did the same thing?
Oh great.
He breathed loudly as he gained ground. Panic split into her like a sharp axe.
Dammit! Who was this guy?
Soon her lungs began to hurt as the icy-cold wind seeped deep inside her.
She should have been paying more attention to her surroundings. She should have known someone could be following her. Instead she’d been enjoying herself in the wilderness and now she’d pay for it.
No! She wouldn’t pay! He would have to catch her first!
She breathed deeper and pumped her legs harder until pain sawed through her thighs and the frosty air burned her face. Still he drew closer.
Fuck!Who the hell is this guy? She wanted to look over her shoulder and see who had the same stamina, but her curiosity would waste precious seconds.
She cut sharply to the right, heading for what appeared to be a meadow or hopefully one of the many lakes in the area. If she could just get a clear run on an ice-covered lake, she would drop her pursuer like a stone. Her hopes soared as she focused on the escape route looming in front of her.
Yes!Past the branches of the trees she could make out a lake. A big one. And it appeared to be frozen solid. Or at least she hoped so.
Twenty feet to go. Ten feet.
She blasted onto the bare black ice, running wide open at a dangerous speed, hoping to heaven she wouldn’t slip and tumble. Ice crackled beneath her feet. Heck, falling would be the least of her problems. Behind her, the man shouted something about her having a death wish. Yet he just kept coming.
Damn him!
The rustle of his clothing and the determined slap of his boots on the ice made her groan in frustration as he continued his pursuit. Snowflakes twirled wildly, screwing with her field of vision, and the cold wind swept against her cheeks like shards of ice. She kept running.
Hell!He had just as much of a death wish as she did, coming after her with all the ice cracking beneath them. A man with a death wish was deadly. It meant he was desperate and had nothing to lose.
The farther she ran, the more the ice shifted beneath her feet. Her gut twisted in anxiety. It was only a matter of time before she fell through.
If this guy was serious about catching her, he wouldn’t give up his pursuit until one of them plunged into the icy water. Maybe that’s what he hoped. It certainly would make his job easier than chasing her around. But damned if she would make his job easy.
