Remembering something Derek and Eric had taught her when they’d play tag as kids, she began weaving back and forth through the trees.
They’d always told her if someone were chasing her, running in a zig-zag pattern made it more difficult for her to be caught.
Caleb had already shot her once. She wasn’t about to make it easy for him to do it again.
She tripped and fell a couple of times, but Charlie forced herself to get right back up. Caleb continued to yell, shooting a few more times.
From the sound of his voice and the gun’s retort, she could tell he was starting to gain on her.
The wound at her side hurt like a bitch, and she was becoming short of breath. As motivated as she was, Charlie knew she couldn’t keep running forever.
She had to think about her options. She could continue to run until she fell from exhaustion. She could hide and pray he didn’t find her. Or she could wait for him and fight back.
He had a gun, which drastically reduced her chances of winning. Still, she’d rather go down fighting than simply give up.
I’ll never give up.Just as the thought hit, so did she.
Charlie tripped over a fallen branch and hit the ground hard. She lay there for a moment, the fire in her back increasing, as well as the pain in her shoulder.
“Charlotte!” Caleb yelled her name again.
Shit!He was close.
Picking herself up, Charlie grabbed the downed limb she’d tripped over and moved behind a group of trees that had grown so closely together. With her good hand, she gripped the limb as if it were her lifeline. Then, she waited.
Twigs snapped beneath Caleb’s feet. Just a little closer and he’d be within swinging range.
Charlie prayed silently as she stood there, holding her breath. A few beats later, she saw the barrel of the gun as Caleb started to walk past.
Using as much strength as she could muster, Charlie stepped out from behind the trees and swung.
The limb came down hard, the gun flying out of Caleb’s hand. Holding his arm, he cried out from the blow as she made a quick move for the gun.
She picked it up but was pushed hard from behind.
The gun went flying as Charlie fell to her knees.
Reaching for it with her good hand, her fingertips had just brushed against the cold metal barrel when the sole of Caleb’s dress shoe slammed into the back of her left knee.
Charlie couldn’t hold back the agonizing scream as she fell flat against the earth. Unendurable pain radiated from the point of impact, spreading up into her hip and down to her toes.
Unable to move away, Caleb grabbed the gun before wrapping his strong fingers around her upper left arm. He yanked her to her feet.
Charlie cried out again, the pain from her multiple wounds now so acute it was all she could do not to pass out.
“Look what you’ve made me do!” Caleb wasn’t just angry. He was furious.“Come on.”
He jerked on her arm, and she bellowed loudly again as she limped beside him. He didn’t stop.
“Please, C-Caleb,” she begged. “I can’t...walk.”
Forcing Charlie to drag her injured leg, he began yelling at her. “I had a nice evening planned, and now you’ve ruined it! I knew you’d put up a fight at first, but this....” He trailed off for a moment as though he were deep in thought. “Obviously, you need more re-training than I’d anticipated.”
“Let me...guess,” she grunted through her teeth, trying her best to stay
conscious. “Tough...love...right?” Her sarcasm was not appreciated. Caleb stopped and spun around, his nose almost touching hers.
“That’s right, Charlotte. During these last few weeks, I’ve become averypatient man. I don’t care how long it takes. When I’m done with you, you will come to accept the truth. Your life is mine, now. You belong to me.”
