I shove myself upright just as Richard lunges again, arms wide to grab me. I duck under and drive my fist into his ribs, hard and low. The crack that follows is sharp and final. He folds, clutching his side, his mouth open in a silent snarl.
The mastiff spins in frantic circles, tangled in the blanket, barking and growling at ghosts, as Richard drops to his knees, rage broken by pain.
I don’t wait. I bolt from the room, down the corridor and the stairwell—one floor, then another—until I reach the ground floor. My pulse hammers in my skull, the world narrowing to movement and noise.
The front door gives out after I kick it twice and cold air rushes in as I hobble out into the yard. Ada stands where I left her, restless and shining under the moon. I grab her reins, haul myself into the saddle, and ride.
Behind me, Richard’s voice carries through the open windows, all fury and broken promises, and the dog’s bark twists through it like a warning I’ll never forget.
Richard will hunt me to the ends of the earth now.
Chapter Nineteen
I failed.I fucking failed and it’s going to cost me my life. I need to leave London. I need to leave right fucking now. Ada gallops as fast as she can and in the moonlight, her coat fully changing to grey, no longer a beautiful brown. The trophies plaited in her hair have turned grey too. Everything is fucking grey.
I follow the river, passing Richard's farms and the very few houses that are nearby. I can still hear Richard’s shouts floating in the wind behind me.
Murderer. She killed my wife.
I’m frightened. I’ve never felt such fear. Not when my father was laid on top of me that night. Not when I took my first life that very same day. Not even when I noticed Ada changing colour and getting sick.
This is something else.
My gaze catches on a scarecrow that wasn’t there when I rode here earlier this evening. I track it with my eyes as we speed past and when I turn to face forward again, another scarecrow is in the middle of our path. I pull sharply on Ada’s reins, dodging it. Glancing over my shoulder, I see that the scarecrow has turned to face me. I shake my head and look forward once more.
We continue and, in a blink, a bigger scarecrow, bathed in red, stands in our way, its face eerily similar to the little boy’s, Callum, who I’d helped pass on. I close my eyes, my heartbeat rising higher. Ada neighs, slowing a little.
“What’s wrong, girl? We gotta go, please keep going!” I beg her. She snorts and picks her speed back up. I look around andnotice four more scarecrows in an upcoming field, all of them red, but I see my father’s face on one, mother on another, Mad Maude next to her, grinning at me and then the little boy I first ever killed. I can hear Mad Maude’s laugh, echo around me as we ride past and carry on following the river.
What is happening?
I close my eyes so I can’t see any more scarecrows. I don’t want to see their faces ever again. I killed them all, job or not. Callum, I didn’t kill but my god did that death hurt me. I felt the pain of his loss.
I clutch onto my pendant with one hand and pray to whatever God exists to fetch memyGod.
Gray, I fucking need you. I need help!
Richard knows who I am. By now he must have pieced together that it was me who killed the lord. He could have seen me earlier in town at the tavern or near the dead bodies I helped pass before collecting their souls. Richard can pin everything on me now. I’ve always been so careful but since meeting Gray, I’ve grown distracted, greedy, desperate…
Obsessed.
I feel like I’ve let a man ruin my life and now another man is possibly chasing me. Why did Gray show up that day? Why has he become more than a pair of eyes in the crowd? Why did he turn into a full man and tell me his true nature?Stupid girl. I hate men, I’ve always hated men. Look where it’s gotten me!
The rage building up inside me burns, making my eyes swell with tears that I refuse to let fall for any man.
A few moments pass and I open my eyes to find my bearings. Halfway home. I turn round to where Richard lives and see glowing lights. I face forward and hold onto Ada’s reins so tightly, my hands cramps.
“Ada, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I got us into this mess. I promise I will look after you when we are safe. You’re my girl,my everything. Don’t give up on me. We’ve got this!” I encourage her. She’s run so much over the past couple of hours, to and from Richard’s, and has barely slowed for a moment. She needs a drink soon; I can give her that much at least.
We pass a secluded stream where Ada slows down and ducks her head for a drink. I jump off, stretch my legs and rub her neck, checking my surroundings. The moonlight is the only thing to guide us, and the shadows could be filled with anyone or anything. Goosebumps travel around my body and I grow a little impatient with Ada. Richard will soon catch up to me if we stay here any longer.
“You ready, my sweet?” I ask her softly, stroking her face. She doesn’t make a noise like she usually does. “Ada, please, I know this is painful, I know it’s been a long night and you’re tired, but we just need to get home and then we can leave once I collect some supplies for us. I need to let Milly and the chickens free. I can’t leave them locked up forever.” I place my head on Ada’s. “Please.” Desperation claws up my back and I jump onto Ada to force her to move. She neighs loudly and I rub her neck and shush her. “I’m sorry! Please, go!” I kick her sides and she darts off back to a gallop.
After a good long run, we finally get close to my cottage. Benny and the hens chirp loudly, Milly moos constantly and it doesn’t feel right. I jump off Ada, giving her a moment to relax as I free the other animals.
“Go, be free. I’m sorry!” I say as I shoo the chickens and slap Milly’s behind to get her moving. I burst through my front door, swipe the kitchen table clean and put my blanket from my bed on top. I throw in as many rations as I can, roll up the contents and then throw it over one shoulder, knotting it in front of me. I grab a glass of water and down it, then look out of the window.
The glowing lights have followed me.
