Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
He’s coming.
I know he’s coming.
We just have to get out of the town and down the hill to the Jeep before he reaches us.
Run.
Run.
Run faster.
The couple are running in their snowshoes which allows them to be ahead of me, but they both keep turning and looking over their shoulders to make sure we’re close behind. The snowshoes carve a path for me which helps. I’m not sinking down nearly as much in the packed-down snow they create.
“We’re almost there,” the male says.
I’m afraid to look over my shoulder. I’m worried that if I do, I’ll see Richard charging forward with evil and vengeance in his eyes. He’ll kill me if he catches us. I have no doubt he will. He’ll kill me and he’ll torture Ember. He’ll also kill this innocent couple who are only trying to help us.
Run.
Run.
Ignore the cold.
Run.
Even if Richard doesn’t see us yet, it won’t be hard to track us. I can see blood coming from both my and Ember’s ankle. The metal cuff has nearly rubbed us both raw and down to the bone. Our path of blood we leave behind is our own personal bread crumb left for the witch who will boil our bodies alive if found.
Ember is silent.
She hasn’t said much since we left the schoolhouse. I want to soothe her. I want to comfort her in some way. I want to tell her everything will be all right, but I don’t want to lie. I have no idea if this escape attempt will be successful, and until we’re in the back seat of the Jeep heading down the road, I won’t issue a single word of reassurance. I know she’s scared… but I can only focus on marching through the snow one step at a time.
And then I see the Jeep.
Oh Jesus Christ, I see the Jeep.
Freedom is on the horizon and we are nearly there.
My heart skips, my blood boils with renewed energy and determination to pick up my speed. Safety. We are so close to safety.
We’re going to get the hell out of Hallelujah Junction!
“That’s it,” the man says as he and the woman keep shoeing ahead. “Hurry up. We’re almost there.”
The male opens the back door to the Jeep and helps me and Ember into the back seat while the woman crawls into the front seat. The man then runs around to the driver’s side of the Jeep.
I remove the soaked gloves from my feet which somehow had stayed on and begin massaging feeling back into my feet. Ember is frozen in place and doesn’t move.
“Try to get your feet warmed up,” I say, but notice she doesn’t budge.
“He’s going to find us,” she says softly which has the girl turn her head to look at her in fear.
“Who?” the girl asks. “Who is going to find us? Who kidnapped you?” She reaches for her phone again, but when she puts it back down, I know she still has no signal.
“We’re safe now,” I say, taking hold of Ember’s foot and removing the glove.
Her foot looks red from the snow, but doesn’t look like any frostbite is present, which is the same for my feet.
And just as hope begins to warm my frozen body, the sound of the Jeep not turning over happens. The Jeep won’t start.
“Come on!” the man says as he keeps trying but nothing.
“Why won’t it start?” the woman beside him screeches in terror.
I glance toward the road and know there is no way that Ember and I can make it down the road wearing nothing but gloves on our feet. The couple maybe can…
“You both need to get out of here, now,” I say, feeling like I can hear the sound of boots crunching on the snow. “He’ll kill you. You need to run.”
“We can’t just leave you,” the man says as he keeps trying to start the Jeep.
“Get down the hill and call the police,” I order, scanning the area for any signs of Richard.
The woman hops out of the Jeep and turns and looks at us. “I promise we’ll come back for you.”
Ember doesn’t say anything but removes the woman’s coat and hands it to me. I remove the coat given to me and hand both of them to the woman.
“Run as fast as you can. This man, Richard, is insane. He’s extremely dangerous.”
The couple doesn’t waste any time and start snowshoeing down the hill. Ember and I crawl out of the back seat and hobble our way to the driver’s side of the Jeep. I jump into the seat and try to start the vehicle myself. It’s making no sound at all. It’s not even trying. I get out of the Jeep and open the hood of the engine. I’m no mechanic, but maybe Lady Luck will shine down on me, and I’ll see something that’s an easy fix.