Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Glass shards spray me, and closing my eyes tightly, I feel wet warmth on my forehead and arm.
Looking around, I see Nox yelling so hard the veins in his neck bulge. He motions for me to come to him but I can’t move.
I’m petrified.
Army crawling towards me, he yells some more, but I can’t hear a thing. A ringing sound echoes through my head.
Blinking, I shout, “What?”
His lips move, but I still can’t hear over the ringing. Adrenalin causes blood to roar in my ears, and finally I begin to hear.
Boo and Rock yell out while Nox directs them.
Confusion seeps through me. I can’t comprehend what’s happening. All I know is that it’s bad.
Another explosion. Closer this time. The house shakes feverishly.
A frightened shriek escapes me. Nox shouts, “Go with Boo!”
Opening my mouth to respond, arms come around me from behind and pull me backwards. Everything’s happening so quickly. I’m in a panic.
Watching Nox watch me, a torrent of tears escape me. Shrugging off the arms, I fall forward on my knees and scramble across broken glass back to Nox. Crying hysterically, I yell out, “I don’t want to leave you! Please don’t make me leave you! Don’t make me go!”
His eyes shine bright. Taking my face in his hands, he takes my mouth in a short possessive kiss. Releasing me, he shouts out, “Go with Boo!”
Reaching forward, I clutch his shirt, shaking, “Don’t make me go! I want to stay with you!”
His face turns pained. Pulling my clawing hands off him, he stands and says, “If you ever loved me, you’ll go with Boo.” Lowering my face, I burst into another bout of tears. He adds, “You have to trust me, Lily!”
Crying only a moment longer, I pull myself together. Straightening, I demand through gritted teeth, “You better come for me. You promised.” Not waiting for a response, I crawl back to Boo through the destruction.
She pushes me forward in front of her and yells, “Down the hall and out!”
Rock waits at the end of the hall, holding his arms out. Crawling fast on bleeding knees, I make it to him and he pulls me up. As soon as Boo gets within a foot of us, we’re out the front door. A black van waits there, side door open. Rock all but throws me inside, Boo follows, slamming the door shut. Rock climbs into the driver’s seat, starts the van, and drives.
And all I can think about is Nox.
Will he follow us to wherever I’m being taken? Where are we going? How long will I have to spend without him?
The van crosses the property line, and I look back out the rear window, silently saying goodbye to my second home and hoping I’ll see it again soon. We drive a minute longer when I see it.
Flashes of white, orange, and yellow swirling through the air hold my attention.
My mouth gapes as I watch in horror.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM
The safe house endures one, then two, then three more roaring explosions, before being engulfed in flames.
My heart stops. Boo’s arm grips mine as we both watch the terrifying scene.
I don’t blink. I don’t breathe. I can’t think.
Suddenly, I ask distractedly, “He got out, right?” Boo’s hand tightens on my arm. I turn to her, looking down at her hand, and back up to her face. Breathing heavily, I ask again, “He got out, right?”
Her shocked face remains stoic.
Answer me!
Moving across the van, I bang on the divider and shout out, “Rock, turn around!”
Boo yells back, “Keep driving.”
Oh, thank God, she’s back. Kneeling on throbbing and bloodied knees, I crawl over to her and nod, “He got out, right?”
That’s when I see it.
The fear and devastation. It’s written all over her face.
And my chest squeezes. Slumping, I whisper, “He got out. He had to have gotten out.”
Boo’s eyes tear as she holds my unblinking stare. A tear trails down her cheek. Her mouth opens and shuts. Not able to speak, she shrugs weakly while shaking her head.
Anger builds in me and I say louder, “He got out, Boo. He did.”
Biting her lip, she closes her eyes, and begins to cry. Her shoulders jerk silently.
I stand in the back of the moving van. My anger overflowing, I shout at her, “He fucking got out, Boo!”
Her chin dips. Her body shakes in silent sobs. I watch her tears fall to the floor.
Falling to my knees in front of her, I state a little quieter, “He got out.” Reaching forward, she wraps her arms around my rigid body. I repeat, “He got out.” It sounds weaker this time. Her arms hugging me tightly, her body shakes against mine, and my voice shakes as I say feebly into her neck, “He did. He got out.”
My courage fades.
My nose tingles.
My voice trembles as I utter confusedly, “He can’t be gone. We have plans.”