Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
"What are you smiling about?" the prisoner sat next to me asks. "We're going to hell. There's not shit to smile about."
I don't even acknowledge him; I just stare out the window. I am getting out. Somehow. Today.
We've been driving for nearly an hour. The four-lane highway merged into a backwoods, two-lane road thirty minutes ago. The only sound is the low lull of the radio in the front and the driver humming along to it. I'm beginning to wonder if I made a fucking mistake. How likely am I to get out of this fucking car alive, without being gunned down?
An engine revs outside and I glance back to see an eighteen-wheeler barreling down the road, quickly approaching us. The engine grows louder; tires squeal as it swerves into the oncoming lane to pass us. The truck veers over too soon, and the flatbed slams into the front of the van. I brace myself as the vehicle skids across the road.
"Shit," the driver yells.
He attempts to maintain control, pumping on the breaks, but it's too late. The seat belt cuts into my shoulder as I'm thrown against the side of the van. The tail spins out violently, flying off of the shoulder and tipping on two wheels. The van lands on its side, glass shatters around me. Metal bends as the van barrels through the safety rail on the side of the highway. Grass and earth fly in through the broken windows as it slides sideways down the embankment. My pulse accelerates, and adrenaline courses through me as I look through the window above me, watching the blue sky and tree limbs fly past the windows. There's a loud bang. Metal screams as it bends. The remaining glass breaks. And pressure builds in my ears. I'm slightly stunned from the force of the impact and sit dazed for a moment. I quickly realize this is my one chance to get the fuck out of here. I go to reach for the seatbelt release, but my hands are cuffed. I strain my arms, stretching my fingers to press down on the button. When it clicks, my heart rate accelerates. I scramble to sit up.
The inmate who was next to me is still strapped in, hanging limply from the seat belt and groaning. I glance to the front seat and find the officer groggily moving his head. Shit, I have to hurry the fuck up. I manage to crawl out of the busted back window. I stand up and glance around, trying to determine the best way to escape. Out of instinct, I start to run, but the chains around my ankles catch, and cut into my skin, causing me to trip. I can barely move my legs. My heart is slamming around in my chest, my adrenaline burning through my veins like the fucking devil. I 'm afraid the officer is going to come to soon enough, and then I am fucked. Sweat beads on my brow as I take quick, short steps toward the tree line, away from the mangled wreckage.
Suddenly, I hear shouting. I don't stop. I just keep moving. The longer I run, the more accustomed I get to the chains, and the faster I'm able to go.
"Wait!" I hear a man shout and look back to see one of the inmates running after me. There's a loud boom, and I can't help but glance back. A blaze engulfs the van. Bright red flames spark up into the tree limbs, catching the leaves on fire. It's when I look back that I see the officer stumbling away from the inferno, arms raised in front of him, pointing his gun in our direction.
If I can just get to that fucking tree line... I think of Tor, of the baby. Air rushes through my lungs as my feet pound against the ground. I hear the pop of rounds firing.
"Shit," the other prisoner shouts, pushing himself to run even faster.
"Stop!" the officer yells.
There's a loud bang, and I feel the bullet tear through my shoulder, ripping the flesh clean off me. The sudden pain sends me to the ground, feet in front of the tree line. I watch the other inmate run past me, fleeing into the woods, and I attempt to stand. Another shot rings out, and I fall face first into the earth.
They say that when you die your entire life flashes before your eyes, but all I see is her. She was a weakness on every level to me from the moment she set foot into my office, and she has remained my weakness. I was always a man who took pride in his control, but in the end, what I took pride in was her. I did this for love. I did this for Tor. I did this for my unborn child. All I wanted to do was right all the wrong that had been done to my girl, and, if nothing else, I will die knowing at least I fucking tried.