Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
I think so, anyway. I’m running on adrenaline and instinct.
I’m deep enough into the forest that I can’t see the road anymore. There’s no sound of cars, no sign of lights. Just my breathing and the scrape of twigs against my shoes. My heart feels like it’s trying to tear out of my chest.
It’s so cold here, and I realize that will probably be what kills me if Marcus doesn’t. All I have for warmth is my thin work jacket, and it isn’t much help. I’m just glad I decided not to wear heels today. There’s no way I would have made it this far if I had.
Somewhere behind me, a voice carries. It’s Marcus. He’s yelling my name, his tone deadly and pissed. The sound hits me like a physical blow. I bite back a sob and keep running. I don’t know where I’m going, only that every step has to take me farther from him.
My stomach twists. I’ve been fighting waves of nausea all day. It’s worse now that I’m moving this fast. I press my hands against my stomach and keep going. I can’t let myself fall apart now. Not when I’ve come this far.
A root catches my foot and I go down hard, my shoulder slamming into the ground. Pain shoots up my arm. I roll onto my side and push myself up. My head is spinning. I blink until the trees stop swaying, then get to my feet. I have to keep moving. There isn’t another choice. My eyes are only barely adjusted to the darkness ahead of me, and I can’t see the forest floor at all.
My feet keep catching on roots and other unseen things on the ground. As long as I can stay upright, I’m okay. Even if I fall, I have to pick myself right back up and keep moving.
A stream appears ahead, its surface reflecting faint light through the trees. I kneel beside it and dunk my hands into the freezing water. The shock clears my head. I let the water run over the small cuts on my arms, washing away the blood. I scrub until my fingers go numb. Then I cup my hands and take long, luxurious sips. I’m so damn thirsty.
The water tastes muddy, and I’m sure I’ll get some kind of bacterial infection, but that doesn’t matter. My body needs hydration to survive.
I stand again, soaking wet, and look around. Everything looks the same. The trees, the rocks, the shadows all blur together. I pick a direction and start moving. My legs ache. My throat feels raw. My clothes are torn and damp. My feet throb, but I can’t focus on that.
All I can think about is staying one step ahead of Marcus.
He’s close. I can hear his voice sometimes, faint but distinct. He’s calling for me, or babbling to himself. With any luck, he’s got a concussion and has no idea where he is.
A light flashes in the distance for a second. Then it’s gone. My heart jumps. It’s a flashlight, maybe. A high-powered one at that. He’s sweeping the forest, looking for me. I crouch low, pressing my body into the damp earth. Every part of me screams at me to move, but I know any sound will give me away.
I wait. Ten seconds. Twenty. The light flashes again, closer this time.
I crawl toward a thicker cluster of trees, careful not to let the branches snap beneath me. The forest feels alive, and it isn’t necessarily friendly. Wind picks up leaves. Animals snap twigs. Every sound could be a predator. Worse, any sound could be Marcus.
I don’t know how long I keep going before I see the light again, far to my right. He’s circling. He’s hunting me.
I start running again, forcing my body forward. I don’t have a plan. I just need to stay ahead of him. I’ll figure out what comes next later.
My breath comes in short gasps. The air tastes like rust and dirt. My vision is blurring, but I can’t stop. I stumble over a fallen log and almost go down again. My knees buckle. I catch myself against a tree and push forward.
Somewhere behind me, there’s a sharp crack. A twig breaking. He’s so close. My body screams at me, reminding me that I have another life to protect, that I haven’t gotten this far just to give in to fear.
I dart left, deeper into the trees. My arms ache. I’d give anything to find a place to hide and stay there all night. I wish I knew how to climb a tree, not that it would be easy in this outfit, but at least I’d be able to get up and away from him.
“You can’t hide forever, Mari!” Marcus screams, and the sound is far too close for comfort.