Page 176 of Running to You

And Eliza, flopping over the shoulder of a psychopath, on her way to an entirely different kind of hell.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

In the woods and climbing toward the staging area, Sam saw a figure in the eerie green-and-black night-vision world. He was about to aim the handgun when he got a glimpse of his face. Daniel.

His brother hurried down the hill, through the trees. “Figured you might need help.”

Sam leaned away from Levi to see his face. The boy’s eyes were wide as they flicked from Sam to Daniel.

“You did great, son. This is my brother, Daniel. He’s going to get you two out of here.”

Levi’s arms tightened around Sam’s neck like he didn’t want to let go.

“I’m going to go get your mommy. I’ll be right back.”

Daniel pulled him away, then held out a hand to Linda. “Come on. Let’s get you to safety.” To Sam, he said, “Police’ll be here any minute. Bryan just spotted them coming up the hill.”

Sam turned and bolted down the hill, Daniel’s soft, “Be careful” sounding in his earpiece. He was almost to the clearing when he smelled it.

Smoke.

And then heard the men’s voices in his head.

“He’s burning it down!”

“Get that door open!”

“Dear God, he’s going to kill them all!”

Women and children and screams. So many screams.

“Derrick!” That was Jon’s voice. “Get to the pump house. There’s a hose—”

“Already on it.” Derrick was out of breath when he answered.

All Sam could think was, Eliza!

He burst from the trees and was headed for the building when he saw something off to his left. Was that Derrick?

No.

A hundred yards away or more, there were two people. A man and a woman. Did the man have hair that went to his waist?

Then he realized what he was seeing. There was a person over the man’s shoulder. And swinging down his back…

Eliza.

“They’re getting away!” Sam shifted toward them. “Derrick, where are you? You have to stop them!”

“No.” Jon was all commander now. “We need to get this fire out.”

Sam wanted to argue, but he could hear the screams. All those women and children… Their lives mattered too.

Ahead, Keller and the woman disappeared into the trees.

Sam ran, flat out, desperate to catch up, paying no attention to the terrible noises in his ear.

Then sirens.