Page 92 of Still Afraid

Aaron’s eyes were wide, but she didn’t have time to tell him to be quiet.

Richard spun back toward her. “What the—”

A clothing rack from the front flew into the doorway of the stockroom, getting stuck against the frame.

Chloe used the distraction and rammed into Richard. He stumbled backward but didn’t fall over.

The roof peeled more. Lights flickered.

No rain came through the opening. Instead wind swirled and threw lighter-weight items from the shelves.

Richard regained his footing and came for Chloe.

As she dove for Aaron, Chloe dodged an empty box picked up by the wind. It whizzed by her and struck Richard.

Chloe cut Aaron’s zip-cuffs with two sawing motions. She kept the knife in her hand. It was a terrible weapon, but the blade was twice as wide as Richard’s.

He reached her before she could get the rope off of Aaron.

Richard grabbed her arm and spun her around. “I told you what would happen if either of you tried to get away.”

“You fool. We’re all going to be dead in a minute.”

The lights flickered and went out as the roof peeled completely off like the lid to a sardine can, increasing the wind and suction.

Chloe fought to keep herself down.

Aaron grabbed her hand.

More debris hit the back wall of the storefront. The wall moaned and cracked under the pressure.

Chloe jerked her arm from Richard’s grasp and sliced at him in the same motion. She dropped to her knees beside Aaron.

The wall broke and chunks of drywall assaulted them. Chloe buried her face against Aaron.

Richard yelled, but Chloe didn’t look. While keeping her face as covered as possible, she battled the rope holding her brother.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The walls seemed to be closing in on Josh. He needed to be out there looking for Chloe, not cowering in the bathroom.

Lance elbowed him. “Even if the tornado wasn’t keeping you here, you don’t know where to look. Let the police do their job.”

“But our job is to find people.”

Poirot let out a soft bark, and Josh reached back and petted him.

“Finding missing hikers is our job, not kidnapped fiancées. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth of the matter.”

Josh watched the twisting on the radar. His house should be in the clear, assuming the tornado didn’t make a radical turn. And as long as another one didn’t pop up. Hadn’t Knoxville taken enough of a beating in the last week?

Bonnie reached over, took the phone from Josh’s hand, and hit the power button before setting it down on the counter. “Son, you need to take it to Jesus and trust Him. That’s all any of us can do at the moment. I know I keep laying it down at His feet … but then I pick it back up and have to surrender my baby girl to Jesus all over again.” A sob caught in Bonnie’s throat.

Josh took her hand.

Troy prayed out loud, modeling the surrender Bonnie had just spoken of.

They were all broken for Chloe and Aaron. They had nothing to cling to right now, except Jesus. But He was their refuge and strength, like Psalm 46:1 said. He was their “very present help in trouble.”