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The whooshing sound in my ear has me shaking my head back and forth, clearing my mind from this fog.
“All for North.” He moves from behind me. His hand swipes at the blood on her throat. He coats her forehead, a triangle. No . . . an arrow.
The arrow he paints on all his victims.
The arrow that points north.
I watch as he paints. This is different. This time he uses his finger, not the hilt of the knife, like he did with Mom.
Mom.
The first.
Cynthia . . .
How many has it been?
He pulls back. “Do it, North.”
And I do. I tighten my grasp, and then I stab.
But I don’t stab her.
I turn and stab him.
I know Stone intends for me to finish what he started with Layla. It’s the only thing that allows me to breathe. Stone will wait until I’m there. He needs me to finish the job I never did the first time. For now, she’s safe.
Finally, I have reached the deserted road. It leads to the property where my father’s cabin used to sit before Jim and I burned it down. I park the car. There’s no access for my vehicle.
I swing open the door and then take off, sprinting toward the location where this all began. I need to keep her safe, no matter what I must do.
48
Layla
Stone looms over me, his warm breath fanning my cheek. “My brother should be here soon. Let’s play a game.” He reaches the knife up, and I shudder, but then my hands are cut loose. “I’m going to let you go. Let’s see how far you can run . . .” He moves down my body and unties my ankles. “Ready or not . . .” He chuckles as he pulls me up to my feet, and I start my escape.
Once outside the shed, darkness surrounds me. My arms pump through the air.
I run as hard and as fast as I can. But my strides are shallow and slower than I want.
I’m not fast enough, even though I don’t know where I am going. I need to run harder. But I can’t. My strength is all but gone. The last of my energy is being depleted as I move. My calf muscles strain with every move I make.
The dehydration is kicking in as my mouth becomes parched and dry. My chest heaves as I try to find my bearings, but I don’t know which way will lead me to safety.
A feeling of being stabbed penetrates my body.
Wetness coats my skin. I’m hurt. With the adrenaline coursing through me, I almost forgot that my hands are bleeding.
I should stop, but I can’t. I need to get as far away as possible.
Pushing through the pain, I dash through the trees. I need to get through these woods and back to safety. As far from the shed as I can possibly get.
Running becomes harder because my clothes catch on branches, the smaller twigs whipping against my face.
One branch snags my arm, cutting me and causing me to stumble forward.
Shit.
Warm liquid burns.
I need to stop the bleeding.
Pain ricochets throughout my body as I drop to the ground. Ripping at my shirt, tearing the piece that was cut by the branch. I need to staunch the blood flow. As I wrap my arm, I hear a rustling ahead.
Panic kicks in.
The pounding of my heart sounds so loud against the quiet of the night. I hold my breath. Willing myself to be completely silent and praying Stone doesn't find me.
But it’s Cain who bursts through the tree line.
I cry out, running toward him on shaky legs. But to my horror, Stone steps out from behind a tree with a cruel smile plastered on his face. His hand lifts, and then I’m screaming, trying to warn him, but it’s too late. Stone’s hand comes down, hitting Cain over the head with a branch.
I scream again and again. My loud, piercing shrieks echo through the night.
Cain falls hard to the ground, and then Stone bends over his brother, ensuring he’s out cold before stalking in my direction.
I should run.
I know I should, but my feet are stuck in place, eyes glued to Cain. He can’t be dead. I need him. Need to tell him I love him, and we’ll get out of this together.
When Stone reaches me, he thrusts his shoulder into my belly, lifting me up and dragging me back to the shed. I cry out a sob as the new position causes pain to lacerate through my body.
He’s going to tie me up again. I can’t fucking let him do this to me. I expect him to lay me on the floor, but he’s placing me in the chair again. Moving to tie me up.
What am I going to do?
I can’t let him go through with this.
