AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alice could be back any moment.
The rope snapped. Tori set the tool aside and pulled as much of the rope away as possible. She needed to cut one more section. The one around her ankles.
With her hands free, the girl reached for her face and pulled at the cloth in her mouth. Tori snapped the rope holding her ankles together.
The girl scrambled away.
Tori placed the tool back on the floor. She glanced at the door. Hoped Alice didn’t walk in for a few more minutes.
“Who tied you up here?”
The girl’s eyes were wild as if she’d turned feral.
“What’s your name?” Tori asked.
She stared at Tori. It was at that moment Tori recognized her.
Violet Redmond.The missing student from Walker Academy. Her face was all over the news and the internet.
“Oh my God. Are you okay, Violet?”
“Help me,” the girl whispered, her voice rusty.
Realization of the situation flashed in her brain. Tori rushed to Violet, grabbed her hand. “We have to get out of here.”
They moved to the door. Violet stumbled a couple of times. Probably from being cramped up in that cabinet for two days. Tori eased the door open enough to check outside. She didn’t see Alice or anyone else.
“Come on.” Holding Violet’s hand tightly in hers, Tori led the way from the shed toward the road. The driver had turned off Birmingport Road and driven down a fairly long drive that ended at these warehouses. If they could make it to the main road, they might be able to flag down a car.
“What’re you doing?”
Tori froze. Violet started to sob.
Alice.
Tori turned around, ushered Violet behind her. “We’re leaving,” she announced.
Alice smiled. She waved the big knife in her hand. “No you’re not. You two are my only loose ends. I have to take care of you. If you run, I’ll just have my grandfather send his soldiers to kill you.”
Was the threat more of Alice’s tales about being a princess? Tori reached behind her, grabbed Violet by the arm, and pulled her closer. She whispered over her shoulder. “Run to the road. I’ll stall her, and then I’ll run in the other direction. Don’t stop running until you find help.”
Violet whimpered.
“Run,” Tori growled.
Violet tore away.
Alice started after her.
Tori rushed toward Alice. Threw her full body weight against her shoulder.
They slammed down onto the asphalt.
42
9:00 a.m.
Cortez Residence
