Page 115 of Escape

Terror gripped me, too. “We have to get away from him.”

It took Lori half a second to react. She mashed her foot to the gas pedal and took off. I looked back, saw that Kurt wasn’t being deterred by Lori’s desire to get away, and knew we were in big trouble.

“What do we do? Where do we go?” The worry was dripping from every word Lori spoke, and her eyes were wide with fear.

“Drive toward the police station,” I ordered, reaching into my purse for my phone as my heart raced.

I barely got those words out before Kurt rammed into the back of Lori’s car again. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

I knew it.

I knew he was never going to let me just walk away from him.

Continuing to hold on to the handle above my head, I yanked out my phone. Despite the terror I felt, I was still lucid enough to know there was one person I could depend on for help.

Huck

It had been a matter of minutes since I’d told Josie I’d be watching out the window for her when my phone rang.

As soon as I saw her name on the display, something made my body go alert. I didn’t know why I was reacting or feeling the way that I was, but I couldn’t ignore the ominous sensation that had come over me.

“Josie?” I answered the call.

“Huck,” she shouted. I’d always loved hearing her say my name, but this time I didn’t. There was nothing but unadulterated fear in that one single word. “Huck, he’s coming after us.”

She didn’t even have to say his name for me to know who she was talking about. I began moving—doing it quickly—to throw on a pair of sneakers. As I slipped my feet into them, I asked, “Where are you? What’s happening?”

“We just left The Ridge,” she shared. “We came to a red light, and not even thirty seconds later, he rammed his truck into the back of Lori’s car.”

I heard a loud bang, followed by screams. “I’m coming, Josie. Tell me exactly where you are.”

“I told Lori to drive toward the police station, but I don’t think we’re going to make it there.”

Fear.

God, the fear was laced through her tone in a way I’d never heard it before.

“You’re going to be okay,” I promised, unsure if I was in a position to be making such bold claims. I wasn’t there; I had no idea how bad it was yet. And given what I knew about this guy and his willingness to hurt Josie, I wasn’t sure there was anything he wouldn’t do now, even go beyond simply intending to injure her. Even still, I couldn’t let my worst fears take over. I needed to give Josie whatever reassurances she needed, so I repeated, “You’re going to be okay. I’m already on the way to you, honey.”

“Huck,” she cried. “Please hurry. I’m scared.”

“I know you are. I’m coming. Just keep driving to the police station,” I told her.

“We are, but we—ahhh!”

Josie’s and Lori’s screams came through the line, along with the distinct sounds of squealing tires and metal crashing.

“Josie!” I yelled.

There was no answer.

“Josie!!”

Nothing.

A moment later, the line went dead.

Immediately, I called back, but there was no response.