Luke
and Dollie share a hot makeout session, but are interrupted by
someone at the door.
"I'm
here," Patty said, pulling her robe on. "We'll lock the
door after you."
Nodding,
the men got a flashlight and headed out to the front doors. The
banging had stopped, but they thought they saw someone moving around
outside. Following his movement, they saw him heading for the open
windows of their room. Racing down the hall, they were determined to
get there first. The flimsy screen wouldn't keep anyone out.
They
got to the room just as the man was fighting his way through the
bushes. Roaring with anger, he tried to reach the windows but the
heavy growth of mountain laurel kept him away. Furious, he hurled
curses at the men and ran off.
"We
need to catch him," Will said, heading to the front door.
"No!"
Luke said. "We can't leave the girls. He could double back and
break in. Or we could kill ourselves running around in the dark."
"That
man probably killed our father," Will argued.
"Maybe
so, but I'm not risking Dollie and Patty!"
Will
groaned, stopping in his tracks. "Lucius, I hate when you're
right."
Dollie
screamed. Luke barreled down the hallway. The door was locked.
Hammering on it with his good hand, he called out to the women. The
only windows they hadn't checked were those in the girls' bedroom.
Theirs weren't surrounded by bushes the way the others were.
"Dollie!
Patty!"
Will
hammered and yelled. "I'm going outside."
"Not
alone!"
"He
might have Patty!"
"And
he might be waiting out there for you to open the door! Will!"
His
brother tore out of his grasp, running to the front door. Unsure what
to do, Luke hesitated before bracing himself to try to break the door
down. Backing up a step or two, he put his shoulder down, lunging at
it like a battering ram. The door shook, the impact knocking the
breath out of him.
"Dollie!"
he gasped.
Instead
of using his shoulder, he decided to put his foot to use. He had
powerful legs, strengthened from all the hard work he'd done his
whole life. He braced himself, balancing on one leg, raising the
other to the door lock. Three hard kicks knocked the latch loose.
Pulling the door open, he saw devastation in the apartment. Chairs
and the dining table were upended. Precious decorative items were
scattered around the room.
A
crumpled form lay on the floor of the bedroom, the broom nearby. The
blonde curls told him it was Patty. Rushing to her side, he checked
to make sure she wasn't bleeding. She looked like she'd fainted.
There wasn't a mark on her. Taking her hand, he slapped it to wake
her. With a start, she sat up.
"Dollie!
He got Dollie!"
"Will
went after her. Who was it?"
"I
couldn't see. The flashlight went out when we were fighting him.
Dollie screamed and I think I must have fainted."
"They
can't be too far. Dollie will fight like a demon. Will's outside.
He'll track her."
"You
go too, Luke."
"I
don't want to leave you!"
"I'm
fine. He's got what he's after. Go! You get my sister back!"
Not
wanting to argue, he ran into the rain filled night. He couldn't see
any tracks. All signs were obscured by the rain. Standing still, he
gathered his thoughts, waiting for the mountain to speak to him.
Sending out a silent query, he waited.
"Help
me," he begged.
Was
that a scream? And a roaring curse. To his left. No, straight ahead.
He followed, sending out the silent message to his love, "I'm
coming, Dollie."
Will
ran up to his side. "Where's Patty?"
"Back
at the apartment."
"You
left her?" He raised his fist to his his brother.
"He's
got Dollie! Patty told me. I heard them, up ahead."
"You're
sure?"
"Patty
said!" he called over his shoulder.
Torn,
Will ran after his brother. He couldn't let him confront the lunatic
alone. He didn't want to leave Patty, but for the time being, she was
safe. They found one of Dollie's shoes near the banks of the creek. A
few feet later on, they found a scrap of robe, then another. It
wasn't a coincidence.
If
Dollie was marking the trail, she wasn't the one being chased. There
was little likelihood that she'd mark her trail for someone to follow
her. Since her markers were still in place, no one had followed her
but them. Putting on a burst of speed, they continued.
The
clues got further apart as if Dollie were moving more quickly for
some reason. Moments later, they came upon a clearing. The trees and
bushes were cut away from the bank in a semi-circle. It was a spot
that the summer camp counselors came for cookouts. Blackened stones
ringed the fire pit. Someone had taken the time to move a few of the
smaller stones, making an arrow with them, pointing more or less
toward their mother's home. Both men moved faster.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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