Page 57 of Salvation

She turned the golf club in her hands, searching for a better grip. Where should she aim when he advanced? His head? His knees? His ribs?

“Run.” The young woman nodded for the hills. “Run!”

“Yeah,” Emmett said, grinning wickedly. “Run. That would make this more fun.”

He stepped forward slowly, motioning for the hills. God, he really meant it. He wanted to chase her down.

Todd!she screamed inside in spite of herself. There was no way Todd could hear her. There was no way he could help.

So help yourself, damn it!the other side of her mind yelled back.

“Go ahead. Run.” Emmett encouraged her with a wave.

She steeled her nerves and made the quickest, craziest plan of her life. The truck was her best way out, but to get to it, she had to get past Emmett. The only other way out was through thick scrub. But that would never work. She could already feel the thorns tearing at her skin and clothes.

Emmett grinned wider, and his teeth looked longer and pointier than before.

“Catch me,” she blurted, then turned and sprinted for the hills.

Chapter Fifteen

Anna knew she had only one chance to pull this off.

She ran, imagining little Teddy. Sarah. Soren. Todd. She had to get this exactly right. She had to get away from this lunatic and warn the others of his awful plan.

Behind her, Emmett cackled in glee and broke into a run.

Chase me, you bastard,she wanted to shout.Chase me.

Heavy footsteps thumped the soil behind her. In two more steps, she’d reach the thick scrub where it would be impossible to run at full speed.

Right there.She focused on a low, flat rock that lay at the edge of the clearing. That was her spot.

Something whipped through the space around her hair — Emmett grasping for her.

“Run,” he snickered. “Run.”

Oh, she’d run all right. Just not where he expected her to. She stretched her legs and made her next step a leap aimed at the rock.

The second her left foot hit the surface, she planted her right foot and whirled, swinging the club like a bat.

Swing from the hips,she remembered her dad coaching her through softball.You get more power that way.

She swung her hips, followed through with her shoulders, then gaped as the golf club whacked into Emmett’s head with a sickening crack.

Emmett’s eyes widened the split second before the golf club struck his temple. He yelped — too late to dodge it — and crumpled to the ground.

She stared for a moment, sick to her stomach, then hurried to the woman and pulled at the rope.

“Go!” the woman told her. “Just go!”

She scratched at the ropes, but the worn fiber refused to slide loose.

“Go! You have to save them!” the woman cried.

“I can get it.” She tore with her nails, working at the ends.

Emmett groaned and stirred.

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