Page 14 of Corrupted Lies

It took a second for it to sink in what she was seeing.

Rubbing at her eyes, positive she had to be hallucinating, when the orange-red didn't disappear but instead started to grow, she knew this was no imaginary fire.

It was real.

Flames sprung to life in front of her, blocking the path she’d been taking through the trees.

Panic fluttered in her chest, and she froze.

How could there be a fire in the park?

How could there be another fire around her in two days?

Were they here now?

The men who were after Jake’s family?

She knew they were dangerous, but for some reason, she hadn't grasped fully just how dangerous. She’d thought she’d only been in danger because she was with Jake, never in a million years had she thought they would come after her when she was alone.

Spinning around so fast she stumbled and almost lost her footing, Alannah was about to take off back the way she’d come to backtrack to the parking lot and her car, when more flames sprung to life.

Behind her and in front of her.

Surrounding her.

Trapping her.

She was shaking so badly that she dropped her cell phone when she pulled it out of the pocket of her leggings.

Dropping to her knees, she scooped it back up. Knowing she should call 911 and report the fire, instead it was Jake’s name that she brought up on her phone. Jake’s number that she dialed. Jake’s voice that she desperately needed to hear.

“Sunshine, what's up?”

The sound of Jake’s voice had a sob building in her chest. She didn't want to be anywhere near fire ever again, but here it was, once again trapping her. “Jake,” she whimpered, it was all she could get out.

“What's wrong?”

His sharp voice ordered her to speak, but she couldn’t seem to make her voice work.

The flames were quickly consuming the trees around her. Fall might have started a few weeks ago, and the temperatures were beginning to drop, but it had been a dry summer, and that had continued into fall. It wasn't going to take long for the fire to close in on her.

“Alannah, tell me. Now.”

This time the command in his voice spurred her on. “There’s a fire.”

He cursed. Mumbled something that she didn't think was to her. “Where are you?”

Knowing his voice was coming out harsh because he was afraid for her didn't mean she didn't flinch at the ferocity in his words, and a whimper must have escaped, too, because when he spoke next his tone was gentle.

“Tell me where you are, sunshine, so I can come and get you.”

“The park. Running. I was running. The flames are everywhere, Jake. Surrounding me. I … I don’t think I can get through them.”

Which meant she’d escaped a fire one day only to be claimed by one the next.

Chapter

Four

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