Page 57 of The Woman in the Hollow
I skittered, found purchase, knocked a permanent marker off the table, and nearly fell into a tray of wilted seedlings.
I caught myself on a tiered metal shelf.
And I spotted something metallic just as the sound of shattering glass filled the space.
I yelped as I whipped around, watching the man move through the busted door, his shoes crunching on the glass.
He ducked down, grabbing a large shard, and made his way toward me.
There was only one exit. And he was now blocking it.
My body moved before my mind caught, up, grabbing the metal shelving unit and swinging it with everything in me.
The wall to my side crashed outward, but only beneath the metal frame brace.
I had no choice but to lower down into the glass mess I’d created, feeling the splinters bite into my hands as I started to crawl through the hole I’d made.
I was only halfway through when I felt a hand close around one ankle, then the next.
He yanked hard, sending me sailing forward, my arms flying outward.
He had already started pulling me backward before I thought to throw my arms out, using them to prevent him from fully yanking me inside.
My shoulders screamed as he pulled harder.
I wriggled and kicked until I had one free foot.
Then, with everything I had, I struck back, colliding with something hard and dragging a yowl out of the man.
But he released my other ankle, and I pulled myself out.
I wanted to scream, but I didn’t dare risk losing the chance to breathe.
Glancing back, I saw my attacker making his way back to the broken door.
I turned and ran again, not really having time to formulate a plan, working on pure adrenaline.
I zipped around the shed, taking the corner too sharply and my shoulder clipped the edge. Pain zoned up my collarbone, making tears prick my eyes.
But there was no time for tears, no time to even acknowledge my pain.
I had to make a run for the road. But being out in the open would put me at a disadvantage with my shorter legs.
I kept my back to the shed, allowing me to glance in both directions.
It was then that I felt something biting into my butt.
At first, I thought it was a piece of jagged wood or a nail.
Until I realized what it was.
My keys.
My freakingkeys.
Not just to my car and my apartment.
To the damnbuilding.
