Page 58 of No Escape

“Fail?” For the first time, John seemed uncertain.

“Look at the wood, dumbass,” Charlie said. “This place is next to a river. It’s damp. You think that’ll go up easy? You really are a moron. I mean, I’ve met some idiots in my time, but you really bought the book on being simple.”

“Shut up!” John said, striking Charlie with the back of his hand.

All the while, Valerie pushed her fingers deeper into her pocket, delicately pulling the knife up into the palm of her hand.

As John arranged the wood around the tied-up hostages and started to pour gasoline on them, it was Will’s turn. He began talking to him about what the Ancient Greeks believed about justice, and how it went against what John was saying. “You know, John, the Greeks believed that justice was about balance, not vengeance,” Will said, trying to distract him. “Zeus himself would weigh the souls of the deceased on scales to determine their eternal fate. It was a system of harmony, of equilibrium.”

This distraction gave Valerie the opportunity to subtly use her hidden knife to start cutting through her ropes, her fingers trembling with adrenaline as she carefully sliced through the bindings.

“You think you know justice more than me?” he said. “What you need is something taken away from you, then you’ll know what justice should feel like.”

“Only God can decide the fates of men,” Will said, sternly. “And you are no god… You’re barely a man!”

John flew into a furious rage, striking Will on the head with the butt of his gun. Blood trickled down Will’s face and he groaned.

Valerie couldn’t bear it. She had to help him. She had to save them all.

“Damn you all to hell!” John said, pointing the gun at the gasoline-soaked wood and pulling the trigger.

There was a loud whooshing sound as some of the wood caught flames. But Charlie had been correct. Some of it was damp, and the flames, while high, took their time to creep over the moist wood, drying it out and then adding the remaining wood, inch by inch, to their heat.

Valerie knew she only had moments to save them.

The tension in the air was palpable as Valerie struggled to free herself. Flames began to spread, licking at the gasoline-soaked wood, and she knew that if she didn’t defeat John quickly, her friends and the hostages would burn to death. The fire cast eerie shadows on the walls as Valerie finally managed to cut through her ropes. She lunged at John.

“This ends now, John!” she shouted as she threw her hand forward, gripping the knife.

John ducked and countered, his movements faster than Valerie could cope with. He grabbed her wrist and smacked her hand against a wall. The knife dropped to the ground. He bent over to grab it, but Valerie kicked at it, sending it across the floor toward the others.

She then managed a thundering punch to John’s jaw and felt a sharp pain in her knuckles as they creaked at the impact.

John momentarily staggered backward, but then pushed forward toward her.

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with!” he screamed.

They exchanged blows, their movements fast and furious, each trying to gain the upper hand. The sound of their fists connecting with flesh echoed through the building, mingling with the crackling of the fire and the groans of their friends.

Valerie felt a blow to her head, making her dizzy, but she heard John gasp. He had broken his hand.

Valerie managed to land a solid kick to John’s chest, sending him staggering back, but he quickly recovered and grabbed her by the throat, pinning her against the wall. “You think you can stop me?” he snarled, tightening his grip. “I am justice!”

With a surge of strength, Valerie broke free, elbowing him in the ribs. “You’re wrong, John,” she gasped, launching a series of well-placed strikes that left him reeling. Sweat dripped down her face, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she fought for her life and the lives of her friends.

As they battled, the fire continued to grow, consuming everything in its path. The heat was unbearable, and the air grew thick with smoke. Valerie knew she didn’t have much time.

John kicked Valerie to the ground. She felt the wind leave her lungs. Her eyes watered as she lay on the ground and saw the flames about to engulf Will.

Valerie expected to hear or see a hallucination They had taunted her for so long. But no, they were gone. Only Valerie’s thoughts remained. Only her courage.

And that was what would save them all.

Despite being knocked to the ground, she grabbed a piece of debris from the floor and swung it upward. It cracked against John’s jaw. He screamed in agony and slumped to the ground, groaning as if on the cusp of unconsciousness.

Valerie seized the opportunity.

“Get Will!” Charlie screamed.

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