Darkness Follows by J.L. Drake Read Free Book Online Page B

hands free. I cut my wrists in a few spots, and they were black and blue from the zip ties, but I didn’t care. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I freed myself from the chair. I stumbled to my feet and rushed over to the camera on the computer.
    ***

Seth
     
    I watched Agent Patrick form a small team to set out and search an area marked in red on the map. Johnnie, Riggs, and Avery had all volunteered to help out. “We’ll find her,” Riggs called over his shoulder as he left with the group.
    I tapped my coffee cup and listened to the quiet. I watched Sarge and Weathers as they dealt with the media over the phone. Michaels and Matthews flipped through charts and maps of the forest. I closed my eyes and remembered her smell, her smile, her laugh, and her eyes. Oh, how I loved getting lost in her sea-blue eyes.
    “Seth!” Garrett screamed. I snapped back to reality and almost knocked over my cup. I jumped to my feet and ran over.
    Oh god, please be okay!
    “Holy shit! She’s free!” I yelled out in disbelief. Emily looked all around. Suddenly she reached over and touched something. Her eyes narrowed and then popped wide open. Her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes flipped back and forth to the camera then to something else. “What do you see Emily?” I whispered. Her head tilted toward the ceiling…to watch someone? I didn’t know.
    ***

Emily
     
    I was sure Lasko could hear how loud my heart was. I glanced up the stairs. I couldn’t hear anyone. Hopefully, he was passed out drunk again.
    I was pretty disoriented from the drugs, my cheek felt the size of a balloon, and my ribs were battered, but none of that mattered. I needed to get the hell out of there. I searched the room and spotted a black garbage bag fastened to the wall with duct tape. My fingers clawed painfully at the corner. It peeled back just enough so I could get a good grip. I tugged hard.
    Sunlight broke through, and a sudden rush of hope filled me. I couldn’t believe it. I pulled the rest of it back and tossed it to the floor. My palms pushed flat on the glass and shoved it open. My hands shook as I grabbed the chair to move it as quietly as possible.
    I ran back to the camera and mouthed, “Window,” doing the action with my hands.
    Seth nodded frantically.
    The window was pretty small, but I was able to squeeze myself through. I nearly cried out as my ribs scraped the frame, but managed to clamp my jaw shut and keep silent.
    The sun was bright and hurt my eyes as I took a moment to get some sense of my surroundings. Then I heard it. My skin nearly ran right off my bones. The pit bull’s savage bark. My heart leapt and kicked my body into overdrive. I started to run flat out toward the dull, roaring noise I could make out in the distance.
    I heard Lasko’s booming voice shout, “Stop! Emily!” Then there was a gunshot, and a bullet hit the tree to my left. I screamed and ran even faster. “You’ll never get away!” His voice followed me.
    Adrenaline pumped through my legs, but I could hardly feel them. My arms protected my face as branches swiped at me. The woods were dense in places, and every direction looked the same. My only hope was to make sure the sun stayed in front of me.
    Birds flew into the sky as my feet pounded the forest floor. I cursed and hoped they wouldn’t give me away. My wild hair blocked my vision every time I looked over my shoulder. I fell twice and smashed my knee into a boulder. My brain screamed at me to keep moving.
    I ran for what seemed like thirty minutes before finally I had to stop and gasp for air. I hunched low and leaned against a tree; I desperately needed a breather.
    I quickly took inventory. My dress was dirty, and there was blood coming from my stomach, which dampened the material. My feet were bleeding too, but thankfully nothing seemed to hurt badly.
    My fingers dug into the ground as my head went a little fuzzy. I gripped some small rocks, which gave me an idea. I madly ripped the bottom of my