Christa’s heart shot into her throat when a man materialized out of nowhere and grabbed Sam.
She opened her mouth to scream, instinctively turning to reach for Bryn, but someone grabbed her from behind, jerking her to a halt. A muscled arm locked around her waist, and a hard hand covered her mouth.
Instinct took over.
She sank her teeth into the hand over her mouth and whirled, momentarily breaking the man’s grip. “Get away from me!” She lashed out with her foot, managed to catch him in the knee, making him stumble.
She’d been assaulted and kidnapped before. Never again.
She twisted around, terror forking through her. Bryn and Sam were both being dragged toward the road. Behind her, she could hear the man she’d kicked coming after her.
Christa turned and ran down the sidewalk, yelling for help.
An SUV sped up to the curb in front of her, its headlights off, and plunged to a halt. She spun to the left, veering away from it. She could hear the running footsteps behind her, her pursuer coming closer.
Her skin prickled. “Help!” she screamed, and glanced over her shoulder.
The guy holding Sam was already dragging her toward the vehicle, and Bryn was struggling valiantly against her attacker.
A hand shot toward her. Christa wrenched away and spun hard, then sprinted for the hedge lining the sidewalk. But the guy chasing her was right behind her. Too close.
She hurdled the hedge, her heart slamming in her chest as she raced back toward the visitor’s center. Nev and Emily. Were they okay? She had to attract attention and get help.
A strong hand caught the back of her jacket. She let out a scream and shrugged out of it, almost tripping before she regained her balance and kept running.
The man chasing her cursed, his closeness sending a rush of terror down her spine. No! He was right on top of her. She’d never be able to outrun him, and the visitor’s center entrance was still too far away.
Her gaze landed on a hefty branch lying on the ground under a tree. She ducked to snag it as she ran, but her legs felt wobbly, the fear sapping her muscles and slowing her down.
The man behind her was right there, an arm’s length away. Any second, he would grab her. She had to fight him off. She was Sam and Bryn’s only chance to get help.
Gripping the end of the branch in both hands like a bat, she stopped suddenly and whirled to face her attacker, swinging it with every ounce of her strength.
The dry wood slammed across the side of the man’s head, and shattered. He grunted, grabbing at his head as he fell sideways into the bushes.
Skin crawling, Christa dropped the branch and ran, but he was already up and after her again. The sidewalk ahead was empty.
“Help! Someone help me!” she screamed, hoping someone would hear her.
Suspense Series #6
