May felt her heart accelerate. How could she find him? He could have gone in any direction. It was too late. Her chance had gone.
Unless—unless there was one last-ditch attempt she could make.
It wasn’t a great idea; in fact, May knew it wasn’t even a good idea. But it was her only idea. What she was about to do would be dangerous, for sure. But it might lead her to Chanel, and if it didn’t, it might lead him back to her again.
She walked out of the house.
She drew in a breath, as long and deep as she could.
If she was wrong, she was going to be in trouble which she hoped she’d be able to handle.
But if she was right, then it might make all the difference.
“Chanel!” she screamed, at the top of her voice. “Chanel! Are you here? Can you hear me? Chanel? I’m coming to help you!”
The woods resounded with silence. But then, finally, she had her answer.
From somewhere deep in the trees, May heard a faint, faraway cry in reply.
She’d been answered! And the voice was coming from the left!
She raced along the narrow track. This was where he had her. Somewhere deep in these woods. Breath burned in her throat as she ran. He could be preparing to kill her now. She had to get there in time.
“Chanel!” she screamed again. She took out her gun, knowing she might have to burst into this hiding place to make the rescue.
The trees lining the track grew thicker the further away they got from the lake. They twisted together to form a dark canopy. Roots and vines snaked along the ground. It was like a tunnel, and May raced along it.
And then, behind her, she heard a massive roar, the screaming of an engine.
The next moment, from around a bend in the path, an ATV accelerated toward her. She glimpsed him at the wheel, his face intent as he sped along the path.
He’d heard her all right, and he was going to destroy the threat she represented. He was going to run her down!
There was no time for a clear shot. The ATV’s engine screamed in her ears. May dove for cover. She literally threw herself to the side, tumbling into the trees, branches scratching and scraping her.
Bumping and rocking, the ATV screamed past. It caught a tree branch which slammed into her, knocking her off her feet and sending her tumbling down the mossy slope. But she was still alive. He’d missed her by a hair’s breadth. And he was plowing forward, not turning back to try again.
That was the good news. The bad news was that she’d lost her gun in the fall. It was somewhere in the mass of bushes and ferns. She had no idea where it might have landed, and didn’t have time to hunt for it. Not when he was clearly on the way to his victim.
And that was the worst news. Because if he wasn’t coming back for her, it meant he was heading out to do the final kill, continuing with his deadly mission right now.
May scrambled to her feet, her hands bleeding from the cuts and scratches. She sprinted along the path.
There, ahead of her, near a sheltered part of the lake, was a tiny cabin. It was invisible in the trees. This was where he must be holding her.
And outside the cabin was a rustic, homemade raft. It stood near the shores of the lake. She felt ice-cold as she saw it.
He had prepared the scene for his final victim. But because she’d interfered, because he was in a hurry, he was doing things differently this time.
May caught her breath as she saw him carrying the struggling girl out. He had her in his arms. She was fighting against him. But he was a strong man, despite his slim build, and he was carrying her with ease.
He didn’t notice May. Perhaps he thought she’d been injured worse than she had been. She’d always been a good faller and knew how to roll. He was intent on getting his victim back to the lakeside, to the raft. To the end of her days. She could see Chanel fighting. She was screaming. Fear distorted her face. She had probably seen his killing cabin, the raft, and she was desperately afraid.
May raced down the hill. She left the path and ran out on to the grass in the clearing by the cabin.
Ahead, she saw him place the girl onto the raft. He was wrestling with ropes to tie her.
“Drop her!” May screamed. “Leave her be!”