She took a deep breath. She had to be brave. She couldn't let him win. She couldn't let him take away her self-worth, her dignity, her pride, her will to live.
"Okay," she said, hoping her voice sounded stronger than she felt. "Okay, let's do it."
Nicky managed to break a window with a piece of wood, and she and Rosie had been able to crawl out, moving slowly and quietly so they wouldn't attract attention, just in case the man was somehow still around.
They were moving through the woods together now, moving as fast as they could. Each step was a risk, but they had to get out of this forest, get away from this man.
"I can't feel my feet," Rosie said.
"We need to keep going," Nicky said. "We're almost there, we can—Rosie?”
Rosie didn't answer.
She was gone.
The moon was out, but it wasn't bright enough to see far ahead. Nicky turned around and around, but she couldn't find Rosie.
"Rosie!" she whispered. "Rosie!"
There was no reply. Nicky looked back at the cabin, which was still visible through the trees. It was farther away than she had thought. She had never been so far away from it, not since the first day they came here.
Then, suddenly, there was light.
Headlights.
He was back.
"Rosie!" Nicky shouted.
"I'm stuck!" she heard her yell.
"Where? I can't see you!" Everywhere was dark. But the sound of the man's wheels crunching over the path to the cabin was getting closer by the second.
Nicky ran as fast as she could, dodging tree roots and trying to stay quiet.
The car pulled up to the cabin, and the man got out. He was holding a gun. Nicky was out of time. She had no choice but to stay hidden.
"Rosie, where are you?" Nicky whispered.
No response.
Nicky peered between the foliage to see the man had noticed they'd broken out.
He was staring at the empty window.
There was a flash of light--a flashlight.
The man was looking for them.
"Rosie, please, I can't find you!" Nicky whispered.
Another flash of light.
Then, Nicky heard Rosie scream.
She could see her now--the man was dragging her out of the forest, toward the cabin. She kicked and screamed, but he was too strong.
Nicky froze in place, terrified.