Chapter 8 - The Blizzard Chase
I threw open the heavy wooden door and plunged directly into the massive, freezing, howling winter blizzard.
The freezing wind instantly bit into my exposed skin like a thousand tiny, incredibly sharp icy knives.
I did not stop to grab my heavy winter coat, knowing that a single second of hesitation would completely cost me my life.
I heard Julian roaring in absolute, blind rage from inside the cabin, his heavy footsteps thundering violently toward the open door.
I pushed through the knee-deep snow, moving as incredibly fast as my heavy, pregnant body would possibly allow.
The forest was completely dark, the dense pine trees offering the only small shreds of cover from the blinding, violent snowstorm.
I ducked behind a massive, fallen oak tree, completely burying my body in the deep snow to hide my distinct footprints.
Julian emerged onto the cabin porch, holding a massive, terrifying hunting rifle that he had secretly packed for the trip.
"You cannot hide from me out here!" he screamed into the roaring wind, his voice completely laced with murderous insanity.
"You will freeze to death before you ever reach the main road, you stupid, arrogant woman!"
I covered my mouth with both hands, desperately trying to muffle the loud, incredibly heavy sound of my own panicked breathing.
My toes and fingers were already turning completely numb, the extreme cold rapidly draining the precious energy from my body.
I knew Julian was absolutely right; I could not survive a night in this extreme, incredibly brutal mountain wilderness.
I had to find a way to signal for help, or I had to find a way to completely incapacitate the armed serial killer hunting me.
I remembered passing a small, abandoned ranger station about two miles down the incredibly steep, winding mountain road.
If I could silently navigate through the dense, freezing woods, I might be able to break into the station and find a working radio.
I waited until Julian trudged angrily in the opposite direction, following a false trail of disturbed snow I had intentionally left.
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I slowly rose from my frozen hiding spot and began the agonizing, incredibly dangerous trek through the pitch-black forest.
Every single step was an absolute battle for survival, completely fueled by the fierce, protective love for my unborn child.
