Chapter 7 - The Underground Escape
The basement was cool and completely dark.
Mom was huddled in the corner, sobbing hysterically as the ceiling above us began to creak and groan.
The heat radiating from the floorboards was becoming unbearable.
“Mary, get up!” Julia commanded, shining a small flashlight toward the back wall.
“We are leaving right now.”
I ran to the rusted storm doors that led up to the backyard.
I grabbed the heavy metal latch and pulled with all my strength, but it wouldn't budge.
“It’s rusted shut!” I panicked, pulling harder.
Julia rushed over and wedged the barrel of the empty hunting rifle into the latch mechanism.
“Push!” she yelled.
Together, we pushed the rifle barrel upward, using it as a lever.
With a loud screech of tearing metal, the latch finally gave way.
I pushed the heavy metal doors open, and fresh night air poured into the smoky basement.
We scrambled up the concrete stairs and out into the tall grass of the backyard.
The entire front half of the farmhouse was engulfed in massive orange flames.
The roaring fire illuminated the night sky, casting long, terrifying shadows across the property.
“Keep moving toward the old barn,” Julia whispered, grabbing my hand.
“We can hide in the tree line behind it.”
We ran through the darkness, our feet sinking into the muddy ground.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the barn, blocking our path.
It was Steven.
He was holding a shiny silver revolver, his hands shaking violently.
“Stop right there,” Steven cried, tears streaming down his face.
“I can’t let you leave, Clara.”
“Marcus said if I bring you to him, he’ll forgive the debt and let me live.”
I stared at the brother I had grown up with, feeling absolutely nothing but disgust.
“You would let them murder me to save your own pathetic life?” I asked coldly.
“I don’t have a choice!” Steven screamed.
“You’ve ruined everything!”
Mom stepped in front of me, placing herself between Steven’s gun and my body.
“Put the gun down, Steven,” Mom pleaded.
“This has gone too far.”
“Get out of the way, Mom,” he warned.
“No,” she said firmly, her voice finally finding some strength.
“I failed Clara her entire life, but I will not fail her tonight.”
Steven hesitated, his finger trembling on the trigger.
In that split second of hesitation, Julia moved with lightning speed.
She lunged forward, grabbing Steven’s wrist and twisting it violently to the side.
The gun went off with a loud crack, firing harmlessly into the dirt.
Julia drove her knee into Steven’s stomach, sending him collapsing to the ground, gasping for air.
She picked up the fallen revolver and pointed it directly at his head.
“Don’t move a muscle, Steven,” Julia warned softly.
May you like
She looked at me and nodded toward the dense woods.
“Let’s go.”
