ard. She stumbled over the top s

nd hips slamming against the hard edges of the wooden steps. She hit the bo

. The metallic clack of the deadbolt slidi

ht came from a tiny, grime-covered ventilation window near

nd bruised right shoulder. She placed her palms flat against the gr

li to enjoy the dark. She promised that three days without food o

lute silence settled over the room. The air was thi

omach churned violently. The panic tried to take over, but a whi

adjust to the gloom. She began tearing through the piles of ju

e. The rough staples sliced into her fingertip

usted toolbox. She wrapped her fingers around

d her head back, her eyes locking onto th

m haphazardly. The wood groaned under her weight as she c

om the filthy glass. She raised the hammer, took

hards rained down, slicing across her forearms. Bloo

n frame, driving cold rain directly into her fa

bundled it up and jammed it over the bottom edge of t

s wedged tightly against the narrow opening. She gritted her teeth, ignoring th

s lining the back of the estate. The impact knocked the wi

arking of the estate's Dobermans shattered

ed to her feet, her shoes slipping in the mud, an

blinded her, matting her hair to her skull. Her heart hammer

engaged. She grabbed the wet metal bars, pulled with all h

flashlights pierced the rain. The shouts of

ost traction. She went down hard, her knees and palms scrap

ste of blood filled her mouth again. The sheer terror of

lungs screaming for oxygen. She nee

of a 24-hour convenience store cut throu

. Her vision blurred at the edges. She was running o

parked in the shadows, sat an old, unassuming Volkswagen. Leaning against the