as chasing her. All she kn
as she gasped for air. Her heart hammered violently against her ribs, terror clawing at
en know why s
its hunger. Desperation seized her, and she tried to scream for help, but
d with some
A strong, t
l. A sharp gasp left her lips as she clawed at the fingers tightening around her neck. She
rkness, locking onto hers. Eyes that h
scape from m
eet
ced with deceptive softness bu
violent shiver down her spine. His grip di
his fingers away. She tried to fight back, to scream but b
... Li
her from the suff
lli
heaved as she sucked in ragged breaths, the suffocating pressure
er best friend, Evelyn, standing at t
tmare?" Evely
the bedspread tightly. She couldn't bring herself to spe
eal this time. And nothing
the bed. She hesitated for a second, then pulle
," she whispere
don't feel safe, Evie," she admitted in a broken voice. "Every second, I feel
htly, cupping her tear-streaked face. "You've been in hidin
voice wavered, panic creepi
Then we'll figure something out. But for now, you
he worse. His eyes, his palm on her throat like that night, the chilling sm
sely placed a reassurin
be okay," she
w that was a lie.
yer, her old life; just to disappear. To escape him s
, forcing a nod. "W
ded her gaze, gulping the lump in her thro
th Lillian. There was a flicker of hesita
ie.
ing else, Evelyn suddenly
red, so quietly that Li
did yo
ering her words smoothly. Lillian frowned, but Evely
you plan on doing today?" She as
emnant tears and answered the
urc
t need to feel... somethin
f she showed Him how desperate she was
moment before exhaling.
l. I don't want to
lyn nodded slowly, but her expression remained tense.
or me while y
only c
t, covering her hair with a scarf and slipping on dark s
in the mirror, she barel
nd the moment the sun kissed her skin, her steps ha
boarded a taxi and made
d over her. The large cross at the altar, the
ss. Her fingers gripped the Bible tightly as she bo
I've prayed, I've fasted and did charities. Please, just let him forget about me. Le
rembled as
promise to serve you until my last brea
ntil her b
rt out to the heavens. And when she finally stood, wi
the exit, humming a quiet hymn to herself.
black shiny shoes s
ght she
eight of someone's presence behind her. Her fingers
. Don't tu
e took a s
red, her voice barely audible as she took ano
A deep, familiar voice rumbled behin
itting the floor with a dull thud. Her entire wo
lread
d fou