Chapter 2 - The Desperate Flight
He moved with terrifying speed,
a blur of dark clothing and blind rage,
reaching for Claire's throat.
But my sister was prepared,
her instincts honed by years of dealing with dangerous men in courtrooms,
and she sidestepped his brutal attack.
She shoved a heavy metal medical cart directly into his path,
sending glass vials,
bandages,
and metal trays crashing to the floor in a deafening clatter.
David stumbled,
cursing violently,
his knee slamming into the sharp edge of the cart.
"Run, Sarah!" Claire screamed,
grabbing Mia by the arm,
pulling her toward the hallway.
I ripped the IV from my arm,
ignoring the sudden sting,
ignoring the blood welling up on my skin.
Adrenaline flooded my veins,
masking the agonizing pain in my fractured ribs,
numbing the ache in my bruised spine.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed,
my bare feet hitting the cold,
sticky floor.
David recovered quickly,
shaking off the impact,
his eyes burning with a murderous,
unhinged light.
"You are not leaving this room, Sarah!" he roared,
lunging toward me,
his large hands outstretched like claws.
I grabbed the heavy ceramic vase from the bedside table,
the one filled with the lilies he had just brought,
and swung it with every ounce of strength I had left.
It shattered against his shoulder,
water and petals exploding in a chaotic shower,
stunning him just long enough for me to slip past.
I burst into the brightly lit corridor,
the fluorescent lights blinding me,
the smell of antiseptic burning my lungs.
Claire was already holding the heavy fire door open at the end of the hall,
Mia tucked safely under her arm.
"Hurry!" Claire urged,
her eyes wide with panic.
I sprinted,
my breath coming in ragged,
painful gasps,
every step sending shockwaves of agony through my battered body.
Behind me,
I could hear David roaring my name,
his heavy boots pounding against the linoleum.
Nurses and doctors stepped out of their stations,
their faces frozen in shock,
confused by the sudden chaos erupting in their quiet ward.
"Stop her!" David yelled,
pointing a finger at me,
playing the victim,
"She is having a psychotic break,
she is a danger to herself,
somebody stop my wife!"
A young orderly stepped into my path,
his hands raised hesitantly,
trying to process the frantic commands.
"Get out of my way!" I screamed,
my voice raw,
feral,
and dripping with desperation.
I shoved past him,
not looking back,
throwing myself through the heavy fire door just as David reached the end of the hall.
Claire slammed the door shut,
engaging the heavy deadbolt,
her chest heaving as she locked eyes with me.
"The stairs," she commanded,
pointing down the concrete shaft,
"We cannot use the elevators,
he will cut the power,
or have Harrison's men waiting in the lobby."
We descended into the dimly lit stairwell,
our footsteps echoing loudly against the concrete walls.
Mia was crying silently now,
tears streaming down her pale cheeks,
her small hand gripping mine with terrifying strength.
"I've got you, baby," I whispered between breaths,
"Mommy is here,
nobody is going to hurt us ever again,
I promise."
But as we reached the ground floor,
the wail of police sirens pierced the night air,
growing louder,
closer,
surrounding the hospital building.
May you like
Harrison’s men had arrived,
and they were not coming to rescue us.
