Page 92 of The Rookie's Second Chance

There was no response, just the deafening silence of the cabin. I took a step forward, ready for anything. This was it, the moment of truth. Kayla had to be there, behind the sofa. I could feel it.

With one swift movement, I rounded the corner of the sofa, knife raised, ready to confront her. But as I looked behind it, my heart sank.

It was empty. No Kayla. Just an old, dusty blanket that had shifted when I passed by earlier.

I stood there, my mind racing. She had to be here somewhere. I had to find her, had to bring her back. She was the key to everything.

With renewed resolve, I continued my search, moving through the cabin with purpose. Kayla couldn't hide forever. I would find her. I had to.

Chapter Forty-Three

KAYLA

Lying in the musty bed, I worked on a plan. Earlier, while Mandy was busy on her computer, I had caught a glimpse of a map. It showed the Henderson woods off Godwin Road. I knew I had to let Jake know where I was without alerting Mandy. So, during the phone call, I slipped in the code about Godwin's liquor. It was a gamble, but my only chance.

I heard footsteps outside. My heart leaped. Was it Jake? Or Mandy returning? I feigned sleep, every muscle in my body tensed, ready to act. Then, as the door creaked open and Mandy stepped outside, I knew it was now or never. Desperately, I tried to free myself from the bindings, but they were too tight, biting into my skin.

Suddenly, there was someone else in the room. A hand clamped over my mouth, and I nearly screamed, but it was Jake. Relief flooded through me as his lips brushed mine in a hurried kiss.

"We need to go. Now," he whispered urgently, cutting through my bindings with a knife he had brought.

Pulled from the bed, I stumbled, disoriented and weak. We were almost at the door when Mandy returned. Panic surged through me. Jake's grip tightened, and he pulled me into a closet. My heart hammered in my chest as we heard Mandy's angry voice, her footsteps heavy as she searched for me.

Jake's eyes met mine in the dim light, a silent communication passing between us. We moved cautiously, shifting from one hiding place to another, avoiding Mandy's frenzied search.

As we crouched behind an old dresser, I could hear Mandy's breathing, ragged and close. Jake's hand found mine, squeezing it gently. It was a small comfort in the face of our peril. We were so close to freedom, yet so far.

Mandy's voice echoed through the cabin, filled with frustration and anger. "Kayla! Where are you? You can't hide forever!" Her footsteps moved away, and Jake signaled it was time to move.

We tiptoed towards the back door, every creak of the floorboards making my heart skip a beat. We were almost there, just a few more steps.

But then, a noise from the other room made us freeze. Mandy was coming back. Panic set in. We couldn't be caught now, not when we were so close. Jake's grip on my hand tightened as we looked for another place to hide.

We found ourselves in a small pantry, cramped and dark. I could barely breathe, the fear and the closeness overwhelming. Jake's presence was the only thing keeping me grounded.

Mandy's voice was getting closer, her footsteps echoing in my ears. My heart was racing, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. We couldn't let her find us, not now. We had to get out, had to escape.

Pressed against the pantry wall, my breath came in short gasps. Jake's hand on my arm was the only thing anchoring me. He cautiously peered out, signaling it was safe to move. I followed, my legs trembling, the taste of fear sharp in my mouth.

But then, in a heart-stopping moment, Mandy's hand clamped around my arm, wrenching me away from Jake. My heart plummeted into my stomach. I spun around to face her, and there it was – the cold metal of my own gun pressing against my temple. Jake whirled around, his pistol aimed, but the sight of me in Mandy's grip froze him.

"Don't hurt her," Jake's voice was a desperate plea, thick with emotion. Mandy's eyes were wild, her grip on me unyielding.

"I have to," Mandy's voice cracked. "Or else we can't be together."

I could feel my whole body trembling, the gun cold and heavy against my skin. Then, without warning, Mandy struck me with the gun. Pain exploded in my head, stars dancing before my eyes. I whimpered, the sound muffled and weak.

Jake's voice was steady, but I could hear the undercurrent of fear. "We can be together."

Mandy's laugh was bitter. "You're lying."

Jake's next move took me by surprise. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and kissed Mandy. My heart stopped. Horror and confusion flooded through me. But then, through the haze of fear and pain, I caught Jake's eye. He was looking at me, a silent message in his gaze.

At that moment, I understood. It was a ruse, a desperate attempt to disarm her. All I could do was watch, helpless, as Jake sacrificed his pride, his integrity, to save us both.

The moment Mandy's grip on the gun loosened, my instincts kicked in. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, fueling a surge of desperate strength. I lunged, my fingers wrapping around the gun's barrel, struggling to wrest it from her grasp. Our bodies collided, a tangled mess of limbs and raw desperation.

Mandy was surprisingly strong, her fingers like iron around the gun. Our struggle was chaotic, a whirlwind of pushing and pulling. Every muscle in my body screamed in exertion as I fought for control. The gun wavered between us, its deadly potential a hair-trigger away.

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