Page 6 of Reclaiming Adelaide

“Not far,” I whispered as a vehicle turned down the street. Their headlights momentarily blinded me as they passed by.

My hands shook as the big black truck revved his diesel engine behind me. Even though he’d driven away, my raw nerves fired off until every part of my body shuddered.

One mile down and another to go. Sweat dribbled down my spine despite the chill on my cheeks and nose.

Ten more steps until the light.

Nine.

Eight.

A cat meandered across the street ahead, pausing in the center with no sense of self-preservation.

They had to know that it was a dangerous place to be hanging out, right? Like I knew that walking in the dark was a stupid idea, yet I did it anyway.

The roar of the diesel engine came up behind me.

I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know it wasn’t normal. My pulse swooshed in my ears, and my heart picked up the tempo.

A car door shut, followed by heavy footfalls against the cement, approaching me from behind.

Shit.

Oh my God.

I grabbed my purse and tucked it tighter into my body as I quickened my pace, my thighs burning from the abuse. The footsteps behind me echoed down the barren street in time with my own.

Glancing over my shoulder, I did a double take as my heart stopped dead in my chest. A man with wide shoulders and tapered waist cast a shadow into the street like the Iron Giant, and he was heading this way—his shoulders swinging to and fro.

If he got hold of me… I didn’t stand a chance, and Jake’s threats would come to fruition.

I needed a means of escape. My heart thudded in my chest, exhausted from the terror and paranoia as my eyes darted all around.

The Iron Giant’s footsteps grew closer, and the sight over my shoulder drove my heart into my stomach.

Run.

My feet hit the asphalt without a second thought, and he and the truck responded in kind.

The distant roar of the diesel engine became a monster about to lash out at me as my feet hit the middle of the road.

Another long stride.

“Ahh,” I cried out as a truck collided with my shoulder, my world spinning around me. The collision twisted my body around, my feet tripping over themselves until I hurtled into the curb, my hip taking the brunt of the impact.

My hands burned as they skidded against the pitted cement. A keen-edged bolt of agony tore at my bones, sending an electrical zap to my toes.

Boots.

Running.

Closer.

I pushed myself to my feet in time for the Giant to hit the street. His face glowed a demonic maroon as the truck’s brake lights cast shadows around the darkened street.

The red lights vanished into the night as I limped toward Miss. Lavender’s yard, followed by squealing tires.

Home. It was so tangible I could feel the doorknob in my hands. But that’s all I’d get is a distant memory if I didn’t hightail it out of here.

---