Page 40 of Enduring Promise

“We’ll head to the garages,” he continued, gesturing toward the visible structure down the gravel path. “If you can get to your cars, leave. Don’t wait for anyone. Just go.”

That was all it took to ignite the crowd. The gathered guests surged toward the garages, the orderly retreat he’d hoped for descending into chaos. People bumped into each other, stumbling in their panic. Voices rose, calling out for loved ones, adding to the cacophony.

Russ turned to Hillary, who stood a few feet away, trying to guide people with calm instructions. “Stay close to me,” he said, but his voice was lost in the din. She nodded, her face set with determination, and reached out to help a woman who had tripped on the uneven ground.

As Russ moved forward, he found himself surrounded by the older guests who struggled to keep pace. A man clung to his arm, his breath labored, while a woman on his other side stumbled repeatedly on the gravel. Russ slowed his steps, gripping their arms firmly to keep them steady.

“Just a little farther,” he told them, his voice firm and impatient.

Ahead of him, the path was a sea of moving bodies. Russ searched for Hillary, but the crowd was too dense, the flickering light of the fire making it impossible to pick out faces. His chest tightened as he realized they’d been separated.

“Hillary!” he shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the noise. He wanted to push forward, to find her, but the people clinging to him needed him too much. He couldn’t leave them behind.

“Let’s keep moving,” he urged, his grip firm as he guided the older couple down the path. The garages were still a ways off, but they were the closest thing to shelter. His gut told him Michael wouldn’t give up easily. Fire was just the beginning.

A woman nearby screamed, her voice sharp and filled with terror. Russ’s head snapped toward the sound, but he couldn’t see where it had come from. The chaos was too thick, the shadows too long. He gritted his teeth, his focus returning to the task at hand.

“Almost there,” he muttered, more to himself than the people he was helping.

The night stretched on, the weight of the danger pressing heavily on his shoulders. And somewhere in the crowd, Hillary was out there, navigating the same chaos, just as determined to keep everyone safe. Russ hoped she was doing it without getting herself killed.

CHAPTER 39

The gravel crunched beneath Hillary’s feet as she moved swiftly through the crowd, directing stragglers toward the garages. The glow of dawn cast long shadows over the scene, turning the frightened faces around her into ghostly silhouettes. Smoke from the burning house hung heavy in the air, stinging her eyes and throat.

“Keep moving!” she called, her voice crackling with exhaustion. “Help each other if you can!”

A group of guests nearby had slowed to assist an elderly woman struggling to keep her balance. Hillary nodded to them, gratitude flashing across her face. She turned to head back toward the house, her heart clenching at the thought of anyone being left behind. That was when she saw the figure lying in the gravel.

Someone had fallen.

The dim light made it difficult to make out who it was, but instinct drove her forward. She called out as she approached. “Hey, are you alright? Can you get up?”

The figure didn’t respond. They were sprawled on their side, their head turned away from her. Hillary quickened her pace,bending slightly as she reached them. The moment she was within arm’s reach, the figure moved.

A hand shot out, grabbing her ankle with vise-like force.

She stumbled, a startled cry escaping her lips as she tried to pull away. The grip tightened, and before she could react further, she was yanked off her feet. She hit the ground hard, the rough gravel scraping her palms and knees. Pain radiated through her, but the panic flooding her veins drowned it out.

In the low light, the figure shifted, and she finally saw his face.

Michael.

His eyes were wild, his face smeared with soot and sweat. He grinned, a chilling expression that made her stomach twist. “Gotcha,” he hissed.

Hillary screamed, her voice raw and desperate, but it was cut short as Michael lunged forward, clamping a hand over her mouth. The weight of him pressed her into the gravel, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe. Her heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the chaos around them.

“Shh,” he whispered, his voice dangerously calm. “Shut your mouth.”

She thrashed beneath him, her arms flailing, but he was stronger, heavier. His free hand gripped her wrist, pinning it to the ground. His face was inches from hers, the acrid smell of smoke and sweat making her gag.

“You’re a fool,” he said, his tone dripping with disdain. “Did you really think you could outsmart me? Trick me? Don’t you know who I am?” He laughed, low and menacing. “You’ll never take down a man like me. None of you will.”

His words hit like a physical blow. Hillary’s chest burned as she fought for air, her screams muffled against his hand. Her mind raced, searching for a way out, but her body was frozen with terror.

“I’ll take you all out,” Michael continued, his voice venomous. “One by one. Starting with you.”

Hillary’s vision blurred, her lungs straining against the weight of his hand. Her legs kicked wildly, her heels digging into the gravel as she tried to break free. Her muffled cries were frantic, but no one seemed to notice. The chaos of the evacuation drowned her out.

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