Page 36 of Seeking Evil

She pocketed the earring, swung her legs over the side of the table, and tried to stand. Her legs collapsed beneath her. She hit the floor hard. Bit back a scream. She was still so weak from the medication she’d been injected with.

Sierra grabbed her shoes and slipped them on. Using the table for support, she pulled herself up. Once she was somewhat steadier on her feet, she headed for the spot where Henry had pressed to open the door.

She pressed. Nothing happened. “Come on.” It took several more tries before she found the right place.

The door opened. Sierra stumbled inside. The area had been converted to a bedroom of sorts with a small cot in the corner. Dawn lay on the concrete floor near the cot.

“I’ve got you.” She rushed to kneel beside Dawn. “How bad is it?” The wrist had already begun swelling.

“I think it’s broken.” Dawn looked up at her through tears.

“It’s possible. I need to get you free so that I can examine it.” Sierra freed Dawn’s ankles and her good wrist before turning to the one that was injured. “This is going to hurt,” she warned. Dawn braced. Sierra worked the earring post into the lock. Dawn bit down on her bottom lip to keep from screaming.

Everything she’d done to get them free had eaten up precious time they didn’t have.

“I know it hurts.” She freed Dawn’s injured wrist. Dawn clutched it to her chest.

Sierra looked around for something to secure the wrist.

The bed had a single pillow with a white pillowcase. Sierra worked quickly to remove the pillowcase and tear off pieces.

Dawn backed away shaking her head.

“We don’t have much time. Henry and his partner will be here soon. We’ve gotta get out of here. You can’t do that with your wrist like that. Let me wrap it.”

Dawn slowly relented. Sierra hated every bit of the pain she’d been forced to put Dawn through.

As she finished tying the wrap into place a sound from above grabbed her attention.

“What do we do now? We can’t stay here.” Dawn’s terror reached out to Sierra.

She ran through what she remembered of the basement. There hadn’t been an exit. She couldn’t risk them being captured again by Henry’s partner.

She searched around the room. There were no windows. Just what appeared to be cement walls all around.

Could she take the two predators down on her own? With her current weakened state, Sierra didn’t believe it was possible.

“I’m going to try and disable the door to this room so that Henry can’t get it open. She rushed out to the panel she’d pushed. The door began to close. Sierra barely made it back inside before it closed inward. If she could pull the cot against the door, it would buy them time.

She dragged it over. On the wall facing the torture room, she noticed some discoloration. “That’s got to be the panel for the door.”

Hurry, Sierra.

She pushed the discolored spot. A small compartment opened with multiple wires. Sierra yanked them all loose and prayed she’d done enough to keep Henry and his partner at bay. At least for a while.

Chapter Fourteen

The search of the garage yielded nothing useful so Zeke and Cooper moved on to the barn. As they neared, something inside had him on alert. “Did you hear that?” he whispered.

“Someone’s in there.” Cooper unholstered his weapon and advanced. Zeke did the same while texting Jack with the possible threat.

With his hand on the door, Cooper nodded.

Zeke had his weapon at the ready.

Cooper slowly opened the door and stepped inside the dark, cavernous space. Before he could hit the lights, a body slammed into him. He stumbled backward.

Zeke switched on the lights and spotted Cooper’s attacker. An older man with a shock of gray hair and wild eyes. In the corner, looking fearful, was a woman around the same age. This had to be Irv and Florence.

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