Page 69 of Hidden Raphael
Without a word, Harry marched her in front of him toward the exit. She had to get away. Roger led them somewhere. She clawed at his hand on her neck before he snapped it. Now was not her time to die.
On the first step, her foot dragged and her body fought against his direction.
Roger pointed behind her to Harry, and implied they should go up. The helicopter was their escape plan. Sweat grew on her brow. Why had she told them? She squirmed, but Harry's fingers pinched into her neck. "What are you going to do with me?"
Roger turned back for a second. "Hurry."
Roger raced up in front of them and opened the door to the roof. This was her fault. Harry kept her in his grip. Did everyone she ever meet lie? Pains racked her chest. Outside the wind pummeled her skin. It was bitterly cold. She turned her head as Harry loosened his grip.
Roger ran toward the helicopter. She jumped at the sudden roar of the blades. He was a pilot, so he’d know how to fly. She couldn’t let him shoot her. He probably wouldn’t miss again. She swallowed and glanced around the roof. She'd have to break free.
Harry dragged her toward the helicopter, ready to run. Roger started the engine and stuck his thumb up in the air. The metal helicopter would be the best thing to hang on to and save her life. She couldn’t get on board.
Over the noise of the motor, she heard Raphael: "Let her go."
Adrenaline pumped in her veins. It was now or never. Harry turned around, his fingers squeezing her neck, and backed her toward the helicopter. She nodded at Raphael, letting him know that she had a plan.
The rumble of the helicopter smothered all other sounds.
She met Raphael's fiery gaze as he pointed a rifle toward them. Her heart raced in her chest. He had a different plan. Raphael wouldn’t let her die. She couldn't blink. She'd focus on her plan.
Her feet scraped against metal as Harry stepped up on a platform.Now. She gripped the edge of the helicopter and fought to be free. Harry growled and lifted her by the neck toward the spinning blades. She kicked, screamed. He lifted her higher until she felt the whir of the metal.
This was it. He was about to throw her. Decapitate her.
Then Harry tossed her outward, not up. She landed on all fours on the stone floor. She squeezed her eyes shut, and absorbed the stones under the palms of her hands. Alive. Saved by Harry, again.
Raphael's hands brushed against her back. “Are you okay?”
She crawled away from him too. “Don’t touch me.”
Kimberly turned around and realized Raphael still had his rifle aimed at the helicopter. To stop it? When would this be over? She blocked her ears.
The pop of his rifle echoed, and something hard hit the ground next to her. The helicopter left the platform. Adrenaline coursed through her. Was she next? She peeked up and saw black smoke coming from the helicopter. Raphael must have hit it, but now the helicopter wobbled in the air. “Meet me in the library, Kimberly.”
“I need to go to my room.”
Raphael stepped back and yelled something else at her. She had no idea what he said, but he gestured for her to get up. Her body trembled, but she stood. Raphael pointed her to the stairs. She nodded, then ran back. She yelled, “See you there.”
The castle was safe. She had the Taser in her princess room, and she’d use it to keep everyone away.
Raphael stayed outside, and she heard the pop of his rifle again. Right now was her best chance to escape. She'd get her Taser and be ready in case anyone followed her to attack her again.
She never should have explored without it. She raced back down the stairs and through the tunnel. She hoped this was some bad dream, and she'd wake up in her bed.
No one was in the main castle. Her feet pounded into the hardwood floors as she ran down the stony halls. Her hands held her stomach.
She'd get her things and camp if she had to. There was no way she was going into the dungeon, and she'd not face Raphael's girlfriend. She had no idea what to do except run.
At her door, she flung it open and raced inside. She slammed the door behind her and found her bag.
A winter alone here was too much. All she had was the cold plastic Taser for company, and she'd never let it go.
