Page 80 of Hidden Raphael
With all her noise, no one came at her? She rushed to another tree in the back, but still no one followed. Why? She was almost dizzy, but it was odd no one was here. On the third dash backward to another tree, she knelt down and hid in the scrubs.
Raphael must be at the clearing. It was hard to judge the sky from the slivers of light that made it through the dark forest, but it might already be early evening. The coast guard should be here soon.
With luck, she'd get this to Michaela, if her medicine was still in the bag. Kimberly bit her lower lip, then opened the bag and fished around. First she found a pair of scissors and yarn. Strange. Michaela must crochet. Then she pushed past the change of clothes and the makeup and clenched her fingers around some pill bottles that had Michaela's name. She packed everything again but kept her ears open. How come no one was here? She retraced her path to where Raphael said to wait.
He wasn't there. She drummed her two fingers on her shoulder and scanned the area. He had always shown up and been her hero. She held the bag tight. She had a choice to make. She could run to the castle to give the bag to Michaela. Or she could follow in Raphael's footsteps to find him. He might need help.
Harry and Roger were not at their camp. Perhaps Raphael had detained them. If he rounded them back up to shove them back in his dungeon, she wouldn’t complain.
Her fingers inched upward toward her neck and his medallion. This was for his future wife, and she had to give it back to him. First things first: she'd have to find Raphael.
She scanned both paths one more time. Michaela needed her medicine fast, but she would worry about her brother. Kimberly stilled. She'd not rest either. Something had to be wrong.
She adjusted the bag on her shoulder and set off into the darkness. Her heart told her to beware. Her mind told her Raphael had everything in order. She argued internally that Raphael knew how to take care of himself. He had been outside numerous times as she cowered in his castle.
This path was so thick with forest and shrubs that the gray skies almost didn't filter through. It might as well be night. She closed her eyes and let her fingers go into her circle. She needed to find her center.
A moment later she opened her eyes and her gaze adjusted. She followed the path and hid as best she could. She took the time to listen.
In the thick of the forest, the winds lessened. She quieted her footsteps as much as she could.
Then she heard the snap of someone's fingers. She ducked low in the shrubs and reached behind her. She still had her Taser in case someone came at her from anywhere.
Again she heard the smack of a skin on skin. Her hearing sharpened. A fist pounded against flesh. A fight? She swallowed. Now was not a good time to be found.
It might be Raphael, though. Her hands shook, but she shoved them in her pockets to retrieve her Taser. She peered around, and made out a heavy grunt.
Her heart thrashed in her ears.
Another grunt boomed in the air. There was more than one person, but then that made total sense. Raphael had to be here, and the sound came from the left. Who was he fighting? Roger, or Harry? Or both?
She stayed low, but crawled toward the next big tree. She peeked her head out, and saw Raphael hung upside down on a huge pine tree at the edge of the clearing.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. He was the hero. He handled the fights. She clenched her fingers into a ball. Her hands were tiny compared to his. What could she do?
Roger stepped into her view near Raphael. Raphael's dark hair shook like he was ready to fight the man if he was cut down. Then Roger's hand flew backward. She flinched as his fists landed on Raphael's ribs, and she heard a twig under her foot break as she moved in sympathy.
She froze. Any second now, someone might see her.
Every cell in her body urged her to run back to the castle, but her gaze went back to the upside-down Raphael.
He needed her help. She licked her lips. What could she do? Her eyes scanned the area. Raphael hung in his position from black wiring. She scratched her head. It had to be from either crash. It wouldn't cut like rope. The wire must be strong enough to hold her muscled warrior like that.
She stilled again.
Harry walked closer to Raphael, and her gaze sharpened on what was in his hand. Harry held a gun. No. Adrenaline spiked through her. She had to help.
She clutched her Taser in her hand and readied herself.
Between Roger and Harry, she'd aim for Harry, who seemed to have a soft spot for her. The gun would kill them. If she could get it from Harry, she’d give it to Raphael. She'd launch a rescue somehow. No plan surfaced, but she had to do something.
Kimberly needed Raphael alive. He had to be okay.
She crawled closer as Roger took another swing at her lover. The brutal pounding of flesh boomed in her hearing. He’d saved her numerous times. She'd find a way to free him.
She caught sight of the embers of the fire. She stopped, refusing to think of what would happen if she was caught. Raphael, she, and Michaela had to survive. There was no other option.
