Page 65 of No Quarter

“What the hell happened?” Valerie said, helping Sam support the doctor’s weight.

“Someone came out of a doorway ... Hit me with something before I knew it.”

“Sam, take the doctor to his office and wake up one of the nurses to tend to his head injury.”

“I ... I’m okay. It’s too dangerous on your own ...”

“I’ll be fine,” Valerie said, drawing her gun.

The doctor felt a quiver of fear run through him when he saw it. Valerie Law had brought danger to Elmwood.

“Go, Sam,” she said. “And wake up Charlie and Will.”

With that, Valerie disappeared around the corner in the direction of Doctor Whitmore’s attacker. Alone, and rushing into the fight.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Valerie listened for any sign of movement in the corridor. There was none. But that didn’t mean that no one was nearby.

Looking down at the deep green carpet, she could see drips of blood and a spatter pattern on the opposite wall where Doctor Whitmore had been attacked.

Hopefully Sam had gotten a nurse to patch him up by now.

Moving along the corridor, revolver in hand, Valerie moved as quietly as she could along the carpeted floor.

She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she approached a corner.

Just as she was about to round the bend, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps coming toward her.

Her muscles tensed and her grip on the gun tightened. She braced herself for whatever was around that corner.

But as soon as she stepped out from behind it, there was no one there. The footsteps had stopped just short of where she stood.

Could they have been an illusion? A trick played by this cursed place?

Dread washed over Valerie.

It’s your mind again, trying to get you killed.

She continued in that direction until she reached the door to the communal area. Pushing it open slowly, it creaked. The large room was bathed in darkness.

Taking out her flashlight, Valerie illuminated the empty chairs, tables, and couches.

Looking around, she saw no sign of Doctor Whitmore’s attacker.

Feeling a mix of relief and disappointment, she turned to head back along another hallway when, all of a sudden, she heard the noise of the other door opening up ahead in the room.

Nerves on edge, Valerie carefully made her way toward the source of the sound. As she drew closer, her grip on her gun tightened.

At last, she arrived at the door and made her way through it.

Again footsteps.

But are they real?Valerie thought.

She shook her head like a fighter shaking off a near KO and looked around.

Footsteps around the corner.

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