Page 44 of No Escape

Enough,he thought.

Without warning, John lunged at Tank, the speed of his movement belying his size. Tank barely had time to react, his fists coming up to defend himself just as John’s powerful hands gripped his shoulders, pushing him backwards. The force of John’s attack sent them both stumbling into a nearby squat rack, the weights clattering to the floor.

Tank quickly regained his footing and threw a punch at John’s face, his knuckles connecting with a sickening crunch. But John seemed unfazed, his smile never wavering as he countered with a swift, brutal blow to Tank’s midsection. Tank doubled over, gasping for breath as he tried to recover from the impact.

The two men continued to trade blows, their grunts and cries of pain deadened by the close red walls of the room. The deep red seemed to encircle them, pulsing with a hate and anger that had to be avenged.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, John managed to land a solid punch to Tank’s jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. Tank’s body shook with the effort of trying to stand, but it was clear that he was spent, his strength drained by the fierce battle.

John stood over Tank, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily. He looked down at his fallen brother, a sadistic grin spreading across his face as he lifted a heavy dumbbell high above his head.

“Now it’s time to pay the reaper, Tank,” he said.

Tank looked up at John, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and resignation, as if he knew that his fate was sealed.

The room fell silent, the hum of the building now replaced by the heavy, labored breathing of the two combatants. The storm outside had paused, as if even the elements were waiting to see how this brutal struggle would end.

And John Murphy brought the weights down with a force that could only be fueled by pure hatred.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Valerie’s hands tightened on the wheel, her eyes scanning the road ahead as the headlights cut through the dim evening light. Shadows stretched out across the landscape, growing longer as night approached. In the passenger seat, Suzie shifted uneasily, her fingers nervously tapping on her thigh.

“Do you think Tank Murphy will be John’s next target?” she asked, her voice barely audible over the hum of the truck’s engine.

Valerie exhaled slowly, the weight of uncertainty heavy on her shoulders. “Honestly, Suzie, it’s hard to say. John Murphy’s pattern for choosing his family victims seems erratic.”

The road stretched out before them, a seemingly endless ribbon of asphalt winding through the twilight. The radio played softly in the background, an old country song adding a melancholy soundtrack to their journey. The lyrics spoke of heartache and redemption, echoing the emotions that churned within Valerie.

Suzie’s gaze fixed on the passing scenery, her eyes following the shadows that flitted by. “What if we can’t stop him in time?” she whispered, the worry evident in her voice.

Valerie glanced over at her, a quiet resolve settling in her eyes. “We can’t afford to entertain that thought,” she said, her voice steady. “All we can do is keep following the leads and hope we catch up to him.”

Suzie nodded, her expression determined. “You’re right,” she agreed, her posture straightening. “Dwelling on the worst-case scenario won’t help anyone.”

As the truck rolled on through the encroaching night, Valerie sensed a strange tenseness in her sister beside her. Suzie spoke positively, but it was as though something was building inside of her. Valerie glanced at Suzie and saw a nervous expression on her face.

“Are you okay?” Valerie asked.

“Yes,” came the blunt answer.

The truck’s headlights illuminated the long, winding country road that seemed to stretch on forever. Valerie gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles whitening as the tension mounted. They were close to Tank Murphy’s home, she could feel it in her bones.

The radio crackled to life, a news bulletin interrupting the silence that had settled in the truck. A reporter’s voice filled the cab, the urgency in his tone sending chills down their spines.

“We have breaking news of a brutal murder at the Iron Temple gym. It is believed that a man who worked there named Tank Murphy has been bludgeoned to death by his younger brother, John Murphy, a convicted killer who recently escaped from a psychiatric facility. The FBI has confirmed that an agent named Valerie Law also escaped from the same facility, and authorities suspect she may be connected to the recent spate of killings.”

The words hung heavy in the air as Valerie slammed on the brakes, the truck screeching to a halt in the middle of the desolate road. The world outside seemed to hold its breath, the night pressing in on them from all sides, a cloak of darkness swallowing the truck whole.

Valerie pounded her fists against the steering wheel in frustration, the hopelessness of their situation settling in like a vise around her heart. They had been so close, but it seemed as though fate had cruelly intervened, putting yet another life beyond their reach.

The night was filled with a pervasive loneliness, the remote landscape around them offering no solace or comfort. Trees loomed like silent sentinels at the edge of the road, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, as if trying to pull the truck into the darkness.

Suzie looked at Valerie, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. “What do we do now?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the truck’s idling engine.

Valerie stared out into the night, her jaw set with determination. “We keep going,” she said quietly, the steel in her voice belying the pain that gripped her heart. “We can’t bring Tank back, but we can make sure John Murphy doesn’t take any more lives. We need to think about who he’ll target next.”

As the truck resumed its journey down the endless road, the weight of their mission settled heavily upon them. The night seemed darker, the isolation more acute. But Valerie knew they couldn’t afford to give in to despair. There was still work to be done, and they were the only ones who could do it.

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