Page 11 of No Escape

The storm continued to batter the facility, the rain lashing against the walls like a thousand tiny hammers. The thunder roared and rumbled, shaking the very foundations of the building, as if the heavens were trying to tear it apart. Valerie’s heart rattled furiously in her chest, beating in time with the chaotic symphony of the storm.

As she crept through the dimly lit passages, Valerie’s senses were on high alert, her ears straining to catch any sound that might betray Murphy’s presence, if he was out and unaccompanied as Valerie feared.

She felt her muscles tense with each creak and groan of the building, her mind racing with images of the chaos and destruction that he could unleash.

Her footsteps were soft and deliberate, barely making a sound as she moved further into the shadowy depths of Shady Pines. The oppressive silence, broken only by the occasional crash of thunder, weighed heavily on her, making her feel as though she were trapped in a nightmare from which there was no escape.

Every door she passed was a potential threat, a hiding place for the monster that she knew was lurking somewhere within the facility. The knowledge that John Murphy was just beyond one of those doors filled her with a cold, creeping dread, a sensation that sent shivers down her spine and made her skin crawl.

And still, Valerie pressed on, her determination driving her forward as she navigated the seemingly endless maze of corridors. She knew she couldn’t afford to let fear paralyze her, that too much was at stake for her to falter now. She had to be strong, not only for herself but for Suzie and the others who might become Murphy’s targets if he managed to break free.

As she continued her search, the storm outside showed no sign of lessening, its fury unabated as it battered the walls of Shady Pines. It was a relentless, merciless force, much like the man she was hunting, and it served as a stark reminder of the darkness that lay ahead.

She finally reached John Murphy’s room, seeing his name on the wall beside the door. Taking a deep breath, Valerie steeled herself for what she might find on the other side.

Just before Valerie could turn the door handle, Suzie appeared beside her, her expression a mixture of concern and confusion. “Val, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Valerie jumped. “You nearly scared me to death, sis!” she said in a whisper.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Suzie said. “The storm reminded me of when we were kids, waiting for Mom to come to her senses.”

Valerie shook her head. “I’m not Mom.”

“Are you sure?” Suzie said. “You seem familiar.”

Valerie looked at her sister, her face determined. “I’m an FBI agent. I’m checking on John Murphy,” she replied. “The storm is the perfect cover for him to escape, and I have to make sure he’s still in his room.”

Suzie shook her head. “You’re jeopardizing any chance you have of being released. If you want to get back to your life with Tom and the FBI, you need to get back to your room, Val.”

Valerie’s jaw tightened. “I can’t do that, Suzie. People’s safety is more important than my release. Murphy is a dangerous killer. I can’t take any chances.” Valerie’s eyes pleaded with her sister. “Go back to your room, Suzie. I don’t want to jeopardize your release, too.”

Suzie looked at Valerie, her gaze unwavering. “I can’t leave you to do this alone, Val. I’m staying with you.”

“I’m not going to argue,” Valerie said.

“And I’m not going to let you do anything stupid,” Suzie replied.

A silence spread between them as they looked at each other, punctuated by two flashes of lightning and a thunderous clap high above in the clouds.

The blue light cast an eerie hue across Suzie’s face. For a second, Valerie thought she was staring at a hallucination of her mother, grinning.

No,she said to herself, resolute that the hallucinations were far behind her.

Valerie nodded. “If he’s in here, don’t put yourself in harm’s way.”

With Suzie by her side, Valerie turned the handle, opening the door slowly and carefully, vaguely thinking the door of the dangerous criminal should have been locked.

The door creaked open, revealing an empty room bathed in the ethereal glow of the storm outside. The bed was neatly made, and Murphy was nowhere to be found.

Valerie’s hope dropped into an abyss as she noticed the door lock, which had been broken from the inside. Her worst fears had come true: John Murphy had already escaped.

Horrified, she turned to Suzie. “He’s gone,” she whispered, the weight of the situation settling upon them. “We have to find him before it’s too late.”

Valerie and Suzie walked through the empty, dimly lit corridors of Shady Pines, their footsteps echoing as they searched for any sign of Murphy. Suzie suggested, her voice tense, “We should call the police, Val.”

Valerie nodded in agreement, but her brow furrowed with worry. “You’re right, but the second they know I’m involved, they’ll put me back in my room and likely lock me in. I can’t let John get away. Too many lives are at stake.”

Suzie’s expression was resolute as she continued to walk beside Valerie. As they approached another corridor, Valerie stopped and turned to Suzie. “You should go and alert an orderly that John Murphy has escaped from his room and could be dangerous. I’ll keep looking for him.”

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