Page 51 of Let Her Live

Fiona moved on instinct. Her training with Jake flashed in her mind—how to disarm someone with a knife.

She dived to the side, side-swiping the knife from the killer's hand. It clattered to the ground. In the moment it took for the killer to stare at his empty hands, Fiona was able to get to her feet. But he was looking at her. The knife was on the ground, but he was looking at her with murder in his eyes.

Fiona had to do something. She had to stop him.

She took a punch at him, aiming right for the center of his face. He dodged to the side, reached down andgrabbed the knife. Fiona was faster and got him to the face again with another punch.

He fell onto the ground.

But then Fiona froze in shock—that scream, that energy and fury behind it—she recognized that from somewhere.

The killer reached for the knife and stood up.

Fiona fell back. He wasn't done—he wasn't done by a long shot.

She looked on as his whole body trembled before he let out a bloodcurdling scream and started charging her again.

CHAPTER TWENTYFIVE

Jake's heart pounded in his chest, the sound echoing in his ears as he sprinted through the dense forest. The night was oppressive, humidity clinging to his skin like a second layer, but his focus remained razor-sharp. His gun felt heavy and slick in his grip, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

"Damn it, Fiona," he muttered under his breath,“please be okay.” Fear twisted in his gut like a coiled snake; he knew all too well what this maniac was capable of, and it was possible Fiona had found him on her own. He had to find her first.

As Jake charged through the underbrush, his legs pumping wildly beneath him, his thoughts raced just as fast. How could he have let her out of his sight? Were they too late to save their latest potential victim? His jaw clenched, determination driving him forward, unwilling to entertain the possibility of failure.

A sudden scream pierced the air, shattering the oppressive silence around him. It sounded close. Too close. His lungs burned as he pushed himself harder, every instinct screaming at him to reach its source.

The trees gave way abruptly, revealing a moonlit clearing.The scene before him sent a chill down his spine.

There, at the edge of the clearing, was Chris Hein, eyes wide with terror, scrambling backward on his hands and heels. But it was the sight near the river that made Jake's blood run cold: a man loomed over Fiona, pinning her to the ground, a glint of steel in his hand.

Panic clawed its way up Jake's throat, threatening to choke him. She was struggling, fighting with everything she had, but the man's grip on the knife was unwavering. He couldn't let Fiona become another statistic, another victim of this madman’s fury.

He held up his gun. His finger itched on the trigger, but taking a shot was risky; one wrong move and Fiona could be caught in the crossfire.

"Hey!" he bellowed, hoping to distract the man long enough for Fiona to gain an advantage.

The man's head snapped up; his wild eyes met Jake's as he snarled like a cornered animal.

"Get your hands off her!" Jake demanded, voice cracking with urgency. "Now!"

The man hesitated for just a moment, giving Jake the opening he needed. Instead of taking the shot, he sprinted forward, adrenaline fueling his every step.As he reached them, he lunged, grabbing hold of the attacker with all his strength and pulling him away from Fiona.

"Run, Fiona!" Jake shouted, struggling to contain the deranged man as they grappled in the mud. This man was strong—stronger than he looked—but he couldn't let up. Jake's grip tightened, his muscles straining as he fought to overpower his attacker. The man was crazed, his strength unpredictable. Jake struggled to keep him pinned down, his breathing ragged, his whole body trembling with effort.

Finally, with a burst of strength, Jake managed to knock the knife out of the attacker's hand. It flew through the air, landing with a loud splash in the river.

His grip on Jake weakened, and for a split second, Jake thought he had the upper hand. But the man lunged forward once again, his eyes blazing with fury.

Jake dodged to the side, but the man was faster than he anticipated. The next thing he knew, the man's fist connected with his jaw.

"Jake!" Fiona screamed.

Jake got a hold of himself, steadying his feet.

He shook his head, the pain in his jaw throbbing as he saw the attacker move towards him once more. This time, Jake was ready. He ducked just in time to avoid the man's fist and delivered a punch of his own. His fist hit the man in the head, winding him and causing him to fall to the ground.

Jake didn't waste any time. He quickly pounced on him, pinning him to the ground with his knees and his body weight. The man struggled beneath him, but Jake held firm.

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