Page 44 of Vile Pucker

Digging around in my backpack, my fingers closed on the keys for my car that was at the bottom of the lake, and I slid them in the crack.

There. That would jam the door.

2 minutes away.

Almost time!

I craned my head, waiting for the first glimpse of the car.

Oh, shit.

Despite my instructions, the Uber driver was heading down the winding pathway towards Ashgrove Manor!

At this rate, he’d easily be seen by Gabriel, trapped beside the old graveyard, and unable to easily escape before this man tore his car apart.

Fuck

I had only a split second to make a decision, and I dropped my backpack and broke for it.

Better to be without my laptop and research equipment than trapped at Ashgrove Manor with this psychopathic freak.

I sprinted as hard as I could toward the main road, my arms and legs pumping with frantic energy.

Distantly, I heard a thump but didn’t look back.

Let Gabriel be as pissed as he wanted.

As long as I got away.

Leaves flew by my feet and the muddy ground of Ashgrove Manor sucked at my sneakers, almost like the ground itself didn’t want me to leave.

Stop being ridiculous, I told myself sternly.

I had this. Even though I was in a skirt, I was athletic, fit.

I had a massive head start.

There was another cracking sound and the back of my head was tingling. I couldn’t stop myself from risking a look back.

I twisted around quickly, just as there was an ear-splitting shatter. The locked French doors exploded outward in a spray of glass and Gabriel stepped through the frame.

Fuck!

I whirled my head around again.

There were two paths to the driveway where the Uber was now idling.

One headed around the pond. It was a clear path, but longer.

The other. . .was over that high bridge.

The one right over all the sharp, jagged rocks looming out of the stagnant waters.

The bridge had a deep, spreading rot. The second I stepped on those ancient boards, the whole thing was going to crumble underneath me.

But. If I ran very fast. I might be able to outrun the rot.

And it would break behind me so Gabriel couldn’t follow.