EXCERPT ~ PRIEST #3
She turned and headed for the next hallway, taking the first left, then darting into the men’s locker room.
She didn’t waste time searching for a spot to hide, just ducked behind the door.
Praying if someone checked the room, they’d leave the door open when it stopped automatically on a forty-five, the hydraulic hinges locking it in place.
It didn’t leave her much room, but if she was careful, she’d be able to shimmy out from behind it.
Backtrack to an area they’d already searched.
Becca held her breath, silently questioning her decision as the clock on the wall softly ticked in the background.
No other sounds. Nothing to suggest anyone had followed her or decided to check this area of the facility.
She was just about to step out when the door creaked, quickly swinging open—nearly smacking into her face.
She tightened every muscle, tried to make herself as small as possible, when the door stopped, the surface an inch away. She didn’t move—didn’t breathe—waiting to see if the creep would step inside or simply take a look.
Could he see in the dark? She’d never, personally, used night vision goggles, but she thought she’d read that they amplified any available light.
And with no windows letting in the moonlight, and the emergency lighting only working in the hallways, the room was black.
Like an endless shadow with pockets of even darker shades.
There was a muted huff, then a gloved hand wrapping around the edge. Gripping the door level with her eyes. She pressed her lips together, hoping he couldn’t hear the way her heart pounded in her chest. So loud, she was sure it was vibrating the door. Probably shaking the entire foundation.
“Check every damn locker. I’ll take care of the other room. If you can’t find her, we’ll head back to the elevators. Meet up with the others then do a systematic sweep of the facility. There’s nowhere for her to run.”
“You sure he wants her alive?”
“That’s the order.” A snort. “I wouldn’t screw with him if I were you. The guy’s nuts.”
Footsteps, heading away. Stopping then fading behind the squeak of a door.
The ladies’ locker room. Becca had been asking maintenance to oil the damn thing for weeks.
Though, it mapped out the other asshole’s progression.
Confirmed there was only the one guy with his hand wrapped around the frame.
Would he open it? See her hiding behind?
Would she be able to sneak out only to be caught by his partner? And where were the other two?
No time to worry when the guy jerked the door closed then moved in front of her, his back facing her, his gun sweeping the dark room. Becca held her breath, trying to press even harder against the wall, when his head tilted and he turned, those insect-like goggles staring right at her.
She reacted. Whether on instinct or pure fear, she wasn’t sure, but in less than a heartbeat she had the flashlight level with his face—the switch flipped over. A bright beam cut through the inky black, lighting up his features in a harsh yellow glow.
The guy cursed and tripped back, swiping at his eyes in what looked like an effort to remove the goggles.
But she was already stepping forward. Bringing that flashlight up under his chin.
Using her foot to sweep out one leg. There was a moment of him flailing his arms, trying to regain his balance, then he hit the floor. His body splayed out across the tiles.
She thought about grabbing his gun, but he still had his fingers wrapped around the stock, and she didn’t want to waste the time.
End up in a fight she couldn’t win. Instead, she flicked off the light then ran.
Gave him a boot in the head for good measure as she darted past, then was out the door and racing up the hallway.
She reached the corner just as another one of the men stepped out—crashed into her.
Their momentum carried them across the corridor and into the far wall, the guy’s back smacking into the concrete.
Becca didn’t wait for him to get a better grip—maybe shove a knife between her ribs—she just stuck that air horn right against the side of his head and engaged the trigger.
The guy screamed as the horn released a piercing screech, falling to his knees a couple of moments later.
Blood trickled down the side of his head as he collapsed into a crumpled heap, hands still cupping his head.
Footsteps behind her. Fast. Each step getting louder. She didn’t turn to look, just started running. Doing her best to stick to the shadows. Hoping she could reach the next junction before the guy pursuing her saw which direction she’d taken.
There was a startled gasp, then someone shouting. “You’ll pay for that, bitch.”
That voice. The same one she’d heard while hiding behind the door.
The partner of the guy she’d blinded with the flashlight.
She dodged left, taking the hallway leading to the elevator.
She didn’t know if she’d make it, but it was her best shot when the other exits were deeper in the facility.
Would most likely trap her in one of the rear sections.
More footfalls behind her. Two sets, though, she wasn’t sure if one of the men had recovered or if it was that fourth creep she’d seen on the cameras. If it meant the path to the elevator was open. If the damn thing would even work or if they’d somehow locked it on this level.
She rounded the corner, caught a glimpse of the silver doors through the glass partition up ahead, when someone hit her hard from the side.
The force knocked her against the far wall, snapping her head into the concrete before she tumbled onto the floor.
Head throbbing. Pain pulsing through her body.
Something warm and wet washed down her face as a wave of nausea churned through her stomach.
She tried to shake it off when someone kicked her in the ribs, rolling her another few feet before kicking her, again.
Not stopping until she hit the wall. Was wedged against a door frame.
Mumbled voices echoed around her, each word blending into the next.
The room dipped when she managed to open her eyes, stare up at the man standing above her.
Was he holding a gun? She couldn’t be sure, not with everything blurring in and out of focus and only the dim glow of the emergency lighting illuminating the hallway.
He raised his arms, pointing directly at her as he grinned, the white of his teeth a stark contrast to the eerie shadows. She was dead. No way to avoid it. To pull a miraculous save out of her ass. Not with the guy only a few feet away. His weapon trained on her.
She tried to keep her eyes open—face what was about to happen head on.
But everything was fading. A veil of black moving in from the sides.
Slowly eating up the small amount of light.
There was a moment of pause. Of everything standing still, that evil smile lifting ever so slowly.
Then, the world went black, as a report of a gun sounded around her.