CHASING ASH (GXG MAFIA) BURN THE DEVIL SEQUEL

Chapter Seven

"Fucking hell!" Jane yells out as she stumbles over the keyhole to the car engine, her trembling hand and adrenaline not letting her start the car. Smacking her hands over the steering wheel, she lowers her head to rest on them, frustrated tears wetting the hair on her arms. Attempting to calm herself down, she lifts her head up and tries again. To her surprise, the key inserts into the keyhole. Jane lets out an involuntary chuckle of relief as she spins it to start the car, her legs harshly pressing onto the gas, causing her to speed out of the little parking lot outside her work. Her vision blurry, Jane tries to focus on the musty sunset that is darkening her path. Turning her headlights on full beam, she firms her grip on the accelerator, speeding off down the highway.

***

Jane pressed the little button on her car keys that opened the gates to the apartment complex, barely giving it the chance to open enough before she drove her Range Rover through the high gates. Swiftly turning into the parking spot near her husband's Audi car, Jane stops the car, jumping out quickly and slamming the door shut, leaving behind an echo in the enclosed garage as she walks off.

Everything seemed to take so much longer than usual, even the automatic doors leading to the elevator seemed to be teasing Jane at this moment, trying to tip her off the edge. Repeatedly pressing the elevator buttons, Jane watches the numbers slowly go down, its decrease halting at number five. "Fucking Sharron" Jane spits before running over to the staircase behind the grey doors, knowing her 80-year-old neighbor who goes by the name of Sharron would take too long for her urgent matter.

After what felt like climbing about a million or so steps, her apartment door comes to sight. Grasping onto her chest, Jane lifts her foot to reach the final step up to the fourth floor, panting as she speeds over to the door of her apartment. Not willing to try and fight another keyhole, she bangs her fists against the door, desperate for her husband to notice the urgency and open the door. His fast footsteps make Jane harshen her bangs, desperately trying to catch her breath from the hiking she had just endured. The pull on the other side of the door makes Jane fall forwards slightly, her body falling upon a bewildered George. Without letting George ask what's caused Jane to be so shaken, she speaks up in between breaths. "She's back" she simply says. The dread falling onto George's face lets Jane know he knows exactly what she means, and he slams the door behind her.

"How? Where?" George stutters, his arms holding Jane's shoulders tightly until she calms her heaving breaths.

"She survived, and she is after me, so is Cole," Jane explains once her chest flattens, allowing her to formulate a proper sentence. "We need to go. Now. We need to hide somewhere" Jane urges as she lets go of his hold, grabbing her hair, at a loss of what to do. George pulls his phone out, tapping on the call app as he dials three digits in. Jane pulls his phone out of his hand, "what are you doing?! Are you crazy?" she scolds in a panic.

George pulls his phone back into his hand, "I'm calling the police" he responds as he taps the call button.

Jane charges for the phone that is approaching his ear, pulling it away and switching his phone off. "We can't call the police, she knows where we are! What are some hard-hatted clowns going to do?" she rebukes as she furthers herself away from him.

George clenches his fist as he proceeds towards Jane, enraged by his wife's opposition to get help. "I dont care if she knows, I will call the FBI, the CIS and the fucking MI5 if I have to, we are calling for help, Jane" he insists.

Jane stands still for a moment, never having met this side of George. An anger mixed with so much fear. Jane's emotions were mutual but the thought of people outside of her circle getting involved didn't seem like a good idea, especially the police. "Can we think about this for a second before we pull our blades out?" Jane voices, her question rhetorical as she wasn't planning on giving up the phone just yet.