My Father's House

Chapter 47

Images of the lifeless body could have consumed me, but I forced my thoughts in a strategic direction, taking in my surroundings. The stairs were my initial thought, but making it down unscathed was impossible. Remaining on my abdomen, I assessed my other option. The window. The woman's body had it partly obstructed, but I could push past her in a matter of seconds. I shuddered, trying not to let myself fixate on her still form. Still staying down, I scooted in that direction, swallowing the bile that rose in my throat.

"Max!" I heard a muffled shout. Startled, I looked back, then remembered the phone. The small black cellular was inches from the edge of the balcony. Taking it, I started to raise it to my ear. Another shot fired, grazing the side of my arm. I screamed in pain and pushed back from the edge to hide behind Max and Higgins.

Higgins watched me in sick fascination, as if trying to guess what I would do next. I moved my hand from my injured arm, noting the blood between my fingers. I heard Higgins' muffled laugh as my head started to fall backward. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. Now is not the time to faint.

I slid back toward the window, stopping inches from the sill. I had no choice. I would have to push her away and stand to duck inside. Deep down, I knew my risks were great. I heard someone running below me. I opened my mouth to call out even as shots fired below my platform. They ricocheted off the metal in deafening hostile clanks.

I reached back and pushed the woman into her home with my uninjured arm. "Sorry," I whispered. Glancing one last time in the direction of the sniper, I quickly stood and ducked into the home in a headfirst dive. I heard the shot that should have been fatal, but the bullet didn't touch me. I rushed through the cluttered apartment to the exit. Behind me, I could hear the pang of tread on the metal fire escape. The men who had been below me were on their way up. I had to hurry. Even as I closed the front door, I heard something in the apartment shatter; they were making better time than I anticipated.

Sprinting down the hall, I noticed one of the unit's doors was propped open. I pushed inside calling, "Hello?" No one answered. The television was on, but otherwise the apartment was silent and still. Likely, the unit was a bachelor pad judging by the relative filth around the place. I knew my chances of outrunning this bunch were slim. I closed the door softly and turned off the TV. Heading behind the couch to wait, I raised the phone to my ear.

"Kael?" I whispered frantically.

"Harper! Thank God! Where are you?"

I had never heard such panic in his voice; it matched my own.

My voice shook, "They killed Max and another bystander. Higgins is shot." My words tumbled out, almost unintelligible.

"Listen to me. Breathe. Where are you? Safe?"

Finding the lack of noise in the building odd, I looked around the apartment and described my whereabouts, "I'm in an apartment building down the street. I went into one of the units. No one's in here. I think I'm safe."

I heard road noise in the background as he spoke. This helped to calm me. "We're on our way. Do you know the apartment building or street name?"

"It's probably two streets south of the train station," I whispered, "You won't miss the bodies on the fire escape."

I heard shots then. I jumped, then lowered myself even further onto the floor behind the sofa. There was a ruckus at the far end of the hall, from where I'd come. "Just hurry," I choked out a sob. I knew the reprieve offered by the room was swiftly ending.

A few tense moments passed. I could hear doors being kicked in methodically. Their heavy tread grew closer and closer as my heart pounded through my chest. Kael's voice instructed me to ready myself for defense, but his words made little sense to me. My sweaty palms gripped Max's weapon though, and I willed myself to fight whoever would come through that doorway. Reflected in the screen of the television, I could just see the doorway. I kept my eyes locked on the image, anticipating my advisories at any moment.