Grace

Chapter 6 - Chin Down, Grace

As Wade was kicking at the door, Grace picked herself up and tried to position herself in a way that he hopefully wouldn't be able to reach her immediately upon entering the bathroom – while still leaving some room for an attempt to get around him to the door.

Logically she knew that her efforts would likely come to nothing. He was quick. He's always been too quick for her. He was a hunter and she knew his senses and reaction times were more honed than hers. But she didn't have a chance at all if she didn't at least try.

The thought popped into her head that in case she doesn't make it out of this alive or if she gets knocked unconscious again – it wouldn't have been the first time – that perhaps she should give the 911 operator as much information as she could while she still had a moment. She hurriedly told the operator, as calmly and quietly as she could, Wade's full name, address, make and model of his car, and a description of him – including the pornographic tattoo on his back.

She was surprised he hadn't made it into the bathroom yet; though to be fair, his energy was obviously waning. The speed at which he hit or kicked the door had slowed, but she knew just one or two more forcible kicks would finally break the latch.

She could hear him breathing heavily and swearing under his breath.

Just as he took one last effort to kick the door, the wood splintered at the latch, the door swung open and the sounds of sirens approached the cul de sac her house was in.

Grace saw Wade pause for a second and look towards the front of the house, listening to the sirens – he clearly wasn't sure if he should stop and run or try to finish punishing her as best he could before they got to the door.

She took the opportunity to try to run past him, towards the front door. An attempt to get out to safety if she could, gather the witnesses she needed in the form of the uniformed personnel.

She took him by enough surprise that she was able to get out of his reach as she passed him, though it was like a switch flipped back on with in a split second. He couldn't let her get to that door.

Grace sucked in a sob as she noticed Tim lying on the floor with some kind of head wound. It was all she could do to note that he was still breathing and quietly groaning, though he otherwise appeared to be unconscious. She didn't stop, however; she knew she had to be faster than Wade.

She put her hand on the door knob just as his arm reached around her neck. He was attempting a choke hold on her, but she suddenly remembered one tip that Tim had told her when trying to teach her some self defense the week before.

Chin down, Grace... Chin down she told herself.

She got her chin pressed to her chest so that his arm went across her jaw instead when he started to squeeze. Fuck, that hurts like Hell, Grace thought. But at least I can breathe...

Her hand still holding onto the door handle for dear life, she turned it and yanked it... Causing them both to fall through the doorway in full view of her curious neighbors, the Police Officers and the ambulance that was screeching to a halt in front of her residence.