Love Kills |t.h|

5| For an Idiot, You're Smart

"You never leave a man behind; you hear me, Alexandra? Never."

-Jon Hill

"Don't shoot me," I started as Tom checked the gun that I had placed in his hand.

"Not planning on it."

We ran away from the roaring engine and bright headlights, hoping that we were heading in the right direction as we weaved through the trees.

"Are we even going in the right direction?" I asked Isiah, who was running a few paces in front of me. The forest was pitch black, each step I took, I hoped that it wasn't into a hole or on to a sharp rock.

"I think so," Isiah mumbled as he continued. When Isiah was still in training, he would go dirt biking with the other trainees during their break, I hoped that he remembered the trails that lead back to Hill House.

"If you run that way," Isiah pointed into the darkness, "It should get you back to Hill house. I used to go dirt biking in these woods, I'll lead them off your trail and meet you back at Hill house by first light."

Shouting erupted behind us as shaky circles of light danced around our feet. I cursed and picked up my pace, bringing me closer to Isiah and leaving Tom farther behind. Up ahead I could just barely make out the outline of the low stone wall that lined the very back of the old Hill House property, marking one more mile to go before we were inside the formal walls. A shot rang out in the dead silence.

Isiah shot in the air and started running away from Tom and I." I dived behind a rock. Inhale, Exhale, Inhale, Exhale, I tried to force my breathing to slow so that I could hear over my heart pounding in my ears. Rapid footsteps snapped branches and crunched leaves to my right, I cocked my gun.

Someone slammed their back into the rock next to me, their breath ragged. I put my gun o their head and covered their mouth with my hand, "Who the fuck are you and what the hell do you want?" I questioned, my voice low and raspy from sucking in the cold, dry air. The figure mumbled beneath my palm as cold fingers wrapped around my wrist.

"You scream, you die." I threatened before removing my hand from their mouth.

"It's me- it's me." The figure spoke as they sucked in air. Tom.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" I asked as I turned away from him to peek out from behind the rock.

"Sorry," He mumbled.

The footsteps paused for a moment as more flashlights were switched on, Tom and I dashed to the next tree, each foot felt like a mile, each step my last.

I could hear the footsteps approaching once again, this time, however, they were fast with purpose.

I popped up from behind the rock and fired shots in the direction of the footsteps, a low grunt followed my last one, I hit someone.

The footsteps paused for a moment as more flashlights were switched on, Tom and I dashed to the next tree, each foot felt like a mile, each step our last. The stone fence was closer now, but still, it was a nice long run, one we didn't have time for.

"Do you have any service?" Tom whispered as he ducked back behind the tree we had our backs pressed against. I pulled my phone out and hoped that the brightness was all the way down. If it were up, Dom's men would be able to spot us in an instant.

"No, not one bar," I whispered as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. Tom didn't answer, his eyes were flicking around the black forest frantically. "What?"

"Hear that?"

"No."

"Exactly."

Shit, I thought. Dom's men wouldn't give up that easily, yet the forest was dead silent. Isiah was about a hundred yards ahead, but even he didn't make any noise.