The Deep End » Outer Banks [JJ Maybank] BOOK ONE

XVIII: Stowaway

stowaway
noun. a trespasser on a ship.

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Lee was terrified. Never before had she been as afraid as she was standing in the Crain House, pressed against a wall between Sarah and Kiara, listening as an axe murderer slowly approached, wondering if she was going to die.

"It's—it's late, Leon," Mrs. Crain's voice croaked from the hallway. "Too late."

Sarah gasped softly and Lee placed a hand over the girl's mouth to keep her quiet. Lee glanced up at the ceiling, opening her airway more so that her breathing was silent. She signaled for the other girls to do the same as she eyed the door with her peripheral vision, praying that Mrs. Crain wouldn't find them. Suddenly, Mrs. Crain walked through the doorway, looking directly past the girls.

"I can hear you, Leon," Mrs. Crain said raspily.

Lee pressed her lips together as she squeezed her eyes shut, a fearful tear dripping from the corner of her eye.

"I've been waiting all night!" the old woman growled, suddenly turning to face the girls.

Sarah flicked her flashlight on, shining it on the woman as Lee grabbed her friends, dragging them out of the room.

"Go!" Lee shouted, pushing the other girls ahead of her.

Although she would usually stand and fight, Lee figured that she didn't want to find out how well Mrs. Crain could wield an axe at 85-years-old. Sarah pulled Lee into a room across the hall as Mrs. Crain continued screeching behind them. Kiara ran in another direction, despite Lee's protests.

"Where are you, Leon?" Mrs. Crain screamed as the girls scurried into the room, their eyes frantically bouncing around as they sought a hiding place.

Lee shoved Sarah into a dark corner, her eyes focused on the hallway as they pressed themselves against the wall. She watched fearfully as Mrs. Crain slowly stumbled down the hallway and into another room. Kiara, she realized, gasping softly. There was a sudden shout of fear from the next room over and Lee recognized her friend's voice.

"Tell the boys to get out of here!" Lee hissed at Sarah, shoving the girl into the hallway. "I'll get Kie!"

Sarah nodded, running towards the stairs that led to the basement as Lee darted into the room Mrs. Crain had entered. In the room, her eyes locked on Kiara, who was crouched by a boarded door and cowering as Mrs. Crain swung a fire poker wildly. Not hesitating to act, Lee jumped forward, grabbing the fire poker before Mrs. Crain could impale Kiara. Lee heaved the fire poker away from Kiara, Mrs. Crain gripping Lee's arms tightly in an attempt to maintain her balance.

"Go!" Lee shouted at Kiara, wrestling with the woman. "Get to the basement! I'm right behind you!" Lee shoved Mrs. Crain away, hissing as the woman's long fingernails scratched at her arms.

Kiara nodded, running towards the basement. Lee turned to follow but was suddenly struck across the back with the fire poker. She fell to the ground, her back burning where the fire poker had struck her. She could feel blood slowly trickling down her back. Lee grunted in pain, turning over to see Mrs. Crain standing above her, the weapon raised above her head. Lee cursed, rolling out of the way just as the old woman swung the poker again, impaling the floor right where she had been laying. Lee stared up at Mrs. Crain and noticed the strange silver color of the woman's eyes.

Blind, she realized. She's blind.

Mrs. Crain raised the fire poker again, ready to impale Lee, but Lee scrambled to her feet, running in the direction opposite where Kiara and Sarah had disappeared.