Chapter 10 - Clara’s Final Stand
"What are you talking about?" Mara demanded, freezing in her tracks as she stared down at the older woman.
"We all have to get out of here. If they find you in this house, they won't hesitate—"
"They are tracking that metallic drive, Mara, not me," Clara interrupted, her voice entirely calm, carrying an eerie, absolute finality.
"As long as I am here in this house, they will assume you went out the front and chased your ghost down the highway. If I run with you, the dogs they brought will pick up our scent within five minutes."
"I'm not leaving you behind to face them alone," Mara cried out, taking a step back toward the bulkhead opening.
"Leo, Maya, tell your great-grandmother she has to come with us!"
"Mom, look!" Leo shouted suddenly, pointing a trembling finger toward the side of the house near the driveway.
Two powerful, blinding white flashlight beams swept across the side yard, illuminating the tall grass and casting long, skeletal shadows against the white siding of the farmhouse. Heavy boots crunched loudly on the gravel driveway, accompanied by the low, menacing growl of a trained German Shepherd straining against a heavy leather leash.
"They're searching the perimeter!" Clara hissed, her eyes locking onto Mara with fierce, unyielding intensity.
"Take the children, take that drive, and run straight into the pine forest. Do not look back for a single second. If you stop, you die."
Before Mara could argue another word, Clara slammed the heavy metal doors of the storm bulkhead shut, throwing the rusted interior bolt with a sharp, echoing clank that locked the exit from the inside.
"Grandma!" Maya screamed, taking a step back toward the doors, but Mara grabbed her daughter's hand with desperate strength.
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"Run, Maya! Run!" Mara sobbed, hoisting the infant car seat once more as she pulled both children across the dark garden toward the safety of the dark pine trees.
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