It was him.
Her heart exploded into a million pieces, splintering like the colors in the sky.
BOOM! BOOM!
“Come on!” Chase yelled, yanking her away from the tent.
She snapped at Chase’s command. Tearing through the crowd, she glided easily through people wading up the hill. Power coursed through her veins, making her legs faster, almost giving her flight. At the bottom of the hill, she leaped off the curb.
An angry horn blared. Tires screeched, but she kept running.
The horrible sound of the sky splitting cracked overhead. She didn’t want to stay in this confusing world, with its harsh noise and strange ways. She looked back to see Chase close behind, followed by Allie Jo, and blundering down the hill was the man.
Allie Jo pointed between buildings. “This way!”
Tara and Chase turned back quickly and caught up to her.
Allie Jo led them through narrow passageways between crumbling buildings. They jumped over a low fence; Tara heard it crack behind her as the man tried to hurdle it.
Rounding a corner, they hopped another fence and shot into the woods. Tara’s heart beat hard and strong. She controlled her breathing, for she didn’t know how long they would run. As they dashed by old oaks and tall maples, Tara began to hear the whispers. They were near The Meriwether.
The three raced in silence, save for the branches and twigs that snapped as they passed. Tara heard the man beating his way through the trees. The cruel sound of his breathing reached her ears.
When they cleared the wood line, they ran in plain sight across the mowed lawn of the hotel.
The man laughed sneeringly from the trees.