Chapter Twenty-Five

NÜWA TACKLED MARTIN, wrapping her arms around his waist. She drove him into the wall. He fired as he fell, the noise of the pistol deafening.

“Get off me, Natalie, my love.” Martin shoved Nüwa, kicking free of her grasp. He whipped the pistol across her face, clipping her on the jaw. Nüwa sank back with the pain as she clutched Martin’s shirt. “She’s corrupted you.” He yanked free of Nüwa’s grip and fled up the steps, firing again as he left.

Nüwa rolled to her feet and charged up the stairs behind him. Glass crunched under her shoes in the kitchen. Wind blew rain in sheets through the broken sliding door. Nüwa ran to the opening and slowed her steps, crouched low to navigate the jagged hole in the door.

Martin’s bright-orange aloha shirt was the only thing visible in the pouring rain as he chased Julia. Nüwa followed him as Julia entered the maze. Martin drew up and fired another shot at Julia. Nüwa’s chest burned as she ran, desperate to catch Martin before he killed Julia.

Julia entered the maze ahead of Martin. Nüwa arrived at the opening. She stopped. Over the dull roar of the rain, she could hear the flapping of Martin’s shoes on the cobbles. Nüwa ran toward the center of the maze. Julia would head there, and if their luck held would reach her apartment before Martin found her. Nüwa exited into the plaza. No sign of Julia. Maybe she had made it to her apartment. Nüwa panted, leaned over to brace her hands on her knees as she caught her breath.

“Stop hiding. You’re only going to make it worse on yourself when I find you,” Martin called. “Come here, you little bitch. She never loved you. She’s always loved me. You’re just like her last bitch. I got rid of her too.”

Rage, white-hot and boiling, surged in Nüwa’s chest. She straightened. Her gaze settled on Julia’s workspace and the heavy short spade Julia had left propped against the bench.

Nüwa hefted the shovel, holding it across her chest like a bat. “Enough. Enough of him.”

She turned and re-entered the maze, following the sound of Martin’s voice. The hunter now the hunted.

 

JULIA’S LUNGS ACHED as she ran. She gasped for air, her chest a ball of fire. The hedge loomed over her. Blood dripped from the cut on her shoulder. Too freaked to look at it, she kept her hand pressed tightly against her skin to stem the flow. She skidded to a stop. Fuck, she had missed a turn. Dead end. Martin’s voice rang out as he taunted her, calling her name. Telling her all the vile things he was going to do to her when he caught her.

Shivering, Julia crouched near the bottom of the hedge and turned to face the opening. Along the path leading to her hiding place, her blood shone red and pink as the rain washed it away. A trail. A bloody trail leading right to her. Julia kneeled to peer under the hedge.

The thick bushes and heavy thorns made it impossible to crawl between them to the next part of the maze. Trapped.

Julia lifted her chin. Stood. Balled up her fists and set her feet. Fuck this. Fuck him. She would rush Martin, drive him back into the hedge when he appeared. Survive this or die trying. Her thoughts shifted to Nüwa. Was she alive? Had he killed her?

“There you are. Pitiful. What did she ever see in you?” Martin’s voice was gravel on pavement.

Julia shouted, lowered her head, and barreled into him.

They crashed into the hedge. Martin shrieked as the thorns tore his flesh. Julia swore as they bit her hands and arms. She drove hard with her legs, pinning him to the hedge.

The air left her lungs as Martin punched her in the gut, followed by a sharp blow to her face. Pain exploded along her jaw. Julia’s teeth clicked together as she fell back. She gasped for air. Burning pain shot through her as the cobblestones dug into her spine. Limp, Julia gasped, trying to get her breath back.

Her vision blurred. Julia shook her head to clear her sight. Get up. Get up. Now. Get away. Her hands slipped on the wet stones as she tried to sit up, to get to her feet. A hard shove in the center of her chest knocked her off balance. Julia fell back again. Rain poured into her face, blinding her.

The rain stopped. Martin’s bloody and scratched face loomed over her. He spat. The rust-stained spittle dribbled down his chin. His hand trembled as he pressed the gun to the center of Julia’s forehead. Julia swallowed hard. Her heart shattered. She had failed. Failed to save Nüwa. Failed to save herself. She froze, wanting to close her eyes, too frightened to look away. Martin pressed the barrel more firmly against her head. The cold metal dug into her skin.

“Martin, dear, wait. I have something to tell you.” Nüwa’s faux sweet voice made Martin shift his gaze from Julia’s face. He straightened, lifting the gun from her forehead as he turned toward Nüwa. Julia squinted through her pain, struggled to focus her gaze. Nüwa stepped close to Martin. Clutching a shovel, she stood like a homerun hitter at the plate.