Let Me Out (An Ashley Hope Suspense Thriller—Book 2)

PROLOGUE Thorns punctured the soles of Sarah Lester’s bare feet, the sting from the cuts shooting up her legs as she careened through the thick forest underbrush, dodging trees and bramble bushes. Her limbs ached from being bound for hours in a cramped space and her core throbbed from a***e. Still, she forced herself to plow forward. Fear numbed the pain. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she pushed her muscles to their limit, increasing her speed. Faster! Faster! She dared not look back. The hideous face flashed in her memory. The red synthetic hair, the white rubber skin, the red U-shaped mouth. The macabre Halloween mask bore a testament to the wickedness hiding beneath it. “Run,” the clown had commanded, “if you want to live.” She had to find her way out of the forest, had to stay alive. For Bobby’s sake. If she died and her bones were buried in a shallow grave or scattered deep in the woods, the five-year-old would never understand why Mommy had left him. He’d grow up feeling abandoned. Just as she had. The c***k of gunfire echoed through the trees behind her. She recognized the blast of a high-powered rifle. Terror gripped her heart. The clown had lied. Had promised that if she ran as fast as she could and didn’t look back, if she kept her mouth shut about her ordeal, she wouldn’t die. Now it was clear her abductor had planned to kill her from the beginning. Why hadn’t she listened to Dewayne? Her boyfriend had warned her—time after time—that someone might break in. But she’d been careless. Had once again forgotten to lock the trailer door. A simple oversight that had sealed her fate. But the clown knew things about her. Had taunted her with her past. The a*******n wasn’t random. How long had this been planned? Her lungs burned as she raced past an outcrop of limestone and over a fallen log. A break in the tree line loomed up ahead as the sound of flowing water rushed toward her. The river. Or a fast-moving stream. She wasn’t sure which. Water could mean the presence of people. Maybe a fisherman. Someone who could help her. But she couldn’t risk leaving the cover of the trees. Not with the clown at her heels. As Sarah veered to the left, the c***k of the rifle split the air again. The bullet ripped through the thicket beside her, missing her torso by mere inches. Adrenaline whisked through her veins as she angled toward the edge of the tree line. The river popped into view down the embankment to her right. There were no people in sight. No one to save her. Keep moving! She zigzagged between the trees, resisting the urge to run in a straight line, as she attempted to stay out of the clown’s crosshairs. She prayed she’d find a road ahead, that she’d be able to flag down a passing car. Or that she’d stumble upon a house or a cabin. A place where there were people. Or a place where she could hide. Rifle fire ricocheted through the woods a third time, the source of the blast much closer now than before. The clown had gained far too much ground. She needed to push harder. Had to run faster. As she wound past a red maple, an exposed root snagged her left foot. Sarah stifled a scream as she toppled forward, her ankle twisting in the maple’s grip. Her right elbow slammed against the forest floor followed by the weight of her body. Stunned by the fall, she glanced behind her. She knew she had to get up. That she had to move—now. Pain radiated from her ankle through her calf as she pulled her foot free from the root’s grasp. Blood stained both her soles and briars had ripped the legs of her black polyester slacks. She struggled to stand. Panic surged in her heart as she realized she could no longer run. She hobbled forward, balancing her weight on her right foot. She scanned the woods ahead. There was no place to hide. Crack! The rifle exploded behind her. The bullet pierced Sarah’s back like a hot needle. Her breath caught in her throat as a sting akin to a thousand hornets erupted in her chest. She fell to her knees, gasping for air. It hit my lung! The thought reverberated through her brain. Fighting for each shallow breath, she crawled toward the edge of the tree line. Her vision began to blur. But across the river, on the other bank, she thought she saw a figure. Could it be a man? She needed to get his attention. Had to get help. As she scooted forward, the earth dissolved beneath her. Sarah tumbled down the side of the embankment. Rocks bit into her flesh as she rolled, her body coming to rest at the shoreline. Cool water lapped at her side as she attempted to sit up. A metallic-tasting liquid flooded her mouth. Blood. Her lungs were filling with blood. She coughed, spitting out the blood, trying to clear her airways. She struggled to take another shallow breath as the world around her began to spin. She fell back on her side and closed her eyes. Her son’s innocent face floated through her mind. His big brown eyes. His sweet smile. Please let them find my body. The silent cry echoed through her soul. For Bobby’s sake. A shadow drifted across her face. Feeling a presence beside her, she opened her eyes. Her vision had dimmed, all the colors of the world faded into a hazy gray, but she could still make out the image of the one looking down on her. The terrifying mask was seared into her memory. The shocking hair, the evil smile. She realized the man she’d thought she’d seen on the other bank didn’t exist. There was no one here to help her. Only the clown. Sarah’s eyelids fluttered shut as the darkness pulled her under. She never even heard the shot that pierced her heart.