The moment the car began to slow—before it even fully stopped—Amelia shoved the door open with a sharp huff, adrenaline and sudden strength flooding her veins. She stumbled as her feet hit the ground but recovered instantly, racing down the path.
Stony pathway and steps gave way to sand, and she still didn’t stop—not for breath, not even to look back.
She didn’t know where she was going, and she didn’t care. All that mattered was putting as much distance between herself and them as possible.
Her bare feet sank into the wet sand before she even registered she wasn’t wearing shoes. Each step dug in, the drag of it pulling at her like hands trying to haul her back. Her strides met resistance, but she pushed on, every ounce of effort driving her forward—away, faster.
Her senses snapped int
