Anna didn’t move. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum. The flashlight beam shifted, sweeping across the darkness, then paused as it landed right on her. A guard followed close behind, heading straight toward her.
She dropped down instantly, flattening herself behind a low bush. Grass scratched at her arms as she ducked beneath the bloom-covered branches, her heart hammering. The guard’s flashlight beam and hurried footsteps drew closer, casting a soft glow across the yard. For a moment, the light swept over her, grazing the back of her shoulder.
She stayed perfectly still, not daring to move. Trembling, she pressed a shaking hand over her mouth, struggling to control her breathing. Her chest rose and fell in quick, uneven bursts, and she couldn’t stop the way her whole body shook.
