Chapter 108

Chapter 108
Claire’s POV
Shit, the drain pipe ended before the bottom. The landing was not funny. It feels as if I have sprained my ankle, the pain is searing through my entire leg to my knee and I’m not able to move as fast as I want to.
Nathalie has messaged me to confirm the driver will be waiting, along with a police force that is not associated with the town. Thank God! Something needs to be done about the locals and Jake. And what about Clive? I am trusting he is involved somehow. Is he under Jake’s influence or control? Who knows. All I care about is trying to get to the break that takes me to the road that Nathalie has mentioned to me.
I seem to have gone straight from the fat into the fire, metaphorically speaking. How could a simple woman like myself have gotten myself embroiled so quickly in two nightmares? It feels like I have been living in hell for eternity.
The sooner I can get free the better and then I am moving as far away as possible. Like to a different country even. Nathalie and I have messaged to and fro whilst I was waiting to make my exit through the window, knowing it would be risky. But what would be riskier? Staying and awaiting my fate? No way. I spent far too long with a man like Jonathan; it wouldn’t have taken long before his fists started to make contact with my face or my body.
And then there is the whole matter that Nathalie has managed to dig up. The three men are related. Imagine the shock I had when she divulged that snippet of information to me. My heart literally felt as if it had stopped beating. I knew then that it was time to make a run for it. Snow storm or no snow storm. I was out of there like hot cakes off a rack.
The snow is falling heavy, so much so that I am struggling to make head or tail of what is ahead of me. It all looks the damn same. And it is freezing cold. Even with the thick winter coat on, gloves, hat and scarf and the boots with warm winter socks, I feel chilled to the bone.
Adrenaline curses through my body pushing me on, driving me further into the woods behind the cabin.
What if Clive and/or Jake have discovered I am gone? Will they try to follow me? Will they get to me before I manage to get to the road?
My lungs feel frozen. With every breath that I take, I feel the pain of the ice and bitter cold hitting me. I begin to wheeze. Shit, now is not a good time to stop. I have to drive forward.
Determination fueled by adrenaline pushes me forward like a demon. There will be no stopping me. I have run from Jonathan and at times when I thought he was going to get me again, I made it. Thanks to Nathalie. She has always got my back. Always. Being a twin means we have a strong connection. It’s like she is willing me and pulling her to me like some kind of magnet.
Then I hear a man’s voice. I stop in my tracks and turn to look back on myself. Fuck. My deep imprints are a dead giveaway to anyone following on my coat tails. Obviously, someone has as I hear my name being called out again.
“Claire, Claire. You have to stop.” It’s Clive, I would recognize his deep Scottish accent anywhere.
Hell, no way am I stopping. He could be wielding a knife or an axe for all I know. The very man I thought would be my safe haven is mixed up in all of this. There is a reason he didn’t want me to keep digging and asking questions.
To be honest, whether he is innocent or not, I know my time was on a limit being anywhere close to Jake.
This has to end and it has to end tonight. The closer to the road I can lead him, the better. There will be police waiting to pick him up. The least I can do is make their job a little easier.
Nathalie promised she would be waiting for me too. She told me that she had to pull a few strings for a neighboring force to come out. Something about it not being their jurisdiction.
None of that matters to me now. All that matters is that with every foot step through is relentless storm, the deep snow and the bitter cold, I will be closer to safety.
“Claire,” he shouts out again. I can tell he is closer to me. I need to keep a gap. Just sufficient to make him think he is catching up with me but not close enough that he can grab me.
Does Clive want me to be safe? What will he do with me if he does catch me up? Take me back to the cabin? Where Jake is no doubt waiting with that malicious look on his face and eyes that look like they have killed more than once in the past.
Picking up my pace as best I can, I almost run. Have you ever tried to run in deep snow? Let me tell you, it isn’t for the faint hearted. My legs are burning; my thighs are starting to feel like jelly. Don’t stop, Claire. Don’t stop now. You are close to the finish line. This will be over soon.
“Stop, Claire.” His voice is a command. The hair on the back of my neck feels as if it is standing on edge.
“You can’t run, Claire. There is no where to go. Let me help you.”
“No, I don’t trust you.” I use my arms pumping them. Then I fall, face first into the snow. My mouth takes in the icy cold wet snow and I begin to cough and splutter. Fuck my lungs feel like ice. Tears begin to prick my eyes.
“I won’t hurt you, Lass. I promise. Let me help you,” he shouts out as he gets closer to me. I have to push myself up. With the last bit of strength that I have I push myself up, thankfully still holding the mobile phone in my hand with the torch on that has been guiding me thus far.
Tears are running down my face, as I will myself not to become paralyzed by fear.
I can do this, I know I can. I need to be strong. I need to be focused. Forget about the ice and the cold and the snow that is blinding me. Under different circumstances this would be like a winter wonderland. Just not tonight.
As I move forward, I glance up and can see lights ahead. Oh, my God I am nearly there. Nearly to Nathalie and the police crew.
Something shifts inside me as I find myself having a burst of energy. It’s almost over. Almost over.
Then his hand grabs my shoulder.