The visitor still knelt there.

Adele reined in her annoyance, trying to be a better Christian. Poor soul. To come out to pray on a night like tonight showed real devotion. She didn’t recognize their silhouette, but winter made it difficult as everyone was layered up.

She approached respectfully. “I’m sorry but I’m afraid you’ll have to leave now. I need to lock up.”

The person didn’t respond.

Were they ill? Hard of hearing? Many people were and she needed to be more aware, or so the pastor was always explaining to her.

“Sorry.” Adele spoke louder and moved into their peripheral vision. “I have to lock up. Can I help you to your car?”

Maybe they didn’t have anywhere else to go, in which case she’d direct them to the local shelter—she might even give them a ride.

She took another step closer and was startled when the person whirled to their feet and punched her in the chest.

It took a fraction of a second for the searing pain to register. Another for the reality of what had occurred to strike home. She tried to speak but the physical sensations were too intense. She couldn’t breathe. Then her attacker twisted the blade and she could barely catch her breath over the sheer avalanche of agony.

She crumpled to the floor, banging her head on the hardwood as they pulled out the knife. She groped for the wound, but her arm felt numb. Her attacker’s face was concealed by a black balaclava and that frightened her almost as much as the knife. They picked up her legs and dragged her toward the annex.

She turned her head and saw bloodstains streak the floor behind her. Anger surged because she’d mopped that morning. Adele realized abstractly how ridiculous she was being. Somebody was trying to kill her. Who cared about the floors? The fact her blood was flowing from her veins should be her main concern.

With the last of her strength, she lifted her head as she was dragged down the three steps to the annex.

She couldn’t hold back a cry of pain and the evil bastard looked at her sharply in surprise. Adele realized her mistake. She should have played dead.

They dropped her legs and walked quickly away.

Were they leaving? She groped in her pocket for her cell phone and managed to press the emergency 911 button. She quickly whispered her location when the operator answered. With trembling fingers, she muted the volume and slipped the phone back into her coat pocket as footsteps told her that her attacker was returning.

They hadn’t left.

They’d made sure the front door was secure, so they weren’t interrupted.

Adele somehow found the strength to roll onto her front and start crawling along the hardwood, praying the police arrived quickly.

Her progress was stopped by a pair of winter boots.

The person crouched down and peered at her through dark slits in their mask. Adele was sure she could see evil glinting in the depths of their eyes.