But then the tape ripped. And then it ripped some more. The sound it made was heavenly and seemed to send one last surge of strength through Kates forearms. With one final pull, the tape tore in half in the front. One final pull tore the back of it away from her right wrist, leaving it in a clump that dangled from her left wrist.

She fell forward right away, her knees striking the floor as the chair was still attached to her back by that last loop of rope. Still, she slammed into Mercy, shoving her into action. The girl snapped out of it just as Jack pulled himself through the doorway. He was up to his chest now, struggling to get his lower half up through the door.

With her hands free, Kate easily slipped out of the last loop of rope around the chair. When her back was free of it, she did the only thing that she could think of…the first thing that came to mind. It seemed silly at the time but proved to be effective.

She grabbed the chair and threw it as hard as she could in the direction of the trapdoor. It bounced, breaking the right armrest, right before it hit the opening. Although it did not strike Jack, it caused him to instinctively release the sides of the trapdoor frame to protect himself. When he did, he fell back against it and started to fall back into the darkness.

He fought for balance and though he managed to keep from falling back into the cellar, it gave Kate just enough time.

She dove for the barn door, directly for the rifle Jack and propped up therethe one she had sensed right away when he had slapped her back into consciousness. Even before she grabbed it, she managed to study it for all of a second, making sure she knew how to use it when she held it. It was an old hunting rifle and the hammer at the back was disengaged. She took it up, steadied herself against the barn wall, and cocked the hammer back.

Jack saw this and raised his right arm. For a moment, Kate saw her own service weapon pointed at her. But Jack had not properly regained his balance yet and could not focus his aim.

Kate fired. The blast was impossibly loud and the jolt of the recoil was stronger than she had expected. But Kates aim had been true. The shot took Jack in the center of his chest. He bucked backward and slumped down, falling back into the cellar. The sound of his body hitting the first was drowned out by the ringing in her ears caused by the rifle blast.