Chloe finally reached the road. It seemed to have taken forever, but at last she’d come to this isolated ribbon of country asphalt. Which way? She’d searched for lights, any sign of illumination, but if there was another farmhouse nearby, they were in bed for the night. No distant squares of light glowed from windows, no security lamps burned as beacons in the darkness.

Damn it all to hell.

Her euphoria at having escaped had withered as the night closed in on her. Alone and naked except for the lousy T-shirt, she was once again aware of her aching bones and her raw feet, now scraped and bleeding. The road was eerily still, with no sign of a car or human in sight. She imagined what lurked in the Louisiana forest surrounding her. Night predators came to mind, and she shivered, only to remind herself that she’d just escaped the worst predator on the planet, so she should count herself lucky.

But were there wolves? Or bobcats? Maybe cougars? She wasn’t sure. But there were alligators and snakes. That much she was sure of. She’d better stick to the road and hope to high heaven that someone would come along and save her.

Again, her thoughts turned to Zoe.

Was she alive?

Or injured somewhere?

Or . . . could she have suffered and died?

No, don’t go there. She’s alive, you know it. You would know if she were dead. You would feel it because of that special twin connection, the link would be broken and you would sense it, so just keep moving and quit moping. You’re safe. The freak’s locked up. It’s just a matter of time. Keep moving and don’t give up.

Sometimes her internal monologue made her crazy.

God, she missed Zoe. At least their conversations, jokes, and even fights were out loud. None of this internal voice, head-games crap she’d been playing with herself ever since Zoe had escaped.

Please keep her safe. And me, too, she silently prayed as she kept moving.

Far in the distance, she heard the sound of an engine. Her heart leaped. Was it coming this way? Was it? She turned, searched for headlights, and thought she saw the misting illumination of dual beams.

Finally!

Now what? How to get their attention?

The car, or whatever it was, seemed to be coming fast, the engine whining. She realized she needed a weapon, just in case the driver wasn’t friendly. It was late at night. Very late. Who would be out?

Doesn’t matter. You need help.

She reached to the ground, found a handful of gravel and waited on the side of the road, afraid if she stood in the middle the car would hit her. Geez, it was going fast. Roaring toward her, the headlights, twin beams, rounding a corner and bearing down on her. Like the eyes of some growing, looming beast.