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Panicking, I try to hit her in the face with my other hand, but she catches that arht--and she’s also obviously stronger thanin pain, but I try to kick at her I can’t lose this fight This is s, but I’e to my toes than to her shins

"Drop the knife, Nora, or I will break your ar the truth My shoulder feels like it’s about to pop out of its socket, and my vision darkens as waves of pain radiate down ers release the knife It falls to the floor with a loud thunk

Beth io and bends down to pick it up

I back away, breathing harshly, tears of pain and frustration burning into do to me now, and I don’t want to find out

So I run

I a aftermy name, but I doubt she’s ever done track before

I run out of the house and down to the beach Rocks, twigs, and gravel dig into my feet, but I barely feel the, but I can’t let Beth catch me I can’t be locked up in the rooood runner too I put on a burst of speed, ignoring the pain in o!"

I know that’s true, but I can’t be a passive victier I can’t sit meekly in that house, eat Beth’s food, and wait for Julian to return

I can’t allow hifor air I divorce myself from the discomfort, pretend I’m in a race with the finish line only a hundred yards away

It feels like I’lance back, I see that Beth is falling further and further behind

My pace eases a little bit I can’t sustain that speedtoo much, I head for the rocky side of the island, where I can clamber up the rocks and disappear in the heavily wooded area above theet there By then, I can no longer see Beth behind me

I slon and clier, I can feel the cuts and bruises on s are quivering from unaccusto on Nevertheless, I et etation, lush and thick, is all arounda good spot to collapse in exhaustion It wouldn’t be easy to finde portion of this side of the island

I should be safe here for now