I ran.

I bolted down the corridor, the darkness swallowing me again as I left the flashlight behind.

I could hear him cursing and scrambling in the mud behind me, trying to find his weapon.

“Stop!” he screamed.

I didn’t stop.

The tunnel began to slope upward, the air turning colder and fresher.

I could smell the rain again, clean and sharp.

Ahead, a rusted iron gate blocked the end of the passage.

Through the bars, I could see the dark outline of the trees and the gray, rain-swept sky.

I reached the gate and grabbed the cold iron bars, shaking them.

They didn’t budge.

A heavy padlock held the chain in place.

I gasped for air, my chest heaving as I looked back down the dark tunnel.

I could hear the squelch of boots returning to a run.

He was coming.

I looked at the padlock, then down at my hands.

I still had the brass key from the diner clutched in my fist.

I didn’t know if it would fit, but I had no other choice.

With shaking fingers, I pressed the key into the padlock’s keyhole.