“You set me up,” he whispered.

“The police are here, Mark,” I said, holding my ground.

“You little b—”

He lunged toward me, the iron poker raised high in his hand.

I stepped back into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind me.

The heavy wood slammed into place just as he hit it from the other side.

The impact rattled the frame.

“Alana!” he screamed from behind the wood.

I felt the door handle turn.

I threw my weight against the door, holding the brass lock.

It was old, and the key was missing.

I had to hold it with my own hands.

He kicked the door.

The wood groaned.

I looked down the dark hallway.

The headlights outside were bright, shining through the window at the end of the hall.

I heard a car door slam downstairs.

“Ana!” I screamed. “Get out of there!”

The door behind me shook again as Mark threw his shoulder against it.

The top hinge began to pull away from the plaster.

Dust fell onto my hair.

“You can’t hide from me!” Mark roared.