I pushed off from the stone wall with all my strength.

The boat drifted out of the covered slip into the open river.

The cool night air hit my face.

The James River was wide and dark under the overcast sky.

Behind us, the boathouse door finally gave way with a loud crash.

Marcus stepped out onto the wooden platform, his flashlight searching the dark water.

The yellow beam swept across the river, landing directly on us.

“Stop!” he shouted, running to the edge of the dock.

He shone the light right into my eyes, blinding me.

“You can’t escape this, Clara!” he yelled.

I ignored him and dipped the paddle into the cold water.

The current was strong, pulling us away from the shore.

The lights of Mercer House on the high ridge grew smaller.

“Where are we going?” Caroline whispered, shivering in the cold.

“To the highway bridge,” I said. “We can get to the road from there.”

My phone buzzed again in my pocket.

I managed to pull it out while keeping one hand on the paddle.

It wasn’t a text this time.