Chapter 6: The Dust Trail
Marcus shoved Sarah toward the passenger side of his matte black F-250. "Get in. Keep her head down!" he barked, his voice barely a whisper over the rumbling of the approaching SUV.
Sarah scrambled into the cab, curling her body over Zoe to shield her. Marcus didn't get in the truck. Instead, he sprinted to Sarah’s Honda. He reached under the steering column, ripped a cluster of wires down, and sparked them. The engine roared to life. He jammed a heavy tire iron against the gas pedal, threw it in drive, and dove out the open door as the Honda shot forward.
The empty sedan barreled out from behind the dumpster, headlights off, tearing across the overgrown lot toward the thick woods. The black SUV instantly swerved to follow it, its high beams catching the Honda’s taillights.
Marcus scrambled into the driver's seat of his truck. He threw it into reverse, spun the wheel, and gunned the engine. They shot out the back exit of the diner into a pitch-black logging road, Marcus driving entirely by moonlight and muscle memory.
"They'll figure out the car is empty in about two minutes when it crashes into the ravine," Marcus said, his eyes glued to the dark tree line. "By then, we’ll be on the county roads. Keep your seatbelt off just in case."
Sarah held Zoe tight, her heart pounding against the baby's chest. For the first time since she fled the house, she allowed herself to look at her stepbrother. "Thank you, Mark."
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"Don't thank me yet," he grunted, taking a sharp turn that threw Sarah against the door. "David's family practically owns the state police. If we get pulled over, we don't stop. Understand?"
Sarah looked down at the fading purple bruise on Zoe's cheek in the dim dashboard light. "I understand."
