Page 1 of Whispers Left Behind
Chapter One
Rachel Hanson
October
Thursday — 1:33 am
The sharp claws ofdesperation were all too real.
Rachel Hanson choked back a sob as she stumbled over the protruding roots and rocks of the forest floor. Primal fear was the driving force pushing her forward, despite the excruciating pain in her left side. Every step forward was agony, but stopping meant death.
The darkness would have swallowed her whole had it not been for the flickering streams of moonlight. The silver beams slippedpast the leaves of the tall ash trees above as if they were guiding her to safety. She followed them as quickly as possible toward salvation.
Lionel Cooper’s farmhouse was just past the clearing.
If she could make it across the field without getting caught, she stood a good chance of being allowed inside before it was too late. She flinched when a low-hanging branch slapped her cheek, but she didn’t dare slow down. Just a little farther. That was all she needed to gain a bit of separation.
With every sharp inhalation, it was as if she were breathing tiny shards of glass. She could barely hear anything over the blood rushing through her body. It didn’t help that her heart hammered against her ribcage, intensifying the pain.
Rachel pressed a hand against her side when she was forced to come to an abrupt halt at the edge of the tree line. Though the palpable presence of death seemed to be an inescapable force, she had no choice but to waste valuable seconds evaluating her surroundings.
An eerie stillness had settled around her.
Hadhestopped of discovering her location?
She bit her lip to keep from breathing too loud.
In the distance, the full moon cast slivers of illumination over Mr. Cooper’s farmhouse. While his porchlight beckoned her with hope, there were many shadows in between that stretched and twisted like long, grasping fingers.
Could she make it safely to his front door?
She hesitated at the edge of the clearing, torn with a decision to make. Remain in the woods or make a run for it. Her life was in danger either way. The piercing snap of a twig startled her as it echoed off the trees.
The decision had been made for her.
Rachel ignored the wetness between her fingers as she frantically pushed off the tall, thick trunk. She began to runtoward the barn maybe a hundred feet away. The blood on her hand was no longer warm. The cool, crisp air had dried the sticky substance upon contact. She didn’t give her injury another thought as she focused solely on the barn.
The large structure would offer her temporary cover.
Fortunately, the ground wasn’t as rough through the field. She still hadn’t anticipated the slight decline. She almost tripped over her own feet before catching herself. The brief interruption afforded her the time needed to glance over her shoulder.
No one emerged from the woods behind her.
Not wanting to take such a reprieve for granted, she forced herself to run faster until she could reach her destination. The dim silhouette of the barn enveloped her in its protection as she finally rested her palm against one of the cold, wooden beams.
There was no time for tears, and she wouldn’t waste any precious seconds checking her wound. Only a little farther, and she would be able to reach Mr. Cooper’s front porch.
He would call 911.
He would save her.
Rachel quietly followed the barn's length until the farmhouse came back into view. Sixty yards was all that stood between life and death. It took a moment for her to realize that the shadowed outline of the barn had shifted and morphed into a dark, looming figure. Once recognition dawned, a surge of panic slammed into her.
She spun around in an attempt to escape.
The man’s hand shot out and seized her by the hair, yanking her back with such brutal force that it drove out what remaining air she had in her lungs. His other hand clamped over her mouth to prevent her from screaming, and she struggled to draw in oxygen.
No words were spoken as he untangled his fingers from her hair before quickly wrapping a thick arm around her waist. Hepractically lifted her off the ground before dragging her toward the barn door. She fought with all her might, but all she managed to do was grapple with the fabric of his jacket.
