Page 70 of The Revenge
Because Preston hadn’t knocked me out or tied me up, I was so busy trying to find a weapon or a way out, that I wasn’t paying attention to the driving. We didn’t peel out of themuseum, and by the time I thought to try to work out where we were, it was too late.
We must have gotten onto a highway at some point, because the van felt like it was moving far too fast for the average New York City street, but I have no idea what direction we’re heading in.
The van slows as we curve sharply to the right. Whatever highway we were on, I think we’ve just gotten off. The van briefly comes to a stop as though we’ve reached a stop sign or a light, and then we take a sharp right turn. Now we’re driving slower.
Which means we’re probably close to wherever Preston is taking me.
If he heard me hammering and yelling against the partition between us, he’s been ignoring me.
The van takes another sharp turn, and then suddenly, I’m being flung around as the van bounces over uneven ground.
Wherever Preston has taken me, we’re here.
Even though I’ve had the chance to think this time, I have absolutely no idea how I’m going to get out of this.
Logic tells me we’ve driven somewhere secluded.
Preston has a gun.
And even if Syn, Royal or Gemini have noticed that I’m not at the museum anymore, they have absolutely no idea where I am.
The van comes to an abrupt stop.
My chances of survival are slim, and I’ve probably used up all my luck when I didn’t die the last time someone tried to kill me, but I sure as hell am not going down without a fight.
With my back to the door, I lie down and force myself to keep my breathing as steady and quiet as possible. Moments later, the door opens.
“Really?” Preston releases a deep breath of irritation. “You’re not fooling anyone. Get out of the van, and you’ll make this a whole lot easier for yourself.”
I don’t move.
“You’re getting out of this van one way or another, but if I have to get in there and drag you out, I promise you, I will make this as slow and as painful as I know how.”
My heart is pounding so loudly in my chest, but I still don’t move.
“Fuck’s sake,” Preston mutters. The van lurches as he climbs in. It’s not a big vehicle, but it feels like an eternity passes as he walks over to me, his footsteps making the van rattle with each step.
I sense him right behind me, but instead of grabbing my arm or shoulder like I expect, his hands wrap around my hair, and he starts to pull me backwards. The scream of pain that comes out of my mouth is real, but it’s enough for him to pause and lean his face down closer to me.
“You thought—”
The handful of dirt I’ve been desperately clinging onto flies into his face as I hurl it at him.
Preston stumbles backwards with a roar. Although he doesn’t let go of the gun he’s holding, he’s using both hands to desperately rub the dirt from his eyes.
I scramble to my feet then shove him as hard as I can, away from the door.
He stumbles, smacking his head against the wall, but he still doesn’t drop the gun.
My time and luck is quickly running out, so I run to the door and jump out. Pain seers across my leg, but I ignore it as I turn and slam the door shut.
Wherever Preston brought me to, I don’t recognize it. I’m standing on rocks and pebbles. The ground is so uneven,everywhere I look is littered with deep looking puddles, most frozen over. If there is a moon tonight, it’s obscured by the clouds. To my left, in the distance, I can only see a few lights, but between them and me, is a river. From the little time I’ve been in the van, I’m most likely either still in New York, or we’ve crossed over into New Jersey, but that wouldn’t help me now anyway.
Precious seconds have already been lost, so I pick up the long skirt of the dress, but as I start to move towards the driver’s door, pain shoots down my leg again. Quickly, I press my hand against the source of the pain, keeping it against the wet area as I move to the front of the van and open the door.
The key isn’t in the ignition.
I’ve never tried to hotwire a car in my life, and if I had the time, I’d try. Only, if the key is with Preston, then there’s a chance the door didn’t lock.
