Page 64 of Traces of Kara

Jackson shook his head. “I have no idea. Never seen the guy before, and I have no idea how he got in.”

“Yeah? Well, I do. The fence is busted. There’s a broken window.”

“Shit.” Jackson looked around the room. “What now? He’s going to come back. I know he is.”

“Where’s Mimi?”

“I don’t know. She was there, with him. I think she was with Kara, too.”

“Kara? Shit.” Ted held onto the wall, steadying himself on his way back into the first room.

Jackson’s eyes settled on Ted’s blood-drenched clothing, his uneven and hindered gait.

“Did you hear anything? Do you know why he’s doing this? Are they alive?”

“Yes, yes, they were alive, but—” Jackson turned away, looking down at the floor and fidgeting with his hands.

“But what?” Ted’s serious tone drew Jackson’s eye.

“She said Kara would die without help.”

They stood under the light at the entrance to the blackened passageway.

“Generator’s not going to last.” Jackson’s eyebrows drew together.

“We have to get help,” Ted said. “The place I came in, we have to get there and get help. Detective Grant is already here, but I have no fucking idea where he is, or if he’s still alive.” His eyes rolled over Jackson’s head down to his feet, wondering why his life was spared.

Guilt washed over Jackson’s face. He nervously put his hands in and out of his pants pockets. “I was gonna get help. I tried. I really did, but the doors lock automatically when the power kicks out, and with the storm—”

Ted wasn’t paying attention. He was trying to see past his own pain and formulate a plan of escape. Where was Mitch? Why wasn’t Mitch in the basement? Ted hoped he wasn’t dead. That’s all they’d need—no cell service, no police, and no lights. “We have to get back to where I came in,” he reiterated.

“He’s out there somewhere. What if he comes back? What if we run into him?”

Ted rubbed the ache that had crawled up his back and nestled into his neck. “Any other brilliant ideas?”

Jackson looked down.

“Listen, do you know your way around down here? Can you find the place I’m talking about? It’s a big empty room.” He tried to determine whether they were at the front or back of the building, but it was no use. He had no idea how far into the plant, or from what direction, the cavity where they stood resided.

“On the side of the plant? I was there, tried to get cell service.” Jackson rubbed his face. “I should have climbed out. I was right there and decided to run back and try to help Mimi instead.” Jackson rubbed his face. “I should have run for help. I screwed up. I’m sorry, Ted.”

“You did what you thought was best. What’s done is done. We gotta get outta here, before it’s too late. Maybe Mitch is already down here. Shit. I wish I could think straight.”

They moved with trepidation, each step bringing with it renewed fear. Ted leaned on the wall as he walked at a snail’s pace, cringing with each footfall. He listened to Jackson’s quick breaths as they made their way down the dark hall, heading toward the room where Ted had entered the plant.

“Hurry,” Jackson whispered.

Ted could not hurry any better then he could quell his hammering heart. He fought to remain erect. Every step sent searing pains through him. His head swam in circles. They had to find help. There was no way they could overpower that maniac by themselves.

The thought that pressed in on Ted, though he hated to admit it, was, just what had Kara—or Mimi—done to deserve this? As much as he disliked picking up the pieces of Kara’s broken life, he couldn’t imagine her doing anything that would warrant backlash as sick as this. He felt as though he was caught in a nightmare, and worse, he couldn’t imagine the fear his wife and stepdaughter were enduring. He used the anger that welled within him to push him forward.

“Marissa!” A deep voice echoed through the halls, sending Jackson to Ted’s side.

“He knows where we’re going,” Jackson cried.

“Shh,” Ted hissed.

“Marissa!” The man’s erratic tone heightened Ted’s determination. He had no idea who Marissa was, but he knew the man had Mimi. Where else could she be?