Book To Read
Chapter 81
I couldn’t keep the horrible images from flooding my mind.
My mother and father in the front seat of the car, jerking as the assassin’s bullets struck them –
The man in the barn, his face erupting in blood as I fired the shotgun –
Massimo disappearing beneath the churning surface of the river.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
The horror wouldn’t stop.
Neither would the pain. Zollner nearly dislocated my shoulders as he dragged me along.
After what seemed like an eternity, we reached a small cabin with a car parked next to it. He pulled me onto the wooden porch and left me lying there as he banged on the door with his fist.
“Help us – mein Gott, please, help us!” he cried in a panicked voice.
I didn’t understand at first what he was doing –
But as soon as I did, I stared up at him in terror.
“We need your help – a girl is hurt out here!” Zollner continued to shout as he banged on the door.
A light turned on above us, and the door opened the tiniest bit.
A middle-aged man peeked out and saw me lying on the ground. His eyes widened in shock.
I must have been a sight – my entire body covered in mud, my hair wet and stringy.
As soon as I saw the man, I screamed behind my gag and violently shook my head NO!
“Oh, thank God,” Zollner said, relief flooding his voice. “My daughter is terribly injured – can we borrow your car?”
“What’s wrong with her?” the man asked as he opened the door to peer down at me. “Is – is there something in her mouth?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, there is,” Zollner said pleasantly, then raised his gun and shot the man in the head.
BANG!
I screamed and cried as the man collapsed next to me.
Zollner stepped over the body and called out, “Is there anyone else in here?”
There was a woman’s voice – “What was that noise?! Who are – NO! – ”
BANG!
Then her voice stopped, too.
I sobbed as I lay there on the porch.
A minute later, Zollner came out jingling a pair of car keys between his fingers.
“Yaaaay!” he said excitedly, like a child who had just found a prize. “Now – will you walk to the car, or must I drag you?”
All I could do was stare into the dead man’s eyes.
When I didn’t answer, Zollner sighed theatrically.
“You really could make this so much easier on yourself,” he said as he dragged me off the porch and towards the car.
Please, God, I prayed through my tears. Please let Massimo be okay.