(Excerpt from chapter 1 of Unbound)
“The voice trails off like they’re walking away. Leta slinks closer to the barn opening closest to the house. The porch light must be motion activated because it’s clicks off with a ‘tink’ noise. She stands on her tip toes in the dark, breath held in her frozen chest. A hand cups her mouth so fast that she can’t even scream. An arm brackets her waist and clutches her body close. “Shhh! Don’t say a word!”
Her shoulders drop a little in relief. At least it’s the neighbor and not Charles. The man breathes against her ear. “You lost or hiding?” Leta shakes her head, lips pinched together. He grumbles. “Do you want him to find you?” She stops short and considers this.
He is the neighbor to Crisp Hill Church. Maybe he’s with them. If found, she’ll definitely be punished for what she’s done. But is this a test? Will telling him the truth get her hurt more? His hand loosens on her mouth and she shakes her head. “No.” It’s barely a whisper. She slumps as soon as she says it and wonders what the outcome will be. The man is still shrouded in shadow but she feels him sigh in relief.
“Good. Stay here and stay quiet.” His voice is too gravely to seem comforting in this moment but Leta doesn’t mind. His larger body shifts at her back and he ducks his head to look outside of the barn. “F***. They’re heading over here.” She gasps. “They?” The man nods and she tracks the movement despite the dark. “There’s at least 5 guys on my land now.”
The man keeps still, watching the men from the compound search from her. “Okay. I don’t think they know about this door. Ready to run?” Leta swallows back her fear and the lump in her throat. “Yes.” A hand grabs her arm. Leta startles. “You’re going out this door and into the house. Straight up the stairs. Bedroom in the center. Back of the closet, there’s an opening in to the attic.”
Leta nods, trying to remember all of it. An object is placed in her hand. “Take my phone. Use the light if you can’t see but don’t turn on any in the house. Stay as quiet as possible.” Leta’s chest is heaving, adrenaline kicking up a notch and making her antsy. She’s starting to register the cold of the night and the scratchy hay under her feet. “Ready?” She sucks in a breath, nerves making her shake. “Run!””
J. Essex Author 