She smacked into the door with great force. The glass shook in her hands and the door shot outward with a thud. Somehow, she managed not to break it. “Ma’am?” said the greeter, after jumping and clutching her chest. “Ma’am!!” But Katherine didn’t stop, not at her voice nor the pain in her hands from the door. She started running again.
Justin was not far behind. He would have caught her arm in front of the door if it had not chosen that moment to slam in his face. The door had come back at him so fast. It was not designed for this rough treatment. He jumped back, and it stuck fast in the doorway. It stopped him there for a full thirty seconds. Justin was strong, but one of the hinges had broken in the process and would not budge.
But Justin knew what was coming. “She’s running straight for it.” He thought. He could see Katherine run to the curb and stop, looking back at him. He summoned all his strength and switching tactics; he pulled inward instead of pushing. The door moved then. Katherine saw this and started running again. Justin didn’t waste any time. The greeter was approaching him from behind, trying to get his attention. But he ignored her and started after Katherine just as she disappeared around the corner.
Katherine was having trouble hurrying. Her feet had already been hurt, and one of her ankles had twisted a little on the first sprint. And now she was jogging sluggishly. She knew Justin would catch up to her. And she was not running from him, not precisely. She was running from Brenda, from the women that had heard the story, and from the story itself. If only she could get to the car and beyond before he caught her. He could hold her then, safe from prying eyes. Or she was running from him. A little tiny part of her believed Brenda’s story might be true, the smallest part of her.
Available June 5th
Spookychild’s writings 
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