Chapter 10

I have no idea what the hell they are talking about until Ryder says that last part, which I understand clear as day. We are in trouble! As Ryder walks cautiously to the door, I pull out my gun and train it to the door.

"Whoever did this is smart. It means the hacker has probably been in and out of our system and home. Undetected. We have to get into one of the offices, Ryder. It's the only way to confirm any of this is true," Freddie says as the lights flicker on and then off again. I breathe a sigh of relief, but it's short-lived.

"Freddie?" Ryder asks.

"I know, I know! We won't know if the person is still in the house until we get into the office. Damnit!"

I stand there paralyzed as I watch the generator. For some reason, hearing that someone broke into my house and installed this death trap the second time terrified me even more. How is that even possible?

Freddie shifts on the crate and then rejoices! He turns the lights back on.

"All right! I was able to get the hacker removed once and for all. The generator should be shutting down in 3...2...1," he says as he looks at Ryder and closes the laptop, standing.

The generator's engine begins to slow down, eventually shutting off. I sigh as I slowly put the gun to my side.

One disaster averted.

"We need to call LeAnn. She may be able to do something in regards to that steel cap," Ryder says. "We don't know if there is a bomb inside this thing or what."

Ryder crosses his arms over his chest and stares at the generator.

"My phone!" I say, remembering I left it in my purse. "It's in my car."

We walk back upstairs and into the garage a few minutes later. I grab my phone and hand it to Ryder. He calls LeAnn.

I walk to the garage door and notice the storm has let up a little. It's still windy and raining, but the clouds are starting to break apart. The sun is beginning to peek through.

Ryder finishes talking to LeAnn. I go to turn around when I notice the silver car is still out front. If someone pulled over, wouldn't they have left by now? Especially now that the storm is starting to move away. Why are they still sitting there?

"LeAnn's on her way, as we speak."

I'm not paying any attention to Ryder.

"Sam, what are you looking at?" He asks, looking out of the window.

I point to the silver car. "It's probably nothing but that car has been sitting there for a while now. Maybe someone should check it out. A stranded driver?"

"Yeah." Freddie interrupts. "If they tried calling us using the gate phone, we wouldn't have gotten the call, with the electricity down."

Ryder furrows his brow looking around. "All right, you both stay here. Don't leave each other. I'm going to check on this motorist."

Freddie nods. "While you do that, I'll set the central heating/cooling to remove the air in the house. We don't know how much fumes we've inhaled thus far."

"Absolutely not!" I interrupt them both. They both turned to me. " I trust being out there more than being in here. If someone comes in, both Freddie and I are history. You stay here, and I'll go see if that person needs help."

"No-"

"Did you forget our conversation earlier, Ryder? About how you have to control everything and everyone?"

"This is different! We are talking about your life," he whispers, clearly agitated.

Even Freddie can tell how upset Ryder is. Freddie slowly backs away, uncomfortable. He sits the laptop on the hood of my car and begins to work.

"Our lives and I'm apart of this. I'll be fine! Joe, Margie, Darryl, and Freddie need you in here. And I'm pretty sure whoever is doing this is still in the house. They would be crazy to try and leave with the storm raging out there."

"Well," Freddie interrupts. "Crazy is poisoning everyone in the house, and that person is still in the house. Anyone would rather be outside-"

We both glare at Freddie.

"Nevermind," he says quietly as he types on the laptop.

Ryder doesn't say anything. I walk to the door that leads to the outside. I pull it open when Ryder grabs the door for me. "Please, be careful."

I smile and run my fingers down his neck. He closes his eyes and exhales deeply.

"I'll be fine."

I run across the garage entrance and straight to the gate. I have to be careful not to slip on the cobblestone that lines our driveway.

It's so windy I have to put my hand in front of my face. The trees are dancing wildly, and it looks like they will snap at any moment.

Why someone would have stayed parked here is beyond me. I would've taken my chances driving ten miles an hour.

I turn and see that Ryder is standing at the doorway. His eyes are fixed right on me.

Once I get close to the gate, I notice they are slightly swinging back and forth. It isn't locked.

Odd, I tell myself. I was the last person in, and the gate was locked right after I pulled in.

I pull the heavy, iron gate open and make my way towards the silver car. It's a Toyota Camry. Brand new by the looks of it. I go to the driver's side window, and I pass my hands on the window, peeking in. There is no one there.

Rain starts pouring heavily around me, making it impossible for me to see. I have to put my hands above my eyes. Looking around, I don't see anyone.

The next houses are half a mile up and down the mountain.

It makes sense no one is here, especially since we had no power. If the motorist tried calling, using the gate phone, no one would answer. Maybe they hitch-hiked?

I turn to walk back when I see a woman standing near the trunk of the car. Where had she been hiding? The gate was open. Maybe she had wandered around our property looking for someone.

I look at her cautiously. Maybe she's hurt? The woman has a fair complexion and long, dark hair. I don't see any visible signs of cuts or bruises. She is just standing there, getting soaking wet.

"Hello?!" I yell at her. My hands are shielding my eyes because the winds and rain are picking back up again. We both struggle to stand still as the rain and winds dance all around us.

"Do you need some help?! You probably tried calling us, but we had no power until now! You're more than welcome to stay with us until the storm passes!"

She has her hands up above her eyes and looks terrified also. She shakes her head as she begins to shiver.

Poor thing probably walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. That wouldn't have worked.

I walk towards her and grab her arm. "Come on! Let's get out of the storm!"

I walk to her and smile. I am about to put my arm over her shoulder when I feel immense pain in my neck. I hunch over, grabbing onto my neck and coughing uncontrollably.

Was I just hit there?!

I turn to the woman who is now smiling at me. She looks very familiar.

The woman grabs me and slams me against the back of the car. My right shoulder takes the force of the impact. I try to yell out in pain, but I can't! Horror washes over me.

My throat feels on fire, and my shoulder is dislocated! I try to move it but I can't. The woman stands me up by my neck, choking me. I try to get her hands from around my neck, but I am in so much pain! What the hell was going on?!

I inhale and use the force of my left elbow to hit her, right in the crook of her arm. The woman instantly lets me go. She screams as she put her hands together, raising her arms above her head, and tries hitting me over the head.

I move out of the way as she hits the trunk of the car, denting it. I take that opportunity and throw myself on top of her.

We both fall, hitting the ground hard! We spin until she is on top of me. I'm pinned underneath the crazy woman! She adjusts herself and laughs as she gets ready to punch me.

I kick my legs up and put them right in front of her torso, pushing her off! She struggles as I get her off of me!

She rolls backward and laughs. We both stand slowly. I groan in pain as I grab onto my shoulder.

I immediately take my fighting stance. The woman looks at me up and down and starts to laugh again. "Is that the garbage they are teaching you, Sam?!"

The stranger doesn't let me answer. She launches herself at me and begins kicking and punching.

I try to concentrate as I sidestep every blow. So far, I am doing good. Blocking and dodging this lunatic at every turn. I even use my right arm and scream in pain, but I never let up. Letting her win isn't an option!

I make the mistake of dodging into the grass when my foot slips. Trying to get back up, she punches me in the face and head. I instantly become woozy and forget what I am doing for a split second.

Grabbing me by the throat, she whispers something in my ear, but I don't hear it. Instead, a knife comes flying at her.

She catches it and looks at the direction it comes from, smiling.

I also look.

It's LeAnn!

LeAnn throws the knife from her car window as she skids to a halt!

The stranger throws me down, along with LeAnn's knife. She turns and runs to the car, getting in, and drives off.

I watch as the brake lights from the silver Camry quickly disappear into the storm. That's the last thing I see before I blackout.