Chapter 7 - The Escape
By 11:00 PM, the storm had rolled in from the Atlantic. Heavy rain lashed against the panoramic windows of the estate, the wind howling through the eaves of the roof.
Daniel stood in the dark kitchen, looking out the window toward the security gate. The headlights of Marcus’s black SUV were visible through the driving rain, parked directly across the exit.
Elise had blocked the main gate.
"Daniel," Nora whispered, slipping into the kitchen. She was carrying a single, small suitcase. "Your mother is ready. But we can't use the front doors. Marcus will see us."
"We're not using the front doors," Daniel said. "The old boathouse at the edge of the property has an access path that leads directly to the public road behind the state park. It’s overgrown, but we can walk it."
"With your mother?" Nora asked, her face filled with concern. "It’s raining, Daniel. She can't walk that far in the dark."
"I'll carry her," Daniel said. "We have to go now. Before Elise checks the cameras again."
They slipped out through the laundry room door, entering the cold, wet darkness of the southern gardens. The wind was fierce, driving the rain into their faces as they hurried down the stone path toward the boathouse.
Daniel carried his mother in his arms, her fragile body feeling no heavier than a child’s. Margaret clung to his neck, her face buried in his travel coat, her breathing shallow but steady.
Nora followed closely behind, holding a small flashlight cast toward the ground.
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As they reached the old wooden boathouse, a sudden, blinding searchlight cut through the rain from the main terrace of the estate.
"Daniel!" Elise’s voice echoed over the house’s outdoor PA system, sounding distorted and terrifying through the wind. "You are making a huge mistake! Turn back now, or I will call the police!"
