Chapter 5 - Into the Deluge
The black SUV roared to life inside the echoing secondary garage. Clara slid into the leather backseat, cradling Ellie tightly against her chest, wrapping her own heavy satin wedding veil around the child to shield her from the creeping hypothermia.
Julian slammed the SUV into gear, crashing through the automatic garage door before it had even fully opened. The vehicle surged out into the blinding gray deluge, its high-powered fog lights slicing through sheets of wind-whipped rain.
The estate gates opened into chaos. The winding road leading toward the northern ridge was already turning into a torrential river of brown, churning water. Debris, snapped branches, and loose gravel battered the undercarriage with metallic clatter.
""How is she doing, Clara?"" Julian yelled over the wipers and engine roar, his hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel.
""Her pulse is too fast, Julian!"" Clara shouted back, pressing two fingers to Ellie's neck. ""Her lips are turning deep purple. She's slipping into unconsciousness!""
""Stay with me, Ellie!"" Julian pleaded, looking into the rearview mirror. ""Look at the lights! Keep your eyes on the lights!""
In the back, Ellie’s eyes fluttered open for a split second. ""Mister... my throat feels like it has thorns inside...""
Julian gripped the wheel tighter and floored the accelerator. The vehicle fishtailed violently across a patch of slick clay, the tires spinning furiously before catching traction on rough gravel. Ahead, the road began to incline steeply into the dense pine forest of the ridge.
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Suddenly, a massive shudder reverberated through the ground. A crack like thunder split the air directly above them.
Just fifty yards ahead, a section of the hillside tore free, sending ancient pine trees and tons of mud cascading directly across the only path upward.
