Chapter 8 - The Gatekeeper
They reached the heavy iron gates of the Mercer estate, chest-deep in exhaustion. The security gate was chained shut, operated by an illuminated keypad on a concrete pillar.
Clara lunged forward, punching the digits through the driving rain. A red light flashed, accompanied by an error buzzer.
""No, no, no!"" Clara slammed her fists against the metal. ""The storm knocked out the main line! It's on backup, but the gate mechanism is jammed!""
Julian stepped back, panting, his eyes scanning the eight-foot wrought-iron fence. Sharp decorative spears topped the perimeter. In Ellie's current state, every second Clara spent trying to force the gate was another nail in her coffin.
""Take her,"" Julian said hoarsely.
""What?""
""Take Ellie. Stand back.""
Julian handed the unconscious child into Clara’s trembling arms. He stepped back into the mud, took three rapid strides, and launched himself onto the wet iron bars. His bare feet slipped on the cold metal, but his hands locked onto the horizontal rail. Ignoring the tearing sensation in his palms, he hauled himself up to the top, balancing precariously between two iron spikes.
He dropped down onto the driveway on the other side, landing hard on his feet and rolling across the gravel. Without pausing, he grabbed a heavy landscaping crowbar leaning against the guard shed and wedged it into the locking mechanism of the emergency pedestrian door.
May you like
With a roar of exertion, Julian threw his entire weight against the lever.
The metal latch snapped with a loud crack. The door swung open. Clara rushed through, carrying Ellie. Julian scooped the child back into his arms, and together, they broke through the dense trees toward the brightly lit front porch of the stone house.
