Free Survival by Rhonda Hopkins

CHAPTER
ONE
     
     
    S arah Jamison's gaze
met her twin's fear-filled blue eyes. "I—"
    "It's no use. The cuff is too tight. You're
going to have to leave me." Dana put her free hand on Sarah's,
stilling their frantic motions.
    "No. I won't leave you. Maybe I can . . ."
She turned, taking in the empty basement—the cement walls, exposed
pipes, and her sister handcuffed to one of the metal cylinders. A
small amount of light trickled in through the one lone window, but
there was nothing she could use as a weapon. Unless . . . .
    She strode over to the dangling pipe from
which she had managed to extricate herself earlier. Grabbing the
unattached end, she tried wresting it clear of its fittings, her
own wrist dangling handcuffs which clinked against the metal with
each pull. Rust and time made it impossible to remove.
    "Sarah—"
    "No." Tears ran down her face. "I can't
leave you, Dana."
    "You have to. It's the only way we're both
getting out of here. You have to go for help."
    Sarah knelt beside her sister who reached
out and wiped her thumb across her cheek, brushing the tears
aside.
    "I'll be okay until you get back. I won't
give them any excuse to throw me out to those . . . ." Dana choked
back the word they had both been avoiding, choosing another
instead. "Creatures."
    Realizing there was no way she could take on
all three kidnappers without a weapon, Sarah accepted she had to
have assistance to save Dana. Hugging her sister, Sarah kissed her
cheek. "I love you, Dana. Be strong. I'll be back just as soon as
possible."
    Heavy footsteps reverberated on the stairs.
Dana pushed Sarah away. "Go now. Before it's too late."
    Stretching upwards, she tried to raise the
window, but it wouldn't budge. She took off her T-shirt, wrapped
her hand, and knocked out the glass, ducking as shards rained down
on her. Pain shot through her palm all the way to her shoulder, but
adrenaline fueled her and minimized the hurt. She unwound the red
fabric and smoothed it hurriedly across the sill.
    The door crashed inward as one of the men
who had captured them ran into the room. "What's going on here?" He
took in the situation and bee-lined for Sarah, grabbed her legs and
pulled her down from the window. Grasping one arm, he backhanded
her across the face. The edge of his ring ripped across her
forehead; the pain almost blinding. Blood gushed from the
wound.
    She jerked away from him and took on the
fighting stance she had been taught, feet set apart at shoulder
width. Sarah grabbed the dangling cuff in her hand and put all her
force in the punch to the man's jaw. His head snapped backwards.
Before he could react, she stepped back and struck out with her
right foot, making contact with his left knee. The crunch of
breaking bone and his scream told her she had done some major
damage even before he fell to the floor.
    The other two kidnappers pounded down the
stairs.
    "Sarah! Go!" Dana screamed.
    She grabbed the window sill and pulled
herself upward and through the opening; glass slivers cutting her
where the shirt didn't cover. She yanked her legs through, turned
and gave one last look at her sister and saw her mouth, "I love
you."
    Two men crashed through the open doorway.
One ran for the window as the other stopped to check out their
injured friend.
    Sarah took off running around the abandoned
building to the parking lot in front. Her black Expedition was one
of three cars parked there. The abductors had taken their keys and
cellphones, so she fell to her knees on the pavement beside the
left rear tire and reached into the wheel well. Her fingers fumbled
for the magnetic box and she issued a silent prayer of thanks when
she found it. She got in the car and hit the locks just as the man
they called Ron sprinted around the side of the building. The
inside light illuminated the car's interior, giving away her
location.
    Her shaking fingers pulled the key from its
container. She managed to insert it and start the car in one try.
Ron banged on the