Free Paradise Island: Complete Edition by DD Cooper Page B

something felt wrong. I heard laughter, and this time it wasn’t behind me, but somewhere in front. I could barely see beyond a couple of feet ahead. I stopped dead in my tracks, hiding the rock behind my back, the pepper spray still in my other hand, visible to anybody who dared to look.
    “Why are you doing this, Henry?” I almost cried as I saw him approach. He must have found some water and cleaned out his eyes. Who knew, maybe he even had a bicycle, for I had no idea how he had come to be ahead of me. I was sure the pepper spray had bought me at least a couple of minutes.
    As I saw him approach I knew I was in trouble. As he came close I saw what he was holding in his hands: a digital camera. Probably capable of night vision, which explained how he had found me so quickly.
    My body was still filled with so much adrenaline and fear that I made a run for it again, but instead of playing games, this time I surprised the bastard by running in his direction. He thought I was going to spray him with pepper spray again, and I heard him laugh. As I approached I saw that he had different glasses on.
    “Oh, Sophie, you’re pathetic,” he sneered as I approached.
    I surprised him by hitting him in the head with the rock I had been hiding. He immediately fell to the ground, blood pouring down his face. I made a motion to use it again, but he fell over and seemed to be completely out. I dropped the rock, my hands shaking. What had I just done? Did I kill him?
    I made a run for it, running as fast as I could until I reached Jack’s place, and felt immediately safe. I banged on the door even though I had the key, but with all the confusion, I had forgotten that fact.
    Thankfully, he was home and came to the door immediately, sliding it open.
    “Sophie, what the hell happened?”
    I lunged in, closing the door myself and locking it for good measure. I breathed hard, fighting to get some air into my lungs. I was sweaty and bloody and I must have looked quite a mess, but I did not care. I was just lucky to be alive.
    “Oh my God, Sophie, are you okay? You’re bleeding! What happened?” Jack immediately came to my aid, but I pushed him away. He went to the kitchenette and got me a bottle of water, which I gladly gulped down as soon as it came into my hand. My other hand was still holding on to the pepper spray bottle, hard.
    After I had gotten my bearings, the pain kicked in. The adrenaline had left my body, and now I really felt the pain from the cuts and bruises all over my legs and arms. I let go of the pepper spray bottle and Jack picked it up.
    “What the hell happened?” He took hold of my shoulders, concern in his eyes. “Did someone attack you?”
    I took a deep breath and told him the whole shebang, except I left out the part where me and Lucy made up. He did not need to know that.
    “We have to go back and see if he’s still there,” Jack said calmly. “Actually, you stay here and lock the door and I’ll go.”
    “No, Jack! Please don’t leave me here by myself!” Hot tears streamed down my face, and I felt ashamed that I was so weak.
    “Then come with me,” he said. “We have to make sure he’s where you left him. And if he is, we’re calling the cops or whatever the hell kind of law enforcement they have here.”
    “But what if he’s...” I began to say, not able to get the word out.
    “We’ll deal with it if it comes to that. Believe me, Sophie, you did the right thing.”
    “How do you know so much about all this?” I asked.
    “I was in a similar situation in Moonrise by Sunset .”
    It took me a moment to realize he was talking about a movie.
    “Oh, I haven’t seen that one.”
    “It’s not that good,” he smiled. “I’ll go get my gun and we’ll be on our way.”
    “You have a gun?” I was shocked, shocked and dismayed.
    “Hell yes, Sophie. I’m a world famous actor in the middle of nowhere. I have to be able to protect myself. I think you should stay here, lock the door, and