Chapter 8: The Siege

Chapter 8: The Siege
The tranquility shattered on the eighth night. The Kensingtons had tracked Mateo's burner phone signal.
Beatrice woke to the sound of silenced gunfire tearing through the wooden siding of the cabin. Mateo yelled from the front room, returning fire. Leo was instantly in her room, thrusting a heavy black handgun into her hands.
"Do you know how to use this?" he demanded.
"No," she admitted, terrified.
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"Point and pull the trigger. Take Lily and get into the root cellar under the kitchen. Do not come out until I open the door."
Beatrice grabbed Lily, wrapping the sobbing child in a heavy blanket, and bolted for the kitchen. As they scrambled down into the dark, damp cellar, the memory of Victoria locking Lily away flashed in Beatrice's mind. But this time, Beatrice was the one holding the door shut from the inside, her large frame pressed against the wood, the gun trembling in her hand.