Chapter 7 - The Final Stand
Arthur lunged forward with the iron skillet, aiming straight for my head. I ducked just in time, the heavy metal grazing my shoulder and sending a searing bolt of pain down my arm.
I didn't hesitate. I grabbed a boiling kettle of water from the stove burner—which my mother had left on before being ambushed—and hurled the steaming water straight into Arthur’s face.
Arthur let out an ear-piercing shriek of agony, dropping the skillet and clutching his scalded face as skin began to blister.
"Mom, run!" I yelled, helping my mother out of the chair, but before we could reach the back door, Arthur swung his arm blindly, catching me across the temple with the back of his hand.
I crashed into the kitchen island, glass jars shattering all around me. The room spun wildly. Blood dripped down my forehead, blurring my vision.
Arthur wiped the water from his face, his eyes blazing with murderous rage, blood dripping from his chin. "You bitch! I'm going to finish you both right now!"
He reached into his jacket, pulling out a silver-barreled revolver, pointing it directly between my eyes.
"Any last words, dear sister-in-law?" he sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger.
I looked at my mother, who was sobbing helplessly on the floor, and thought of Lily waiting in the car outside. Fear evaporated, leaving behind a pure, incandescent rage.
"Yeah," I whispered, smiling grimly. "Look behind you."
Arthur hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes darting toward the pantry door.
May you like
That fraction of a second was all I needed.
With a final surge of adrenaline, I kicked the heavy kitchen table hard against his shins. Arthur lost his balance, tumbling backward and crashing straight through the glass patio door into the backyard, his gun flying out of his hand and skittering across the lawn.
