Take that, you spineless piece of shit.
Alan doubled over in pain, but manage to keep hold of her as he went down. She still couldn’t get away.
Dash lunged forward and planted a right hook on her cheek. Her vision spun and the floor came up to meet her.
“You right, Shawcross. She is a feisty bitch.”
The next thing Annaliese knew, something descended from the trees and clubbed Dash in the back. He went sprawling forward and landed on his face, unconscious.
What’s happening?
Alan screamed and rushed off out of view. Shawcross backed away slowly. Someone had come to her rescue.
Lily stood over Annaliese protectively and let out a low, guttural huffing sound. A clear warning.
Annaliese lay on her side in shock, unable to move. One of Lily’s hands grasped at her shirt and tugged it. Get up, she was communicating. Get up now.
Annaliese pushed herself up onto her feet and started backing away. Shawcross made a move to grab her, but Lily rose up and hooted aggressively. He backed away.
Annaliese took a few unsteady steps, before realising that no one was going to risk following her. Dash was still dazed on the ground and Alan was nowhere to be seen. She looked around and got her bearings. She was in the zoo, not far from the cable car station. From there, she could make it to the Big Dog restaurant and find the others.
Can I even trust them? How many of them were in on Shawcross’s plan? I might still be done for.
But not yet.
Annaliese had no options but to find the others and hope that they would help her. She took off in the direction of the amusement park. She had to make it to the restaurant.
“You’ll regret this,” Shawcross shouted after her. “You and your goddamn monkey.”
Annaliese gritted her teeth as she made her getaway. She’s an ape, you idiot. For the last time, she’s an ape!
And she just saved my life.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Up ahead, the Big Dog restaurant came into view. The flickering candle light shining through the single un-barricaded window made it clear that somebody was inside.
Thank God.
I hope.
With nobody pursuing her, Annaliese allowed herself to slow down and take it easier on her legs. She felt like she was going to collapse again at any moment. As soon as she knew that she was safe, that was exactly what she was going to do.
She hobbled up the steps to the restaurant and approached the open window. Peering in through the gap, she could see only the glare of a half-dozen candles.
Out of energy, and almost out of fight, she pushed herself up onto the ledge and tumbled through the gap and onto the floor. If those inside were hostile then they would just have to finish her off, there and then. There was nothing else she could do but lie there and give in.
“Anna? What the bloody hell’s happened to you?” It was Eve. She hurried over and helped her up off the floor. “Are you okay?”
Annaliese shoved her away. “Are you with them? Are you with Shawcross?”
Eve looked confused. “What do you mean?
“Shawcross, Alan, and…and some other guy. They killed Mike. They’re trying to kill me. Are you with them?” Eve stood there awkwardly, staring at her like she was mad. But Annaliese was not mad. She lashed out and grabbed Eve by the throat, surprised by her own ferocity. “Are. You. Fucking. With. Them?”
Eve shook her head, frightened. “No! Hell, no. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Let me go. We’ll sort this out.”
Annaliese sighed and let the girl go.
Eve went to rush off, but turned back around and smiled at her reassuringly. “You’re safe now, Anna. Okay?”
Annaliese did not reply. She slumped against the wall and slid to floor, trying to catch her breath as Eve rushed off into the shadows of the restaurant. Moments later, the girl returned with Cassie and Pauline in tow. Cassie held out a drink to Annaliese, which she took gratefully.