0.05 Emergence Read online

  Laughter caught at the back of her throat. If she’d only know how much his irresponsibility would help her now, she might have kept him around another week or two.

  The men were now behind her and approaching fast. She still had no idea how to lose them, but she needed to go somewhere around other people.

  She headed toward the university. If she could get the real police involved, maybe they’d pull over the men behind her too. She’d explain that they were chasing her, and their fake police uniforms were sure to make them suspicious.

  Purposely running through a red light, she shrieked at the long honk of an approaching vehicle. She swerved around a car entering the intersection.

  The SUV pushed through behind her.

  Emma drove down the deserted main road going sixty, much too fast for this stretch of road. But the surest way to get the attention of the real police. After she traveled three miles, ignoring red lights and swinging around slower cars in the lanes ahead of her, she began to realize that the police weren’t coming.

  She was on her own, and she had no idea what to do.

  Turning onto a side street full of businesses, she turned into an alley, the SUV close behind. Her chest tightened when she realized she’d driven into a dead end, a wall blocking the road fifty feet ahead. Her only escape was a narrow alley between two buildings ahead—if she could slow down enough to make the turn.

  God help her now.

  She hit the brakes, fighting the wheel for control. When she was close, she turned, the back of the car spinning. The van jerked and she was sure it was about to flip over with the force. Instead, the back bumper hit the corner of the building. She swung the wheel and drove toward the open lot ahead, the SUV close behind her.

  When she entered the parking lot, a sedan parked next to the building flipped on its headlights. She shrieked and jumped in her seat.

  There was another car now.

  But as she barreled toward the street, the car pulled forward, blocking the alley. The SUV crashed into the vehicle, pushing it forward as the sound of crunching metal filled the air.

  Emma slammed on the brakes and turned to watch in horror as the car exploded, shooting flames twenty feet into the air. The SUV blew seconds later.

  The van shook from the force and Emma covered her mouth to keep from vomiting. Men had died in those cars.

  The glow of the fire lit up the parking lot.

  What should she do? Should she stay? Should she flee?

  There was movement in the fire and a figure appeared, walking from the flames toward her.

  Her blood turned to sludge.

  “They’re gone,” Jake said behind her.

  Startled, she accidently honked the horn as she turned to face Jake then swung back to the man. “But that… he just… he can’t…”

  He stopped halfway between the burning car and the van, watching her. He’d walked out of the fire, yet his clothes weren’t burnt.

  “We’re safe now,” Jake’s small voice floated to the front.

  The man’s face was turned, allowing her to only see his silhouette, but his mouth lifted into a grin.

  Terror stood every hair follicle on end as her gaze locked with the man’s. A feeling rushed through her, like an electrical current. She broke contact, more certain than she’d ever been of anything in her entire life.

  They would never be safe.

  Read what happens to Emma and Jake three years later in

  CHOSEN (The Chosen #1).

  Middle Ground (The Chosen Short #2) Coming July 1, 2012

  Will’s story

  About the Author

  Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.

  You can find out more about Denise and her other books at www.denisegroverswank.com or email her at [email protected]

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five