CHAPTER 13:
When William wrenched open the door to the room adjacent to the guest bedroom, he slowly backed away. He hoped with all his might that the killer would be far too busy trying to figure out what could have caused the door to swing open so violently, and not notice a Julia trying to escape to the bathroom in his back.
He waited a little bit and then began to quickly redirect himself towards the guest room. He walked through the connecting door, not sure where the man with the gun was now. Once in the guest room, he looked in front of him and saw not only the door of the room where he was open, but also that of the bathroom. He could see the window now wide open and was relieved to know that Julia had been able to jump.
It was time! He only had to run, jump, and he was free. And that is what he did. He started to run and quickly went through the guest bedroom door, a stone's throw from the bathroom door.
"Hey!"
William had no time to react when a detonation sounded in his ears, and he felt his left side tear. He was thrown violently against the frame of the door which he took in the shoulder. He immediately saw blurry and thought he was about to pass out. But no, he had to keep moving forward. He had to fight. For Julia who was waiting for him outside. For Alfredo who was now lying alone in a room. For George and the Brackenreids, his friends. The ones he was so glad they did not come to that nightmarish party. For the Weston who had surely died in their own mansion. For all the guests who could not make it out and who were cowardly and coldly shot. For all these families who would know in a few hours the greatest and most horrible of heartaches. That of the loss of a loved one. For all her children who were going to mourn their parents as they wisely stayed home with their nannies, anxiously awaiting their return. He had to fight.
Detective Murdoch heard with horror the killer rush towards him and load his rifle again. William pushed on the door frame with both hands to straighten himself up. He moved as fast as he could, unimaginable pain tugging at his side. He almost managed to run for the window and jumped off without thinking. He landed hard on his back in the bushes, his breath hitching as he hit the ground. His first impression had been the right one. The height between the bushes and the window had been far too great.
Exhausted, and now feeling swamped in his own blood, he rested his head on the ground, feeling his eyes dim.
"Julia…" he whispered desperately.
Suddenly, he felt himself being pulled back. He smelled Julia's perfume and realized that she was trying to pull him with all her might away from under the window, through the bushes. He felt her grab his jacket and tug him again and again, as quickly and hastily as possible.
Julia collapsed suddenly William being unable to pull him further, completely exhausted. Her wrist hurting her so much that she could no longer pull the young man with one hand. She felt her own clothes stain with blood and tried not to panic.
When she collapsed, she rested her head on William's shoulder. They were completely plunged into darkness, entirely hidden by the bushes. Then, they both jumped when they heard several gunshots being fired through the window, into the bushes.
The two lovers froze instantly, trying not to be noticed. They heard a few more shots being fired, and the deafening silence of the night returned.
William, though exhausted, easily guessed that the man had thought he was right under the window and that if he shot into the bushes, he would shoot him down once and for all. And, given the lack of movement, he must have thought he had managed to kill him. He could not have guessed that he was not alone in his bushes and that he had been dragged very far from the window.
The ground being also very far from the window, the killer would never jump to check the veracity of his assumptions.
William and Julia simply remained on the ground without moving, their hearts racing. After what seemed like an eternity to both, the window slammed shut and they heard the latch on it.
Note: They managed to get out… But they are in very bad shape. Especially William...