Chapter 8
She ran for 30 minutes over rough soil, twigs and rocks until she stopped her body unable to take anymore. She sat quietly listening for any sign she had been followed. Hearing nothing she relaxed slightly taking stock of herself now the adrenaline was fading. Top to toe she reminded herself.
She had hit her head at some point; a small trail of blood was running down her face. Her throat was bruised but she could breath. Ribs also felt bruised but weren't broken as she could still run. Her back felt hurt, probably from rolling on the broken glass as were her hands. Her legs felt mainly ok her feet were throbbing. She had enough water for a day but she knew she should be able to find some more. The bread could keep her going for 3 days but her wounds would likely become a problem before then. She looked round hoping bandage would appear but no luck she had the tea towels. She took each one wrapping it around her feet knowing he could track the blood and they were more likely to get infected than her other wounds. For now she wanted to get as much space between her and the house. He was ex-army, trained in tracking prey.
She looked at the sky it was still daylight, the sun was setting giving her a compass. She had no idea where he had taken her too so she couldn't tell which way was best. She picked a bearing taking her away from the house. If she found a river she could follow it downstream as most of the coast had people there. If not at least she would have a supply of water. She walked until it got dark where she found a hollowed out tree. Checking it as carefully as she could in the dimming light for spiders and snakes she climbed in.
Overnight the temperatures dropped Lara really wanted a blanket and bandages but neither appeared. She ate a slice of bread and sipped the water before curling into a ball and trying to sleep as the temperature around her dropped further.
At rescue special op headquarters the team all sat, trying to think of a way to help the police. The inactivity and worry was killing them, suddenly Jordan stood up running to the map Vince had spread out. Everyone gathered around.
"Remember Dean when we rescued the guy" he said
"We should have left him" Dean muttered, Jordan ignored him too excited about his lead
"He had us drop him off at the house we searched today but there is no way he walked there from that house and there were no cars in the car park" Jordan observed
"So how did he get there unless…." Dean said catching on
"He lives close." Jordan finished
"Genius" Heidi whispered as everyone poured over the map.
"It narrows it down to perhaps 20 houses as that area is mostly bush." Vince observed
"I'll call the police" Michelle said
"We'll have a drive round see if we can see any silver Mercedes I mean not many of those house are going to even have a car." Dean offered
"Ok Dean take Heidi and Jordan, Chase I'll go with you" Vince said not wanting to be left out
"I'll ride with Vince" Michelle said there was no way she was missing out on this. Nobody argued it would be wasting time.
They divided up the houses numbering them before driving off.
The first few houses were a bust for both, Dean started feeling the pressure as he drove up another driveway. They'd check for the silver Mercedes then flash Mark and Lara's photo so far no luck. It was there 7th house when they saw a flash of silver.
"Rescue 1 to rescue command we found a silver Mercedes house number 7. We are going to have a look around" Dean said climbing out of the car.
"Rescue command to rescue 1 we are on our way so is the police so be careful" Michelle said,
They climbed out the car circling cautiously around the house. As the rounded the back Dean found a spade with blood on it.
"I found blood" he called to Jordan and Heidi who had gone the other way.
"So have we" Jordan called, Dean dropped the spade going to where they were. The backdoor was smashed glass lined the floor covered in blood.
"Rescue command, this is rescue 1 we found blood and a smashed door. We are entering the building" Dean radioed.
"Rescue 1 we are 5 minutes out the police are 30 minutes away." Vince said. Dean nodded to Jordan and Heidi to be prepared. They entered the kitchen surprised this wasn't what they expected. Searching the house they found a white washed lounge with blue arms chairs and a wood fire and a double bedroom painted a pale green a white bed spread. Under the stair was a door. By the front door was a pair of boots. Heidi found them.
"Dean, Jordan these are Lara's boots and socks" she said confidently only this morning she had commented on the non-regulation yellow socks with purple flowers on them.
"So she was here" Dean said trying the last door the under stair cupboard. To his surprise there was a set of stairs trailing down into inky blackness. Dean got his torch out flashing the light down.
A chair lay broken on the floor blood surrounding it trailing up the walls in long thin lines. Around the edge was a camera and a screen. On the other wall was a whip and a row of vials and needles as well as medical instruments. Dean gripped the wall for support Lara had been here but was gone. She must have escaped into the bush with Mark following.
He heard a car pull up outside and went out.
"She was here I think she escaped" he said in lieu of a greeting. "Her boots are here and there is evidence of an escape the back door is all smashed" Michelle looked at the darkness of the sky it was 11pm and pitch black. Searching now would be dangerous,
"We wait first light we begin the search" she decided
"I think she is injured badly, there is a lot of blood in the basement and by the smashed door" Dean informed them.
"Show me" Michelle ordered walking into the house Vince and Chase hot on their heels. The police arrived soon after. Securing the house, they took the camera checking the photos. Michelle asked to look but the police refused. After one officer looked and then vomited Michelle doubted she wanted to see it.
They camped out in the garden overnight the police officers keeping watch in case Mark returned.
As dawn broke at 4am the team was geared up, team 1 with Vince, and Chase, team 2 Heidi, Dean and Jordan. Each had an armed officer with them Michelle would co-ordinate the police SAR teams when they arrived.
"There" Dean pointed out evidence of a broken brush. They hurried after it aware that Mark had a head start on them. As the trail got less obvious they decided to split. The fact they knew Lara wouldn't go back towards the house only left 2 general directions. They walked calling out Lara's name.
Mark had also awoken, he had to get her back. She was really going to pay for this, he had wanted a challenge not an escapee. When she had ran off he'd taken the time going into the house and bandaging his wounds then packed a sleeping bag, knife, plenty of water and food, map, compass, GPS tracking, decent hiking boots and mostly important his gun. She wasn't going to escape this time. Then he began the stroll feeling the exhilaration of hunting his prey once again.
Lara had also awoken at first light. She was cold and stiff but knew she had to get going. Wrapping up the bread and water she began walking listening carefully for any water or movement. Hearing nothing she sipped her water and ate some more of her bread aware she needed the energy to walk the distance she would need to cover to escape.
Getting her bearings she began walking all the time listening for signs of being followed and trying to cover her tracks. Then she heard it the most beautiful sound she had ever heard water ahead trickling. With a sudden spurt of energy she ran towards it. Arriving she downed the rest of her bottle of water before refilling it. Then carefully she used the water to wash out some of the wounds on her arms and cleaned her feet. She didn't reapply the tea towels instead slinging them over each shoulder choosing to walk along the stream for a bit to break her tracks and cool her aching, sore feet.
As midday arrived she sat on the bank her pruned feet drying on the grass. She drank the whole bottle of water again aware she was still dehydrated and that the river was becoming faster and narrower. She really couldn't walk in it anymore and if the bank became too high going down to get water would become dangerous.
Noticing the plants on the river bank she smiled, knowing they were edible. She walked across picking them out and eating them until she was full. Although not the most flavoursome thing she had eaten they weren't bad. She put what she could fit into the bread bag. Slowly hobbling she began walking down the left hand side of the river. As always with walking she focused on the goal this time it wasn't finding a lost walker it was about survival just one foot in front of the other.