I turned and ran toward my car – and my cell phone. Maybe she didn’t want help, but she was going to get it anyway.

No signal. Of course. This wasn’t exactly the place to put a cell phone tower. A feeling of dread settled over me.

Well, if she wanted me to flee, I wasn’t going to argue anymore. I turned the key. After a few coughs, the car sputtered to life. Thank God.

I pulled back out onto the old country road. I had only gone a few feet when I had to slam on the breaks again.

I came within inches of hitting a man, already covered in blood. Terrified, I looked at his face.

The eyes of a killer stared back at me.