One Shot

Running out of ideas, I took a small step forward. I almost wept with relief when I finally heard Kieran’s voice in my ear. ‘Slow down, honey. Don’t rush it. Go towards your right.’ I did as he said. ‘Good. A bit more to the right. Make sure your body and hers are not lined up straight.’ Rainey bent down as if to put the baby on the floor. I was less than two metres away from her. ‘A bit more to the right,’ Kieran whispered. ‘You are doing well, honey. Just keep going.’ I gulped, moving as slowly as I dared. There was less than one metre to go. The wind was strong, but I was so close to Rainey, I could hear her breathing. She was laughing, a deranged, cackling sound like that made by a toothless witch. ‘Come closer.’ She licked her lips. ‘Come to me. Let’s go to hell together, my dear niece.’ She glanced over my shoulder. ‘Where’s your husband, by the way? I thought the two of you were inseparable.’ I froze. Did she sense something was wrong? ‘He’s on his way,’ I said. ‘I came as soon