Hearing the shout behind her, Autumn’s heart lurched. She yanked the last knot free, sprang to her feet, and rushed toward a small window in the corner.Outside, everything was pitch-black. Only the faint shimmer of moonlight rippled across the lake’s surface.If she jumped, she might die.If she didn’t jump, she’d die for sure.Better to take the risk—there was at least a sliver of hope in the water.If she stayed and fell back into those men’s hands, her fate was already sealed.Behind her, angry voices roared.“Hey! That’s the river! You jump, you’re dead for sure. Get back here!”“Go back, and you might live. Jump, and you’re finished!”“Think carefully! Someone paid us to grab you, but they don’t want you dead. You jump, and you won’t survive!”Their footsteps pounded closer.Autumn glanced once at the dark, unknowable water below. She clenched her teeth, steeled herself and leapt.The men’s shout tore through the room. “Damn it, she jumped into the river!”A sharp splash followed
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