THE FÜHRER'S DAUGHTER (Episode 1)
Page 5
“Miles told me everything.” She pulled a black pistol out of the glittering clutch in her hand and chambered a round. “You’ve got to keep going.”
“But—” The sound of the guards approaching interrupted.
“Take this corridor,” Mother said. “The last hallway on the right before it comes to a dead end will lead you out of the palace. Now, hurry!”
Before Grace could take another step, someone else arrived.
“Sophie?” Father said, his aspect filled with disappointment and anger. Dressed in white tie, black tails, and the shiny red sash bearing the insignia of the Imperial Eagle, he stood with guards flanking him on both sides, while two more trailed behind them. “Do not put me in this position.”
“Hans, please.” Mother stepped out in front of Grace. “She’s our daughter. You couldn’t possibly fear the Kaiser so much that—”
“Be quiet, woman!” Teeth clenched, his jaw trembled, the corner of his right eye twitched. “Don’t presume to know what fear is, my dear. You have no idea. Everything I do,” he eyed the Nazi guards at either side, then returned his gaze to Mother, and stepped forward slowly, “I do in service and loyalty to the Empire.”
“And what of loyalty to your family?” Mother said.
He continued to press forward, but Mother stood defiantly between them.
“You know what she is, Sophie. We both know this must be dealt with.”
With surprising speed, Mother pulled out her gun and pointed directly at his chest. “Run, Grace!”
She knew she must, but Grace could not seem to move. Her eyes were fixed on the gun.
Unimpressed, Father frowned. “Enough of this childishness, Sophie. Give me the gun.”
She pulled the slide of her gun back, loaded a round and held it steady. “Grace…Go, now!”
Grace willed herself to move, but the fear of what was about to happen crippled her.
Mother’s hands were shaking so violently she could barely hold the gun steady. Without a trace of fear, Father walked right up to it so that the muzzle pressed into his chest.
Her eyes shimmering with tears, Mother said, “Hans, she’s our daughter.”
Father caught her by the wrists, trying to wrest the gun from her grip.
The guards took a step forward.
“You know what she is!”
“I won’t let you harm her.” Mother broke free and stumbled back, the safety of her gun clicking off. “I will shoot you if I have to.”
“Sophie…” He twisted her wrists. “You couldn’t hurt a fly!” Once again tried to grab the gun. But she struggled as he wrestled her to the ground, straining. “Give it to me before someone really gets hurt!”
“Now, Grace!” Mother said in an urgent groan. “Run!”
Grace shouted for both of them to stop, but the commotion was too much. She vaguely heard Mother once again urging her to flee, but everything became a blur of sound and strife.
The guards pointed their weapons in their general direction but seemed uncertain.
And then, a shot rang out.
Grace shrieked.
“Sophie!” Father cried. He pried the smoking gun from her limp hand and gathered her up into his arms. Weeping bitterly, he embraced her even as she coughed out blood, her eyes staring vacuously over his arm to Grace.
“No.” Grace said, her legs slowly backing her away against her will. “No!”
One of the guards raised his rifle.
With a cold click, he chambered a round, aimed it at Grace.
Still backing away she stumbled and nearly tripped, her own words echoing emptily in her head.
With one arm, Father reached up, and pulled the muzzle of the rifle down. “Don’t.”
“Mein Führer, she’s—”
“I SAID DON’T!” Father’s shout resounded through the stone walls as Grace turned and sprinted for the exit. Her heart ached, compounding the physical pain ripping through her body.
In a matter of seconds, she came to the exit just as Mother had told her. She removed the backpack and pushed it through the hole and then crawled through.
She couldn’t allow herself to cry or regret how she’d treated Mother the last time they’d really talked. There would be time to mourn later, hopefully. For now, she had to escape or it would all have been for naught.
#
MILES STARED ANXIOUSLY past the guardhouse.
“Waiting for someone?” Andreas said.
He shook his head. “Just thinking of a good reason for your logs.”
Patience finally wearing through, Andreas shoved Miles against the gate. “Listen, Infekt! I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but it ends now!”
“Miles!”
He turned toward the voice calling from across the palace lawn.
Grace ran toward him, as two armed guards gave chase about fifty meters behind her.
TO BE CONTINUED…
THE STORY CONTINUES
GRACE’S JOURNEY has just begun. Continue with her when Episode 2 (2 of 5) releases in a few weeks, wherever eBooks are sold. If you’d like advance release notice, sneak previews, and exclusive giveaways (swag, free books, and even a monthly $100 Amazon gift card) be sure to subscribe to Josh’s free newsletter here: www.Joshua-Graham.com/GIA
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CONTENTS
Title Page-Author Subscription
CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S NOTE
COPYRIGHT
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
THE STORY CONTINUES