Another fierce shove splintered the window. Rain and swirling wind blasted in. Marcus scrambled out, plunging onto a narrow ledge above the swamp. He landed awkwardly, water splashing over his ankles. The criminals’ curses resounded behind him. Clutching Luna, he slipped along the slippery edge, panic fueling every motion.
A startled raccoon perched nearby, hissing. Marcus struggled for balance, uncertain where to go. The criminals would swarm outside any moment. Then, by a flash of lightning, he saw a small canoe tethered to a cypress trunk. Hope flared. If he reached that canoe, he had a chance to escape.