I stare at him silently. Daniel is crazy. He is.
Wait for your moment.
“It did make for a better game, I guess.” Daniel stretches his arms out magnanimously. “You saved his life by leaving.”
“Did I? What did you plan to do?”
Wait for your moment.
He grins and looks wolfish as he does. He jerks the goggles and scarf off and drops them on his discarded jacket. Only a knit shirt, ski pants, and boots left.
Wait for your moment.
Neck and chest are okay targets now. Upper thighs are still not good because of the thick ski pants.
Wait for your moment.
Imagining Shane’s voice, so smooth and steady, makes me feel less panicked. I’ve been here before, on the mat. At least Daniel didn’t grab me from behind and incapacitate me before I knew what was happening. That was the biggest danger. At least now, I have a chance.
Wait for your moment.
“Get undressed, Avery. I want you naked.”
I want my bulky coat off, too. It’ll be more difficult to move fast and strike hard with it on. Surreptitiously, I set the knife on the stone next to my thigh, making sure it’s balanced and won’t slip away. My coat’s already unzipped, so it’s easy to take off. I set it on the opposite side of me on the crumbled rock wall.
“Shirt next,” he says, nodding encouragingly, happily. Crazily. “Shirtnext,” he repeats when I don’t continue to undress. “Shirt off!”
No.
Fuck you, Daniel.
“It’s cold out.” My voice is still steady. Another minor victory.
Wait for your moment.
“Let’s go back to the cabin,” I say. “It’s warm and dry there.”
“I don’t want you dry,” he says with a leer.
God, I hate you.
“Besides, blood looks so good against the snow. Dramatic. Cinematic.” He glances around. “I like it here. It’s a spot I’ll always remember.”
Oh, God.
“Where have the other spots been, Daniel?”
If I stall long enough, someone else might come along. That could be a good distraction. It could also bring reinforcements, so it’s more than just me against him.
Wait for your moment.
“Get out of your clothes,” he says impatiently, his voice growing almost nasal.
“Where did you take the others?”
He smiles slowly until it becomes a sneer. Then he darts forward and grabs me.
It happens too fast. He’s got my arms and I panic, trying to tear myself away.
