Angry voices penetrate the walls and we both go stock still. Only our shallow breaths and panicked expressions exchange between us. We know the risks coming out here. We know the stories of what happens to kids that break the rules at Kingston, but we did it anyway.
“Come on, we’ll go out the back.” Sarah says, grabbing my wrist. She’s still wearing the dress, and it’s far too cold for it. But we don’t have a choice.
Taking care not to make any noise on our way out, we tip toe quickly, adrenaline and fear following close behind. The temperature has plummeted within the last few minutes, and it bites into my face as we emerge out the back. We just miss a few men entering the house as if they’re a highly trained swat team. Men with power never cease to amaze me at how they choose to wield it. Because tracking two teenage girls with intimidation and brute force somehow seems appropriate to them.
“If we go this way, maybe we can get back to the school without them noticing us.” I whisper, gesturing down the back side of the house. It’s a steep climb down, but it’s better than the alternative. Finding my footing, I go first. My injured leg protests, but I push through, determined to get the fuck out of here.
It isn’t until we’re halfway down, that I notice Sarah isn’t wearing any shoes. Her toes dig into the dirt as she clings to a gnarled branch. Her dress is slowing her down, but there’s no help for it now. Maybe when we get to the bottom, we can tear a portion of it off to help her maneuver a bit easier.
“I can’t wait to get back and warm the fuck up.” She murmurs.
“Definitely going to need all the scratchy blankets tonight.”
She laughs. It’s a light, wistful sound at knowing even when we get back, we won’t really be all that comfortable.
I don’t see her slip until it’s too late. Her body tumbling down, hitting rocks, and tree branches on the way down until she lands unmoving at the base.
Nothing but terror fills my every step down to the bottom of the hill. Careful not to join her, but hurried enough to get down to her, I land hard, feeling a stitch in my side. Bending down toSarah’s crumpled body I can see the slight rise and fall of her chest. Hair spilling out in all directions and covered in dirt.
She’s breathing, but unconscious.
“What do we have here?” Kyle asks, coming out from behind a tree. Maybe it’s the way he’s standing, or the fact that he hasn’t come to check if Sarah’s okay but something deep in my gut is telling me that my semester long crush might not be the person I thought he was.
CHAPTER 15
HAZEL
27 YEARS OLD
My body joltsand I wake feeling my wrists restrained above me to the headboard. Memories cling to my consciousness but are quickly replaced by pure and utter terror at finding myself stuck. Eyes still heavy with sleep, I take my surroundings in.
A dark figure wearing a skull mask looms over me, inches away from my face. Skin tight and sweaty, I don’t know how long I’ve been out, but it’s still night outside. A scream struggles against my throat as I thrash to get free, but I find that a piece of duct tape has been placed across my mouth, making it impossible. The scent of mint flutters over me as the dark figure chuckles, deep and threatening.
“Truth or dare, Hazel.”
Oh god, this is real. This isn’t one of my twisted fantasies I’m dreaming up. Someone, has me tied up, unable to fight back. Sitting here in nothing but a cropped tank top and a thin strip of underwear completely vulnerable and at the mercy of this intruder.
He tuts then, ripping the tape off my mouth and pushes the tip of a blade against my chin, hard enough to draw a small bead of blood. My skin stings from where the tape was. I’m shaking,but oddly I’m not panicking. For some reason, I’m exhilarated. And a tiny bit turned on, excited by the prospect of this masked stranger taking me against my will.
Fuck, if my therapist could see the thoughts inside my head right now, she’d have me committed.
“Truth or Dare?” He asks again, and now that my brain’s not clouded by sleep, I realize that this man is the one who’s been sending me all those messages.
“You’re real?” I utter in a state of shock or reverence, I can’t really tell. The realization that I’m not losing my mind, is a welcome one.
The blade presses a fraction harder and my breathing stutters. “D-dare.” I manage to spit out.
“Always picking dares, my little doe. Well, your wish is my command. I dare you to spread your legs and let me fuck your tight little cunt with the handle of this knife.”
My knees shake as I open for him. I see a sliver of approval in those dark eyes, shrouded in shadow from his mask.
“Do your worst.” I say fixing him with a stare, feeling blood drip onto my chest.
He lowers the tip of the blade between my legs, cutting my underwear clean off. I jump at the contact and watch as he discards the scraps. Flipping the knife around, he leans down and rubs the handle against my clit. I feel myself clench, becoming instantly wet. Heat rises to my cheeks with embarrassment. I should be ashamed of myself, enjoying the touch of this masked stranger, but I can’t help it. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of.
I let out a strangled gasp as he shoves the knife’s handle into me, seeing the palm of his hand take a sharp slice as he fucks me with it. Blood drenches my sheets, but the pain doesn’t seem to bother him.
“Look at you.” He practically growls, raising the hair on my arms. “A fucking vision, writhing before me like a fallen angel. Enjoying something so depraved.”
