As quietly as I could, I took a step toward the door.
A deep, gravelly voice broke the darkness like a thunderclap. “You always did have a problem with following directions, Amanda.”
I stifled a scream. This wasn’t happening! It was one thing to read about these scenarios, but that was supposed to stay fiction. A dark fantasy to delight the inner urge for something wicked.
There was no closing the book. This nightmare was real.
My stalker was here.
Breathing hard, I tiptoed in the direction of the door. My heart thumped like crazy. Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
His voice was deadly calm. “You disobeyed me.”
A scream caught in my throat. Terror crashed into me with a blinding force.
“Now, I’m going to punish you.”
Fumbling with the handle for too many seconds, I bolted.
Somehow, I had the presence of mind to slam the sauna door behind me. In the glow of the emergency EXIT sign, I raced through the locker room and took the first door to the left. Stumbling into the dark weight room, I moved as quickly as possible around the equipment.
Solid steps fell behind me. Each was sure and precise. He wasn’t in a hurry as he navigated the red tinted gloom. I hit my knee against a workout bench, slammed my toe into a rack of weights, and almost tangled myself in a machine.
That rough voice rang out behind me. “You run, I follow.”
I scooted between the treadmills.
“You hide, I hunt.”
With a squeak, I leapt over something. My feet hit the ground with a thud.
“That’s how this works now.” His rough chuckle was full of a dangerous promise. “I’ve been waiting a long time to play with you, Amanda.”
I didn’t risk looking over my shoulder. I heard him over the blood buzzing in my ears.
The monster was coming for me. And there was no escape.
It didn’t stop me from trying.
Pushing blindly through the next door, I tripped onto the pool deck. I shot a wild look around, searching for someone—anyone!
But I was the only tenant crazy enough to be up here this time of night.
The temperature change made my skin crawl. Chlorine stung my exhausted eyes, but at least the skyline through the wall of windows gave me enough light to see.
In my disoriented state, I didn’t head toward the doors for the amenity center’s lobby. Instead, I shot to the left, but the far door was locked. I spun around.
Only to realize the man was between me and escape.
I lifted my palms. “Don’t come any closer. I’m proficient in self-defense!”
There was a smile in his voice. I heard it despite his face being concealed with a black cloth mask. “Oh, Amanda, I was hoping you’d fight back.”
It wasn’t logical. It wasn’t sane!
But that gruff response set off an unwanted spark in my chest.
I took a defensive stance. He took one step. And then another. My heart hammered against my ribs. He wasn’t going to hurt me. I wouldn’t let him! When he closed the distance, I threw myself into every punch, jab, and kick. I struggled. I doled out every violent combination from muscle memory.
