This is a disaster.
“I don’t even know where we are, mate,” Lochlan groans out before dry-heaving again.
Again, useless freaking men.
What we need is a plan.
“First off, we need to figure out where we are so that we can get back to Windermere, where our friends should be,” I tell them, looking around the forest for anything of use. It’s almost a full moon, so we have a decent amount of light illuminating our surroundings. I still wish I had thought to grab some supplies and flashlights before leaving the cabin, but I wasn’t in the best state of mind while being chased by a literal axe-swinging maniac.
“Can either of you climb one of these trees?” I gesture to the sky. They both look at me like I’m insane. “Look,” I say, placing my hand on my hip and giving them my ‘take no shit’ voice. “Someone needs to climb up and search for the castle. I’m sure Mr. Douchebag Author will have the whole thing lit up like a torch, making itvisiblefrom higher ground.So one of you needs to get your climbing shoes on before that psychotic Axeman finds us. Wait, scratch that,” I say, rolling my eyes hard enough that I’m surprised they don’t get stuck. “I’ll be out of here before either of you idiots knows what hit you. And by ‘hit you’, I mean axe you in the face.”
The guys look from me to each other, having some silent bromance fight for a solid minute before Lee pushes off the tree and reluctantly volunteers.
“You guys keep watch while I do this,” Lee orders while he rolls his sleeves up. “I swear I’ll howl at the moon loud enough for the Axeman to find us all if you ditch me.”
Lochlan lets out a loud belch before sliding to the ground. “You got it, mate. I’ll just be here, resting my eyes next to this nice-looking tree. I don’t want to see the family jewels.”
“Dude, how are you still drunk?” I ask, kicking his leg out of my way as I watch Lee scale the tree.Oh.That’s what Lochlan meant about the family jewels. I quickly avert my eyes.
Good for you, Capri.
Lochlan hiccups. “I found a bottle of whiskey when I woke up. I only got about a fourth of it down before ‘ol Johnny boy came at me with that axe. I broke the rest of me bottle over his head,” he mumbles. “And that’s how I got away.”
AShiningreference, huh. I may have slightly misjudged this guy. I gaze down at his feet and cringe at those hideous shoes. Nope. Definitely did not misjudge him. He’s an idiot through and through.
“Okay, I think I’m high enough!” Lee loudly whispers down at us. Well, me. Lochy-boy is fast asleep and drooling slightly against the tree.
“What do you see?” I ask Lee. “Any lights?”
I hear the crunch of breaking twigs and leaves on the forest floor nearby. I freeze in place. It almost sounds like someone, or something, is running toward us.
“Lochlan! Lochlan, wake up!” I plead, searching the ground around me for something to defend myself with. I can’t imagine a giant fallen tree branch will do much against an axe, but it’s all I’ve got right now.
Hoisting the branch over my head, I prepare to swing it at whatever is running through the woods at us when Lee jumps out of the tree from above and scares the soul right out of my body.
“Lee! What the hell! I could have killed you!” I stare at him indignantly before remembering why I have this tree branch gripped so tightly in my hands. “Wait!” I throw my hand over his mouth before he has a chance to respond. “Someone was running this way! I swear I heard footsteps over there.” I point toward the dark forest.
Lee’s eyes widen, and he nods before motioning me to stay silent. He takes the branch from me, pushing me behind him to help guard the still totally clueless Lochan. “Wave your hands when you see them get close,” he whispers, then hides behind a tree just a few feet from where I’m crouched next to Lochlan.
The sounds of the forest seem even louder as we wait for whatever horror this place has in store for us. The hoots of the owls turn sinister with each passing minute. The frogs’ croaks grow ominous as the seconds slowly tick by. Even the rustling breeze feels like phantom fingers caressing down my nerves, leaving trails of unease to fester under my skin.
I see a flash of white in the trees and wave my hands frantically at Lee. He gives me another nod, and I watch the muscles in his forearms flex as he grips the branch harder. Lee gears up to swing the makeshift weapon when I see a startled, but familiar face staring back at me. Kristi!I remember her from dinner; she’s a journalist or something, and she had a guy with her.
“Stop!” I shout, jumping up from my position and throwing myself at Lee before he’s able to finish his swing, so he doesn’t accidentally murder another one of Pierce’s guests in this unwilling game of his. “It’s Kristi! Lee! It’s Kristi!”
Lee drops the branch just before Kristi collapses into our arms. “He’s coming. He’s coming!” she howls.
“Who’s coming?” Lee and I both ask at the same time. She faints before she has a chance to answer.
Looking at her up close, it seems like the Axeman may have gotten hold of her. Her once-white dress is torn and filthy, and I can see that she has a massive gash on her upper thigh. She also has a bleeding cut on her cheek, which is dripping onto her bleached blonde hair, turning it a startling shade of pink. I try to wipe away as much blood as I can while trying to coax her awake.
“Kristi, hunny,” I say calmly, even though my pulse is racing. “Who’s coming?” Her hazel eyes flutter open, then fall shut again as she goes limp against Lee and me.
“Who the hell is Kristi?” Lochlan’s body towers over us as he rubs his temples. “Oh, she’s a mess, isn’t she? Well, Kristi, meet the L-Team. Lochy here, Lee, and this sassy lassie is my girl Lexi.”
I roll my eyes and start to snap something rude at him when my gaze snags on something in the trees.
My heart stops beating when I realize what it is.
