“Leave it.” He scoops an arm around my waist, hurrying me out of the house and onto the now-familiar terrace.
It’s black apart from the stars and an almost-full moon, and the woods are a deep shadow.
“Same rules.” He straps on the grinning pink mask, and adrenaline surges into me as it glows. But unlike the first time I saw it in the dark, it’s not fear I feel anymore.
I trust this man.
“One, final race, lapochka.” His voice is rough and distorted by the mask, and my heart skips. “You think I don’t want you? I’m going to show you how wrong you are.”
I blink.
“If I catch you, I keep you. Nowrun.”
21
TESS
I open my mouth to ask if I heard right, and what he means bykeep me? Or say that this is insane because it’s nighttime, and he’s still in a suit and I’m in an outrageously expensive dress that will be ruined by a chase through the woods.
But I don’t have the chance.
“Run!” he roars and I stumble away.
I build up pace as I get onto a path, though it all looks different at night. Creepy, with twigs reaching out and grabbing at my arms. The silk of my dress whips around my legs, a soft restraint.
My eyes begin to adjust to the blackness, and there’s a filter of moonlight through the canopy, but it’s dark, and I can’t run as fast as I did during the daylight without risking falling flat on my face.
And I’m not even sure I want to get away.
What did he say? That he’ll show me how much he wants me?
There’s nothing but the sound of my breath and the creek of the trees in the wind, and he’s following, right? Right? Panic flares down my limbs.
I can’t outrun him, that’s clear. He’s too fast and too strong. But only if he actually runs after me. What if he doesn’t? He might let me go.
All these thoughts are mixed up in my head as my feet slap on the ground, softer than usual.
Instinctively I choose the most direct path to the boundary wall where I’ll get free, and have three wishes if I can reach it. I don’t want to get lost in the dark, and never see Kirill again. I want, desperately, to be caught by him. If he’ll keep me, then yes. That’s it. It’s not like my old life was so great.
Where is he?
The trees are ominous presences looming over me, and I’m aware of the chill on my bare arms and legs, and the way my hair is tangling as it flows behind me and falls into my face as I continue to run.
My legs are getting tired. I’m fuzzy headed from an evening of socialising.
My heart thuds, and I’ve no idea what scares me most right now. The night forest with its animals—thankfully nothing scarier than a dog in this part of England, but there’s rustling in the undergrowth and flapping overhead—or the outcome of this hunt.
I trip on a root I can’t see and nearly go flying, my heart rate spiking as I catch myself and keep running, taking the fastest route to the wall.
I… This isn’t fun anymore. I gasp in air. I’m alone, and it’s black and I only run because I don’t know what to do.
My chest heaves and my throat burns.
“I’m coming for you, lapochka.” His deep voice reverberates through the trees.
Kirill.
He’s behind me. My heart floats.
