“What? No! I did not!” she exclaims, and Kade laughs, picking up a stick and tossing it to me. I catch it swiftly, and her eyes widen.
“Please don’t. Please don’t hurt me,” she begs, and I laugh then look at Kade.
“Game time.” He winks, and I lick my lips. Her body shivers, and I finally let go of her wrist.
“W-what game?” she asks, and I crouch down, dragging the stick against the dirt, creating a line. I stand up and look into her hazel eyes. Her lips tremble in fear as her brows furrow a bit, but I see it in her eyes. The excitement she’s too afraid to admit. I need it gone. She doesn’t get to walk this earth being happy and carefree as long as I’m around.
“It’s simple. You stay where you are. You don’t cross it. You don’t run your mouth or look at us like you won something tonight,” I instruct, and she gasps, bringing a smile to my face. “And if you do, we’ll tell everyone what you were really doing out here tonight. Who you came with and how fast he ran.” I laugh, and her breath stutters as her head shakes.
“T-they won’t believe you.” But I lean in closely and whisper, “They already do.”
The wind picks up, and she begins to cross the line but Kade steadies her.
“Careful. Accidents only happen once,” he warns.
“So I’m supposed to stay out here all night? I’ll freeze to death.” she exclaims, and I shrug.
“You’re smart. You’ll figure it out. Don't be such a drama queen.” I chuckle.
“Such a fragile thing. Do you know why people don’t come out this far?” Kade asks, and I grin.
“Because of people like you, Chunkers. Too naive to know when there’s danger near. When a predator is mid-hunt, ready to sink their teeth into your warm flesh,” I snarl, snapping my teeth at her. She shivers as Kade laughs. “But out here, Little Pet—screams are swallowed up by the forest, never to be heard again,” I lie and begin to walk away.
“See you around, Shadow Mouse,” Kade calls out to her, and we leave the same way we came in.
“We’re not done right?” he asks, and I smile sinisterly.
“I’m just getting started.”
nine
Rowyn Hale
Breathing
They left me standing here in the freezing cold. What am I supposed to do? Don’t cross the line. Okay, got it. Now what? I’m supposed to just stand here and freeze to death?
One thing I noticed was that Elliot was missing. I wonder where he was? Oh, that’s right, getting his dick sucked against a tree. Why couldn’t the others have done that tonight instead of bothering me. I should’ve known. Somehow I have an invisible target on my back. God, how can I be so stupid?
The wind picks up around me, causing me to shiver. The forest is so silent, only hearing the whistle of the wind and the leaves rustling against their branches. They’ll come back, right? I laugh to myself. They wouldn’t just leave me here. They can’t be that cruel. That’s when it dawns on me. Why wouldthey come back for me? This is just a game. A game to shut me up. Why did I have to smirk at him? I could be safely in my warm dorm room right now, but no. I’m out here in the middle of this clearing, and I don’t know which way to go to get out of here. I don’t know what to do. I won’t step over the line but that doesn’t mean I won’t run in the opposite direction and pray to god it’s the right move to make.
A twig snaps, and I freeze, scanning the shadows around me. “Whose there?” I yell, and another snap. “This isn’t funny,” I shout, and another snap. “Okay, I’m scared, are you happy now?” I whine as I see a shadow run past me. I gasp, taking a step back. “I don’t want to play this game anymore. You fucking win!” I yell, throwing my hands up in the air.
“No shit. You’ll never win,” a voice whispers behind me, and I whip around but don’t see a damn thing.
“Whatever, just…—”
“Awee, look at the helpless little rabbit,” the voice taunts.
“Kade… Grayson… This isn’t funny anymore. I’m tired. I’m cold. I’m over this,” I shout, looking all around me but I still see nothing.
“Funny, she thinks we’re those assholes,” another voice taunts, only this one is deeper.
“I’m intrigued,” the voice growls right behind me, and I jump. “Run, Scaredy Cat. Run,” he orders, and I take off into the forest, trying to steady my breathing but I’m too scared.
Weaving through the trees as they whip and smack every inch of my body makes me cry out. The wind picks up again and cold air blankets me, causing my skin to litter with goosebumps. My hair whirls around and into my face, blinding me for a second.I really should’ve brought a hair tie, but who knew my night would end up like this?Owls hoot in the distance as I trip over my feet and slide against the leaves. I don’t know where I’m going but I keep moving. My chest tightens the faster I move, and the longer I run, the colder it gets which only sends my lungs into overdrive.
“Rowynnnn…” a voice whispers from beside me, and I scream, looking in the direction it came from but it’s just too damn dark to see anything.
