Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I can’t fucking think.
I’m so scared.
Who the hell is this guy?
I have to make a split-second decision when my car speeds toward a fork in the road. The right turn will take me to a road similar to this one, but I’m over twenty miles from the next town. The left turn will take me into the forest where the road might be covered in snow.
I turn left at the last second. I’ll take my chances in the forest. It’s getting dark and I can hide there, whereas on the road, Saint could gain on me and push me into a ditch.
I speed up more, to leave him as far behind as possible before stopping. I know the exact spot where I want to park, but by the time I burst out of the car, stepping into deep snow, this whole idea no longer seems so great. Snow. Fucking snow. I was so preoccupied by the chase itself that I forgot that I’d be leaving very clear tracks. And I have no means to hide my vehicle either.
For a moment, I consider getting back into my car and driving off, but that might end up with me getting stuck farther along. My fate was decided when I chose the wrong turn, and while I need to accept everything it now throws my way, I’m not dead yet.
I grunt when my knee twists uncomfortably after a few steps in the snow, but I don’t have time to overthink why it’s hurting. I need to move. The backpack contains only so much food and water, but despite putting myself in this precarious position, I’m determined to survive. The roar of the other car makes me tremble, and I choose not to switch on my flashlight as I move faster, trudging through the snow, ever farther from the road.
In the dark, every naked tree, every bush seems to hide a monster about to take me out before Saint can even catch up, but I swallow down the irrational fear and even out my breathing.
It’s only when I hear an engine stop not far behind me that the inadequacy of my escape becomes painfully obvious. Despite the air feeling like shards of ice in my throat, I speed up, braving the ache in my knee, but it’s dark, and I end up losing precious seconds tangled into a small bush hidden beneath the dense snow. I can’t even swear in frustration, too afraid the bastard who’s been stalking me for God-knows how long might hear me.
My life might be pathetic, maybe even worthless, but I still want to live, and like a deer fleeing a wolf, I intend to run until I can’t anymore.
A chill goes down my spine when my name echoes between the trees in Saint’s silky voice. A tiny part of me wants to turn back and walk right into his arms. I felt so safe with him last night, and now even that happy memory is tainted. I don’t know what kind of monster he is, but I won’t just roll over and find out.
The trees whisper above me, sending clumps of wet snow down as the wind intensifies, and I feel as though I’m in a war zone, trying to avoid missiles. Despite the predator on my tail, I manage to reach a large fallen tree without being spotted. Or so I hope.
I slide over the thick, snow-covered trunk, and land a few feet below, as the ground drops just behind it, but while I’m no longer in sight, my tracks are, so I still and listen. In this freezing weather, my fingers will soon turn into icicles, but if push comes to shove, I’ll shoot, and he should damn well remember that I’m more than capable of pulling the trigger.
He stops calling out for me, which gives me time to take a breather, but my heartbeat speeds up when I hear the snow creak close by.
I imagine his feet sinking into the hardened shell of snow, his tall, strong form stalking my way, ready to strike, but at this point I can either stay hidden and hope he walks on, or reveal myself and confront him.
Unwanted images of his smiling face and phantom kisses to my neck fill my head with doubts. Now that he’s not an anonymous masked man, the thought of killing him feels unbearable. I try to reignite the flame of fury inside me, but it’s so damn hard. He was touching me last night under false pretenses, seduced me with his lies, and I still hesitate like some lovesick puppy.
I need to end this.
I shoot to my feet, gun in both hands, but as I turn to face him, my knees tremble, because he’s right in front of me, on the other side of the log. The moon is shining on us through the leafless trees, revealing the somber expression on the handsome face I wanted to kiss only an hour back.