Page 28 of Carnival Monster

I let out a harsh laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “Trust me, little one, you’re better off forgetting this ever happened.”

She arches an eyebrow, her lips curving into a slight smirk. “That’s not an answer,” she says, holding her phone. “Give me your number.”

I’m torn between amusement and frustration. This girl is insane. Yet a part of me is drawn to her fearlessness and unwavering determination.

With a sigh, I snatch the phone from her hand and punch in my number, adding it to her contacts. As I hand it back to her, our fingers brush, and my cock swells.

“Happy now?” I growl, stepping back to put some distance between us.

She glances at the screen, a small smile playing on her lips. “For now,” she says, clutching her phone and blanket. “I’ll be in touch.”

I can’t tear my gaze away from the sight of her as she wraps herself in the blanket. She moves with a grace that belies the marks I’ve left on her, a living testament to the depravity we’ve shared.

As she turns to leave, she pauses, glancing back at me over her shoulder. “You can run from this all you want,” she says. “But eventually, you’ll have to face the truth.”

With that, she’s gone, disappearing into the night like a phantom. I’m left alone in the cabin, surrounded by the echoes of our encounter, the scent of blood and sex hanging heavy in the air.

I sink to the floor, my head in my hands, my mind reeling. What the hell have I gotten myself into?

17

AURORA

Iwince as I clean the shallow cuts on my skin, the sting of the saline reminding me of the previous night’s intensity. I’m not a stranger to dealing with cuts like these, as I’ve cut myself for years. My hands tremble slightly, a mix of adrenaline and something else.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stare down at the bandages, torn over the emotions coursing through me. My own actions horrified me the way I begged Gage to hurt me, to show me his darkness. And yet, another part of me craves that connection, that visceral experience that made me come alive.

My mind drifts back to my childhood, the memories of my father’s abuse still haunting me. The way he would touch me, force me to do things no child should ever endure. I shudder, the phantom sensations of his hands on my body making my skin crawl.

All these years later, I can’t escape the scars he left behind. I thought I had buried those demons, but Gage has somehow unearthed them, stirring up emotions I had long since conquered.

Yet, as much as I hate to admit it, Gage is the first person to make me feel something real. I don’t have to hide behind a facade of innocence or normalcy with him. He sees the darkness within me, the desires I’ve always kept hidden, and he doesn’t judge or reject me.

The pain he inflicted, the way he dominated me, it all felt so... right. As if he was the only one who could truly understand the broken pieces of my soul.

I stare at my phone, my heart racing as I contemplate texting him. My fingers hover over the screen, trembling slightly. Taking a deep breath, I type out a message:

Hey, it’s Aurora. How are you? I can’t stop thinking about last night.

I hit send before I lose my nerve. The seconds tick by agonizingly slowly as I wait for a response. My mind wanders to the carnival, realizing it’ll only be in town for five more days. The thought of Gage leaving makes my chest tighten.

Unable to sit still, I pace around my apartment. My phone chimes, and I nearly drop it, desperate to check the message.

Fine. Working.

His short reply shouldn’t surprise me, but it still stings. I bite my lip, debating whether to push further. The need to see him again overrides my hesitation.

When can I see you again? The carnival’s leaving soon...

I send the text, my stomach churning with anxiety. What if Gage doesn’t want to see me? What if last night was just a one-time thing for him?

The minutes drag on with no response. I try to distract myself by tidying up, but my eyes keep darting to my phone. Finally, it buzzes.

Tonight. After closing. Same place.

Relief floods through me, followed quickly by excitement. I can’t imagine saying goodbye to Gage and can’t fathom the idea of never experiencing that connection again. The thought of him leaving town in a few days makes me feel hollow.

I type out a quick “I’ll be there” and toss my phone aside. As I get ready for work, my mind races with possibilities. How can I convince him to stay? Or could I go with him?

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