Page 20 of Peaked Desires

He’s not doing this alone.

CHAPTER NINE

Huxton

Ilook back to the main building where everyone is evacuated, taking a deep breath.

She’s in there. She’s safe.

I can’t stop thinking about Elise. I can’t stop thinking about last night, how perfect it was. How perfect she was.

I can’t stop wondering if she’s going to hate me for the way I treated her back there.

But I had to do it.

She wouldn’t let me go otherwise. I kept turning around to go back and get her. But I knew if I stayed a second longer, I wouldn’t be able to protect what I’ve worked for.

Once this all passes, I will explain it to her. She’ll understand. I know she will.

The wind howls through the retreat like a beast, shifting my heavy weight with its pure force. I try to stay within the sheltered area, cabins and dense forest acting as shields from the blowing gale.

I work to secure the site quickly, hoping that I too can seek reprieve in the safety of the solid brick building nearby. A glance over my shoulder and I see the lights flickering inside the restaurant.

She’s safe and dry. Get back to work.

My clothes are drenched, the relentless pouring rain causing small rivers across the walkways. The overflowing water leads to the trails where rainfall joins the stream in a gushing flow downhill. Looking across to see the bursting river threatening to spill over, I squint through heavy rain and my heart drops right out of my fucking chest.

I see a flash of light.

It’s moving.

Battling against the wind, I move closer. A heavy chunk of bark flies off a nearby tree and smacks me right across the cheek, but it’s that movement that makes me see a silhouette through the downpour.

“Elise?”

Panic surges through me and I race ahead, losing cover from the strong winds. More flying debris threatens to rip my head off, but I follow the flash of light, hoping I’m just imagining things.

The buildings and cabins were providing shelter from the elements but now I’m exposed. My boots slip in the mud as I approach the bank of the river, and I see Elise downstream. In a panic, she drops the torch in her hand.

“Elise!”

She slips and disappears from my line of sight.

I roar out in panic. “Elise! Get back up here!”

I stumble to the edge of the bank, but it’s too wet. One wrong move and I’ll fall in the heavy current. I’ll be washed up at the bottom of the mountain a dead man.

Where is she? Where is she?!

“Huxton!”

A faint voice comes from downstream. I retreat to solid ground and run parallel with the edge of the bank. A crack of thunder splits the sky, and the rain gets harder. I can’t see her. I can’t fucking see her!

“Huxton! Please, help!”

“Elise! Stay where you are! Keep talking to me, baby, let me hear you!”

Fuck. Where is she? What was she thinking?!

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