Page 9 of Hunted

Thud. Thud. Thud. In rhythm with my beating heart as I take in deep puffs of air before I turn around and start running. Turbulence spreads through my mind like wildfire.

The part of me that ran for the castle and for a way out of tonight’s games just minutes earlier begins to recede, overtaken by the part of me that wants to know more. Be more. And then there’s my body—desire licks my insides at the thought of Alexandre straddling Nova in search of me. We haven’t gotten much further in our hunter-and-prey scenarios before. Next he will attack me with his bola. Fire off his stone balls and fucking hurt me. That’s what happened the second time I participated. I fell to the ground, hurting, praying that it would stop there, afraid. Yeah, I was afraid. But since I’ve seen his face… And tonight he talked to me.

Alexandre lets out a high howl over the clopping sound of the horse’s gallop.

Fuck, he’s getting close.

A ball whooshes by me before it falls into the bushes with a soft thud.

“Putain,” I gasp, leaving the trail and using my hands to clear a path through the high shrubs. I’m utterly lost now. The vegetation has transformed. Less trees, less garrigues, but more cattail kind of perennial plants. It’s like… “Merde!” I freeze when my foot sinks away into the water.

The lake.

Everyone has heard of the lake. Of the drowning of Damien Devallée. But that lake’s pretty far from the castle, I’d always assumed. We’re not allowed to swim in it, though I don’t know if that’s a direct consequence from the tragic event that took place. Vegetation is dense here, and just to stay on the safe side, I spin around as I take a few steps back, to where my soles are once more on solid ground. Facing the trail, I feel stuck, with the lake at my back and the horse now swiftly approaching. Running back into the forest is not an option now that Alexandre has nearly reached me, and so I start running alongside the water, hoping that I can find my way between the trees once more, and find shelter between the shrubs.

The horse stutters and whinnies as she accepts the chase, following me hot on my tail. I turn over my shoulder. A ragged breath blasts out of me.

They are closing in.

Anticipation burns my insides, fueling arousal and fear.

A ball whizzes by with dangerous speed. I shudder but I keep going.

Wait.

Another masked and cloaked figure comes into view. This isn’t a participant.

Fuck.

Silver Mask.

He sits crouched down by the lake. He must have heard the horse. He rises to his feet, watching. I barely have time to register his sly smirk, before another ball passes me. Whoosh. Last time Alexandre didn’t miss a single attack. That means?—

He’s toying with me.

In his hands, Silver Mask is holding what seems to be a large fishing net, but I don’t have time to question his actions. Not with those stone balls flying past my head, threatening to take me to levels of pain I’ve never gone to before. He’s going to hurt me. And with only mere meters behind me, I need to use the forest with its winding routes, to my advantage. Ignoring the pain bursting from my waist, I inwardly howl in relief as I finally find my way back into the blanket of green and black shrubs and leaves, of branches and shadows, as I create more space between myself and the lake. When I pass the first layer of trees, I am hyperventilating. My legs are tired, knees wobbly when I take yet another turn.

Alexandre was right. Tonight is not a repeat of the previous games. It’s like he wants me to suffer even more, and I can’t understand why that makes me feel so alive. Terrified, yes. But also aroused, excited, nervous.

Another ball whooshes past me. It hits the nearest tree and I let out an exhausted yelp.

“Allez, petit loup,” Alexandre teases behind me. “Want to give up yet?”

“Fuck you,” I snarl, but I sound out of breath and a little pathetic.

He barks out an obnoxious laugh. And then one of his balls hits me square in the back and I jolt from both the surprise and the pain. My knees buckle and I tumble forward, only by miracle managing to stay on my feet. Barely. Because I only vaguely register how Nova is no longer galloping, but has switched to a three-beat gait canter. Following me. Goading me. And yet I can’t stop staggering, because for some twisted reason, I need this. Need the…

Whack.

A stone hits my back once more, yanking another pained cry out of me. I sway on my feet, sweat now dripping from my covered temples. I’m still wearing the dark mask all participants were given before the evening started, and it feels clammy. The only upside to having this mask— a comforting thought—is that he can’t see all of me. I wouldn’t want to see all of me now either. I’m definitely not ready to face the staggering truth that I’m drawn to this pain. The sting. Tears pool from the insides of my eye, staying there and forming pools of shame.

“Petit loup,” Alexandre rasps, followed by another stone hitting its mark, this time against my left calf, making it click and lock up. I fall forward, hitting the ground with a pained groan. Still I’m not ready to give up. I don’t even remember why I am fighting him anymore. My skin bites where he hit me with his stones, and I’m exhausted from running from him. Exhilarated, too. And nervous.

Somewhere in the background I hear splashing sounds, followed by the shouts of someone who sounds absolutely mortified. Silver Mask. I should get up and help them out, but I can’t find the energy to do so right now. Instead I move onto my hands and feet and crawl forward in a futile attempt to keep on going.

To continue this chase.

I hear Alexandre dismount from the horse, the creaking of the leather saddle, followed by a thump when his feet hit the ground. The weight of his footsteps make a thudding sound on the forest ground. I close my eyes, reaching for something. Anything to block out this moment as Alexandre approaches. I’m not here crawling through shrubs with my mask itching my overheated skin, my skin tender from the abuse he inflicted on me. I’m in the library with a good book. Alone. My heart slows down, a gentle beat familiar to me when I’m in sanctuary. But even thoughts about my quiet life aren’t enough to fully remove me from the reality unfolding before my eyes right now. Alexandre isn’t finished. My body trembles, anticipation and fear mixing in my blood into something heady. I know he has a lot more in store for me.

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