Page 88 of Cedarwood Cabin

FLORA

I open my eyes and instantly my head feels heavy. I glance at the alarm clock on the side table: 1:00 p.m.

Dammit, I’ve been asleep all morning.

I turn over and startle when I see Lyka staring at me. I realize I must have passed out last night.

“Did you fuck me while I was sleeping?” I ask, fisting the covers, feeling a surge of panic.

“What the fuck, Flora? What do you think of me?”

“That's a hard one.” I press my finger on my chin sarcastically. “Hmm, let's see…You’ve lied about a lockdown, held me captive, branded me, and used wooden toys on me. Nothing would shock me at this point.”

Lyka’s face twists in anger. He jumps off the bed, his body uptight. Without a word, he charges out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I flinch involuntarily. I glance down at my wrists to find Lyka has forgotten to chain me to the bed. My heartbeat quickens and I scan around the room. Slowly and carefully, I creep to the door, holding my breath as I peer out. Chatter from Dax and Lyka drifts from the kitchen. I sneak out of the bedroom, creeping through the living room. The front door is locked. Fuck. I spot a window open instead, just enough to give me hope. I walk towards it, shooting a nervous glance towards the kitchen. I shove the window open all the way and climb out, landing on the porch with a soft thud.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I freeze, listening for any indication that they heard me. The house is silent. I take off toward the garage in a barefoot panic. Every step on the rough ground sends shockwaves of pain up my feet, but I press on. Adrenaline fills my body.

Inside the garage, I look around the room and spot the ATV keys. I sprint for them, knowing every second counts. The garage door will be loud, but I have no choice. I yank it open; the metallic sound reverberates across the wind. Panic courses through me as shouting breaks out from the cabin.

“Flora!” I hear Dax shouting with fury.

The cabin door bursts open and I see them charging towards me. I launch onto the first ATV, fumbling with the keys, but it's not the right one. I leap to the other, swearing under my breath. They’re getting closer, their faces full with rage. I twist the key, praying it’s going to start. The engine sputters and my heart plummets. “Please start, Goddammit!”

I try once more and the engine roars to life this time. I slam the throttle, speeding out of the garage with Lyka and Dax screaming at me. I glance back to see the two of them sprinting with their faces murderous. “You’ll never see me again! Assholes!” I shout.

Facing forward, my eyes glue to the path out in front of me, weaving through trees. The wind slaps my face, tears streaming from the corners of my eyes. My heart pounds from fear. For the first time in a long time, I taste freedom.

I’m free. I’m fucking free! I’m free at last!

Suddenly, a huge log appears in my path and there is no time to react. The ATV slams into it and I am hurled through the air. The world spins as I crash to the ground. I lie there, dazed, with my breath knocked out of me. I hear the sound of footsteps closing in. I try to move, but my limbs feel like lead. Pain radiates from my side and my vision blurs. I fight to stay awake, knowing I may not get another opportunity if they catch me. The last thing I see before darkness claims is a furious Dax and Lyka looming over me.

My head throbs as I open my eyes. My vision starts to clear as I squint. I see Dax and Lyka standing there with sinister smirks. I panic as I try to move and realize my arms are tied up. I’m bound to a tree with ropes cutting into my skin at the elbows. I look down at my body and notice I am covered in…food? There are some sort of sticky remnants from a meal all over me.

“Never see you again? Huh?” Lyka taunts.

“What the fuck–”

Dax sings a haunting tune, “If you go down in the woods today, you’d better go in disguise…”

The twisted version of the nursery rhyme sends shivers down my spine, chilling me to my core.

“Why the fuck am I tied up?! I’m sorry! I shouldn't have tried running away!”

“We warned you not to run away…” Dax says as he steps closer, tying another rope around my body. He yanks it, pulling me closer and tighter to the tree.

Lyka stands beside him, anger blazing in his eyes. “We tried to make you one of us. A Faulkner. We could have given you everything…but you had to push the limits and break the rules, didn't you? You’ve brought this on yourself,” he says.

“Please. I can’t take this anymore,” I whisper as I struggle against the ropes.

Dax grips my chin and makes me look into his cold, unforgiving eyes. “If we can’t have you…no one can.” He releases my chin and I drop my head, crying quietly.

They both step back and admire their handiwork.

Lyka sings the twisted nursery rhyme, “Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.”

“We will come back later to check on you…that is, if there’s any of you left. Bears and wolves can smell food for miles,” Dax explains in a sinister tone.

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