Page 23 of A Love of Wrath and Rapture

The unwelcome and perverse sensation of insects crawling up my spine urges me to keep moving.

The sun beams down on me from behind, casting a large shadow of mine over the snow. Every so often, I glance over my shoulder, watching the nearby hills for any movement.

I know I could just be going crazy, but I can’t shake the horrid feeling of being watched.

Better slow down and quieten my steps. If someone, or something, is following me, maybe I can hear them.

Going against my survival instinct to run, I keep a sharp ear for any noise not caused by me.

I hate this. The loneliness, the tension, the feeling of being stalked, not knowing where to go. It’s a living nightmare.

Part of me expected to be attacked by the time I reached the entry to the valley. When I look over my shoulder one more time, I see nothing.

Given the situation, I strangely feel glad to be alone. With a sigh of relief, I step forth into the narrow valley.

The peaks up above have taken most of the snowfall, the ground beneath me is dry rock. At least walking here won’t be difficult.

I do my best to keep walking straight, not daring to turn down any darkened paths.

But what I just saw stops me in place. The shadows, something, no… Someone just pulled their foot in.

There’s another human here with me.

There’s nowhere for me to hide, no path to take but forward. I don’t want to go back the way I came.

“Who’s there?” I call out, my feigned bravery wavering beneath a quiver in my tone. “I saw you moving. Show yourself!”

Maybe I’m being courageous, but maybe I’m also being stupid, walking right into a trap.

What if it’s a monster disguising itself as a human?

My prediction is right as the figure steps out of the shadows. Instinctively, I step back and recoil in horror.

“Kraven?”

Kraven, the man I thought I’d never see again. He is human, but he is a monster beneath his skin.

This can’t be happening… Why couldn’t I have died when they left me?

“Evangeline, is that you?” Kraven asks, his voice hoarse.

He steps closer into the sunlight, revealing his sunken eyes and hollow cheeks. His shaggy beard stretches down to his chest, hiding most of his frail torso. His arms and legs are skin and bone, baffling me as to how he can even walk.

“I never thought I’d see another human out here! Were you exiled too?”

His beaming smile shows his rotting teeth and gums, making me want to vomit again. It quickly fades as I step back.

“What’s the matter? Aren't you glad to see someone else out here with you?”

“How are you alive?” I mutter.

“Relax, I’m not going to hurt you, not unless you want me to.” He laughs, an evil grin replacing his feigned innocent smile. “Forgive me, it’s been years since I’ve seen an actual human.”

“For good reason, you should be nowhere near anyone else!” I hiss. “No one’s forgotten what you did to those poor girls back in the settlement!”

Seeing him as depraved as he is suits his abhorrent crimes. My mind replays the memory vividly, of me carrying his traumatized and violated victims away while Kraven was dragged before the council.

And now here I am in the middle of nowhere, alone with the sick, perverted man.

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