Page 64 of Sin Bin Bully

"Get it together," I hiss, rubbing my arms to ward off the chill. "It's just your imagination."

But is it? A low growl rumbles through the night air, sending ice through my veins. Wolves? Coyotes? Or something worse?

Panic claws at my throat. I pick up my pace, stumbling over roots and rocks in my haste. Branches whip at my face and arms, leaving stinging welts in their wake.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I curse under my breath. "What were you thinking, Kim? You're gonna die out here, and no one will even know."

The enormity of my situation crashes down on me. I'm lost in unfamiliar woods, soaking wet, with no food, no water, and no idea which direction leads to civilization. And that's assuming Sam's people aren't already closing in.

I lean against a tree, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing thoughts. "Okay, think. You've got street smarts. Use them."

But the skills that kept me alive in Capitol Heights seem useless here. No amount of quick thinking or fast talking will help me navigate this wilderness.

A rustling in the bushes nearby has me tensing again. I scan the darkness, straining to make out any movement. Nothing. But the feeling of being watched intensifies.

"I should've stayed," I whisper, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. "At least with Sam, I was safe. Fed. Warm."

The thought of his mansion, with its soft beds and hot showers, makes my current situation seem even more dire. What if I've made the biggest mistake of my life?

I stumble forward, my legs burning with exhaustion. The woods seem to close in around me, the darkness growing thicker with each step. My breath comes in ragged gasps, echoing in the eerie silence.

Suddenly, a voice cuts through the night. "Kim!"

I freeze, my heart leaping into my throat. It's Sam's voice, distant but unmistakable.

"No, no, no," I whisper, panic rising in my chest.

I force my tired legs to move, pushing through the underbrush with renewed desperation. Branches whip at my face, leaving stinging welts, but I can't slow down.

"Kim, where are you?" Sam's voice rings out again, closer this time.

My foot catches on a root, and I stumble, barely catching myself on a nearby tree. The rough bark scrapes my palms, but I barely notice the pain.

"Come on, little dancer," Sam calls, a dangerous edge to his voice. "You can't hide from me."

I bite back a sob, pushing myself off the tree and breaking into a run. The forest floor is treacherous, uneven and littered with obstacles. My dancer's grace is long gone, replaced by pure, animal fear.

A twig snaps behind me. I whirl around, my eyes straining in the darkness. Is that a shadow moving between the trees?

"Kim!" Sam's voice is so close now, I can almost feel his breath on my neck.

I turn to run again, but my foot lands on empty air. The ground disappears beneath me, and I'm falling, tumbling down a steep incline. Rocks and branches batter my body as I roll, unable to stop my descent.

My head strikes something hard, and the world explodes into a burst of stars. Then, darkness swallows me whole.

29

SAM

Sam

Icrash through the underbrush, my heart pounding in my ears. The beam of my flashlight dances wildly across the forest floor as I search frantically for any sign of her.

"Kim!" I shout, my voice hoarse with desperation. "Where are you?"

The night air is thick with humidity, clinging to my skin like a second layer. I push forward, ignoring the branches that whip at my face and arms. Nothing matters except finding her.

Then, I see it. A shape laying against the dark earth. I rush forward, nearly stumbling in my haste.

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