Page 100 of Beautiful Prey

From sneaking through the attic and now the cellar, my clothes were covered with dust and there were cobwebs in my hair. I felt dirty and a hot shower might ease the pain in my stomach and muscles.

I stripped off my pants and kicked them toward the door, then I lifted my shirt over my head. Something clattered to the ground as I took my shirt off. I looked down and saw Emery’s necklace.

Picking it up, I rubbed the heart gently through my fingers.

Like a woman possessed, I unclasped the ends then drew the necklace around my throat, securing it around me and letting my fingers run along the beads.

Staring at it from the mirror, I took off the rest of my clothes and set them aside.

A vision of Emery stood behind me, his head bending down so his face was level with mine. The skull face smiled at me as his head tilted. His hand came up and trailed across the beads, down my collarbone, then across my breast, cupping it firmly in his large, heavy hand, kneading it. His other went lower, down my stomach, then between my thighs.

“Let go,” he whispered in my ear. “Let go, Evee.”

My eyes fluttered shut and I lifted my head. I could practically feel the heat of him at my back. Could feel myself melting into him, feel the ache in my center, my body pulsating.

Let go, baby.

KNOCK KNOCK.

My eyes snapped open, and I gasped. The vision of Emery was gone.

I turned my head toward the door. I went and opened it.

No one. No one was there.

Why did my heart just sink?

I clasped the plastic heart in my hand, standing in the doorway, so sure I had heard the knock. The vision of Emery so pure.

I was losing my mind and I didn’t care.

I didn’t care.

My hand tightened around the heart.

No, I wouldn’t go.

I wouldn’t go down with this house.

And I’d win. Those fucking bitches in his head would lose.

I stepped into the bedroom and went for the duffel bag. I threw clothes across the room until I found what I was looking for. I took up the silky robe and put it on, tying the strap tight.

I went into the living area. I looked up at the now cracked screen and searched.

There I saw him down by the dock placing a set of wires attached to some metal pipe, his body aimed toward the garage so he could see the door clearly. In case I might come slipping out.

I figured as much, but that was fine.

Better to hide in the house and wait.

Knowing he was working fast and I’d have little time before he entered the garage again, I whirled around and swept into the kitchen. I went for the drawer with the knife and took it, dropping it in my robe pocket. Then I made for the stairs.

At the top, I didn’t hesitate. I pushed open the door, dragging the box of things he set in front across the floor. I stepped over it into the hall and looked over to the open door, leading to the garage.

My heart pounded as I shut the basement door and turned into the kitchen. Even through the small crack in the boarded window, I could tell the daylight was beginning to fade. But with all the windows covered, it might as well be night.

I went across the dining room and over to the front door. I saw the wood nailed across the lock to keep it sealed shut.

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