Page 53 of Under Fyre

Iknow it.

But it doesn’t fucking matter.

In that moment, when Red Hutchins turns to look at me, and our eyes lock, and his evil aura latches on to me like a fucking poisoned leech…

I would do anything to escape.Tryanything.

But all I do was stand there, my heart pounding in my throat, my stomach coiled so tight that bile rushes up my esophagus.

The world lurches as someone knocks into my back.

Shit, sorry! I didn’t see you there, man! Are you okay?

I swing around, frantic, desperate, blood draining from my face.

But he’s gone.

Red’sgone.

The kid who bumped me grabs my sleeve, tugs. “You okay?”

I jerk away from him, my chest so tight I’m about to pass out. Every atom of my being is instructing me to get the fuck out of this shop, but instead I surge forward, hunting him.

Hunting the devil.

Motherfucking MORNING STAR.

There’s an apple on the floor. It broke open. I look away, scan the aisle.

I’m tall enough to see over the shelves. To see every other shopper inside this measly grocer.

He’s not here. Not unless he’s hiding.

I swarm down the aisle, skidding, lunging, searching every nook and cranny of the grocer.

The voices I hear make it apparent that I must leave. The kid telling the clerk that I’ve lost it. The clerk phoning the police.

Fucking let them COME!

I’ve worked my way back to the produce aisle. I’m staring down at the apple again. Buzzing in my ears.

It’s rotten inside, the apple. A thick, sluggish worm squirms through that putrescent flesh, turning a blind head toward me like it senses my terror and wants to feed off me.

But it can’t touch me, because I’m running.

I run all the way to my truck. Yank open the door. Slam my foot on the gas. Tear into the street and nearly roll the truck when I throw the steering wheel to the right.

The engine screams at me as I race back to the cabin. I hear police sirens in the distance, but they didn’t see which direction I went. It’s easy to lose them out here…that’s why I chose this place.

Is that whyhechose it?

Is that why Red is here?

No.

I laugh at the absurdity of that thought.

This is no coincidence. He didn’t happen to move in here because he likes the view on these meandering mountain roads. All that empty space to hide bodies.

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