Page 4 of Guarded By Death

The blonde one, Carter, says, "Did I hear the word birthday a minute ago?"

They look between us until I raise my hand bashfully. "How old?" Carter asks.

"Eig... Twenty-One." I shout the second part a little louder than necessary. Liv quickly glances at me and starts snickering.

"Let me get you, two ladies, a drink," Logan offers.

I shake my head, sending them a smile. "I'm okay, thank you though.” I reply.

"I'll have a Pina Colada!" Liv charms with a sweet grin.

"Coke?" Logan offers and I nod in relief.

At least they aren't badgering me to have a drink like Liv. I get why she wants me to loosen up, but she just doesn't get my method of relaxing.

I watch with amusement as Logan tries to juggle four drinks in his hands, pushing his way through the crowd surrounding the bar. He hands me my drink and I thank him. Quickly, I gulp down half of my coke. Extremely thankful for the sugar-induced pick me up.

My mind is starting to ease as the conversation begins to flow. I find out Logan is a senior at UNC, and he tells me all about the campus. I am much more comfortable now. They both seem polite and nice, so when they ask if we want to dance, I surprisingly really want to.

Liv grabs my hand as we scramble to the middle of the dance floor. Bass rumbles the floors and the music courses through me, giving me chills.

The guys sway with us to the exciting rhythm of the tunes. The lights around the dance floor are brilliant, dancing to the beat of the music.

After about a half-hour the whirling movements get to me. "I feel a bit dizzy," I mutter quietly. Liv doesn't hear me, but Logan does, thankfully.

"Do you wanna go outside for some fresh air?" he offers, and I quickly oblige. He grabs my hand and escorts me through the massive crowd. My body feels heavy as we make our way through the swarm of people.

Logan holds my arm and leads us through the thrumming crowd, I can barely make out where the front door is. The blips of strobe lights do nothing for me to see what direction we’re going.

I become uncomfortable when my gaze peels from my unsteady feet to the dark hallway we’re heading towards.

"Hey, Logan, why don't we go out the front?" I ask, feeling like the room is spinning a bit. The loud music stomps through my body like a stampede of horses, I wait for his reply, but he doesn't give one.

After gently pulling from his grip doesn’t work, I attempt to yank myself away. He turns around, making me gasp as I take in his face. I barely recognize the boy I was dancing with two minutes ago. He looks... terrifying.

His innocent blue eyes are now a deep ominous black, even the whites of them are covered in complete darkness. He looks like something from a horror movie. I flinch from his grasp, but he holds tighter, still pulling us towards the back door.

I frantically search my surroundings for an escape, darting my gaze around the narrow hallway. The further we descend into the darkness, the more I deflate. We make a slight turn, and the bright lights from the crowded dancefloor seep deep into the hallway. Morphing into an ominous beeping of faded light that cast terrifying shadows against Logan’s sharp features.

I pull away again, but the gesture doesn’t faze Logan who seems to keep an iron like hold onto my wrist. Panic courses through me at the realization of how strong he is. I scream with all my might, which angers him even more.

Logan's striking black eyes hold my gaze as he pins me against a cold, paint-chipped wall. As if he’s sucking away all of my energy with his eyes, I begin to feel weak.

Using my wedges as a weapon, I kick him in the shin. To my dismay, it doesn’t affect him in the slightest. He is a force that cannot be stopped, and I feel like I’m going to pass out.

Three

Where are my keys?

Asinister smile stretches across Logan's pale face as his large hand wraps around my throat lifting me, my feet dangling off the ground. I instinctively bring both my hands to his and begin to try and pry his fingers off of me.

My eyes flutter and begin to roll into the back of my head the longer I’m dangling in his grip. In a swift motion, I collapse to the ground choking for air. A violent gasp escapes my lips, followed by harsh coughs from the pressure being lifted from my neck.

I feel a primal urge to stop holding my throat, and to run. It's like it's being screamed to me. I look up, my brain focusing on the distant voice. That's when I see Logan flying across the hallway, slamming into the wall across from me.

My tired eyes travel upward, settling on a massive frame standing in front of me. He has to be well over six-foot-tall, black hair, and broad shoulders. A shiver rakes through my body, his presence... it's so... familiar. I try to stand but fail, and stumble. Eventually, I catch my footing, using the wall as an anchor.

I hear a low growl rise from the black-haired guy's chest. Logan rears his hand back to punch him, but the tall stranger catches it midair, his other hand pushing me gently back as I try a futile attempt to flee to the back door.

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