Page 12 of Fall

Footsteps approaching again have my heart racing, though this time I work to not freak out. Slowly, I move to press myself against a tree, wishing I had the skill to actually climb into the branches without falling and breaking my neck.

With my heart beating so hard I’m sure the whole forest can hear, I listen to the footsteps getting closer and closer, though they aren’t accompanied by voices. When I’m sure they’re coming from the other side of the tree than the one I’m standingagainst, I gain the courage to peek around the trunk, scanning the patches of moonlight for any sign of movement.

Sure enough, it doesn’t take long for me to see Val prowling through the undergrowth, dressed in clothes a lot warmer than mine. It must be nice to be prepared, I think sourly, nose wrinkling with jealousy. I’m sure by now my legs are scraped and raw, and my poor hand is throbbing along with the steady pounding of my heart.

Val doesn’t look my way. He’s also alone, with no sign of Kieran anywhere behind him. He’s so different like this, I think to myself. Val looks almost inhuman as he prowls through the moonlight while occasionally stopping to listen for any sign of me. The moonlight makes him look sharper, somehow. More graceful and like some kind of nocturnal predator I’d never want to meet when he’s out hunting.

He’s gorgeous without even trying to be, though I beat that thought away with an imaginary broom. This really isn’t the time, and I’ve already gotten myself into enough trouble by swooning over the two of them.

Finally he’s far enough away that I can’t see him any longer, and I can barely hear his steps. A sigh escapes me, relief flooding my chest, and I press my back against the large tree I’m hiding behind, taking a few moments for myself before opening my eyes and working on the next phase of my terrible plan.

But when I see who’s standing in the patch of moonlight a few feet in front of me, that plan goes right out the window.

Kieran is just…existing.Merely standing there, with his arms folded over his chest and his head tilted slightly to the side, while he watches me. All the relief I felt just a moment before streams out of me and into the cold ground below, taking my warmth with it until I can no longer repress a shudder.

“How long have you been standing there?” I whisper, though my voice seems too loud in the empty woods.

He doesn’t answer right away. He’s just as quiet as he was at the haunt, though this time, at least, there’s a bit more distance between us than there was in the tiny storage closet when he made me?—

“He’s pretty, isn’t he?” The words don’t make sense for a moment, until I realize Kieran must be talking about Valentin. “So gorgeous in the moonlight when he’s hunting. You’ve got him all worked up. This is his favorite game, you know. Though usually it ends with him satisfying his insatiable bloodlust.”

The words send a tremor down my spine, and I’m glad I have the tree behind me to lean my weight against. My brain seems to be buffering, and I have no idea what my next move is going to be unless I get in touch with my inner ‘feral little thing’ and attack him.

It’s not theworstidea, all things considered.

Until he steps forward and all thoughts of me fighting back against him fly out of my head along with most of my composure.

“Run, little girl,” Kieran purrs. “Run away so I can chase you and catch you, and teach you how to be good for me.”

I wish I had it in me to stand up straight and refuse to move. To deny him the joy of the chase and act like I’m not afraid. The scenario plays out in my head in the blink of an eye, and I know the amount of satisfaction I’d feel at denying either of them what they want would be absolutely glorious.

But I can’t. I’m too afraid, and too much of a chicken. My body doesn’t give me a choice before I’m wheeling around the tree and bolting into the space behind it where Val had been. But I don’t follow where he went. I try to pick a different direction, one that seems to have more moonlit patches on it than any other place I can see. I know I shouldn’t all out run, that I’ll pay for it by eating shit eventually, but I can’t help it.

I run until my shoes are splashing through the brook again, though I resume following it instead of passing through. They know where I am, so being quiet and hidden won’t get me much. I follow the trail winding alongside the brook while desperately praying for the moon to stay visible, even if it meansI’mmore easily seen under its illuminating glow.

When I hear running footsteps behind me, splashing through the water, I don’t look. I can’t look while I’m praying for any unseen force to help me, to let me make it somewhere I can find people to intervene.

Stumbling only barely slows me down, though I yelp when my already injured palm scrapes against the rough bark of a tree I use to catch myself. My legs ache, and my lungs are burning so much I can barely breathe in gulps of cold, stinging air.

I can’t do this for much longer. I can’t?—

Arms wrap around my waist when I stumble again, keeping me from going down while also yanking me back against a strong, familiar body. “Oh,princess,” Val snarls in my ear, prompting me to let out a hoarse scream from my stinging lungs and fight against him. I dig my nails into his arms, but he doesn’t seem to mind, no matter how much I fight.

“Chasing you has been more fun than I’ve had in ages. But you know what’ll be even better?” He spins me around so I’m facing him, and in the moon’s glow I see the predatory, cruel grin that curls over his lips. “What I’m going to do with you now that I’ve caught you, my perfect littleprey.”

6

“I’m not your—”I don’t get to say the wordpreyas part of my terrified protest. Not when Val easily jerks me off of the trail only to shove me back against one of the large trees beside it. My feet scramble in the leaves and debris, and I can’t help the way I’m trembling from both cold and fear.

“Poor princess,” Val snarls against my ear. “You’re so cold, aren’t you? Though I think some of your shaking isn’tjustfrom the cold. I like to think I’m contributing to some of it, too.”

“Y-you’re so fucked up,” I murmur, my hands grasping against the tree for something—anything I can use as a weapon.

Val chuckles, a soft and menacing sound, while lifting his hands to cradle my face. “To be fair, I absolutely gave you a choice,” he’s quick to remind me. “I told you we could stay in the cabin and I would be the best you’ve ever had. But you know what?” He shifts until he’s gripping my throat in his fingers. My hands fly up to his wrists, and I wrap my fingers around them as I meet his gaze in the moonlight, my eyes wide.

“Don’t,” I murmur, heart racing. “I don’t want—” He cuts me off when his fingers tighten, restricting my air as he slides into that sweet spot under my jaw that makes my vision go fuzzy. All the embarrassing thoughts running through my head remind methey’ve never gone away. “Val don’t!” When he doesn’t let go, I dig my nails into his wrists, my scraped palm stinging.

“Think you can draw blood?” he asks oh-so-sweetly. He steps closer, until our bodies are pressed together, and leans in close like he’ll kiss me. Except, my mouth is open and occupied as I gasp for air, so I don’t see how he evencan.

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