Page 15 of Embracing the Stalk

I took a deep breath, blinking back the tears as we exited the house and piled into the van. I was a lucky goat.

We’re coming, baby.

All I heard was Red’s scared whimper.

Chapter Ten

Red

Fear stole my breath and I couldn’t get my shaky limbs to move, to get up off the floor where I’d fallen at the loud banging on my front door. The scent of the stranger had done the rest.

I wanted to be brave. Ihadbeen brave. But the memories of fighting off the attackers and how they’d taken my brother to a boiling pot were too much to fight past now I was on my own. I needed my mate.

We’re coming, baby.

I whimpered and clung to those words, barely able to take my next breath despite how my lungs hurt with the need to fill them with oxygen.

I could hear my clock ticking in the kitchen, and I counted the seconds, hating each and every one when I felt so helpless. Every second felt like an eternity.

Twenty-two.

Twenty-three.

Twenty-four.

Where are you?I cried out, skin crawling like it did when ants sometimes invaded the patch.

Two minutes, baby. I’ll be there in two minutes. I’ll wrap you in my arms and kiss all your hurts away. No one is going to touch you but me, I swear.

It was hard to cling to the conviction that came through, but I tried and whimpered while listening out for any noise.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

A fist hitting wood made me jump. “I know you’re hiding in there! Fucking coward. We should have put your brother in the pan, so you knew what to look forward to!”

Go away. Go away. I don’t want you here.The words were all in my head as I screamed them, my throat squeezed so tight I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t swallow. Spots of white danced in front of my eyes as I lurched forward, placing my head between my knees.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t breathe.

Panic clawed at my insides as the words sank in. Who was threatening me? Why me? What had I done to them? The world faded at the edges and my chest burned with the need to allow air into my lungs. My body wasn’t listening. It wanted the darkness, but I fought it because what if the monsters came in and took me from my goat?

Gordon.I was sure I wailed it, but nothing was making sense.

Seconds, baby, I’m seconds away. Count with me. Come on, I need you to focus on my voice. I know you can.

He coaxed, cajoled and shouted at me as I fought to do as he wanted. The first breath did nothing to release the tight band holding my chest hostage. The second one wasn’t much better. I was shaking hard enough that my head banged on my knees.

Count, Red. Come on, do it for me.

Three.

Was that loud?

Did he hear me?

I can hear you. I’m at the back of the house. Just count another breath and I’ll be there in the shake of a goat’s tail.

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