Page 66 of Twisted Legacy

“Because I said so.”

I don’t question Holden. In fact, I’m glad he’s said it. I follow him across the room to grab Finn, and we make our way to the valet stand to retrieve our cars. I wait until we’re alone to ask, “You wanna tell me what we’re doing?”

Holden looks over at the entrance. “I think it’s time to give Thea a nudge. She was on edge in there, barely keeping it together, so I sent her the coordinates to where I last saw her.”

“You think she’ll bother checking it out, knowing it came from you?”

“I offered to help, but she’s too stubborn to admit she’s scared, or to come right out and ask me what I know. But she will go off on her own just to prove a point.”

Finn laughs. “Ain’t that the truth?”

As we’re talking, Thea comes out of the building with LJ. They say their goodbyes and head off in opposite directions. I step towards my car. “Okay, let’s see what the troublemaker gets up to for the rest of the night.”

* * *

Thea

I made it through most of the party LJ dragged me to. It was some kind of mixer for a scholarship she applied to. She didn’t get it, but since she was in the top ten applicants, they gave her an award. I’d rather have had the cash, but LJ was happy with the piece of paper and the envelope, with the contact information for somebody who will act as her mentor next semester.

After she smiled prettily and shook some hands, she agreed I’d been on display long enough. She drove to her parent’s place, and I came back to the campus and changed into something breathable and comfortable. Now, I’m stuck at the tree-line that separates campus from the woods.

I exhale deeply, willing my body to move forward. It’s just trees, and birds and squirrels out here. I know this, because I’ve walked these woods plenty of times at different parts of the day. Never once have I come across a bear or lion or anything that might eat me. I was safe from the forest life. The only threat to me in these trees walks on two legs. That’s why I’m doing this. To figure out who that threat is.

The woods are more crowded than I thought it would be. Then again, around here, any night is a good night to party. I guess people are letting off steam leading up to finals. If I’m going to do this, now is the best time, when I won’t be the only person out here.

Not that strength in numbers did me any good the last time, but this way I can go into the woods and don’t have to admit to LJ or anyone else that I’m afraid of them.

I follow the crowd. I’m far enough away not to be spotted, but still close enough that they’ll hear me call out for help. The group heads towards the left and I keep straight. My destination is deeper into the woods. Back to the last place somebody saw me. Thinking about that night head on doesn’t help, so I’m hoping if I work backwards something will click.

I blink, trying to get my tired eyes to focus. It feels like forever since I’ve gotten any sleep. I miss the days when my only complaint was that I was a light sleeper. I’d gladly choose to wake up at the slightest sound over being too afraid to close my eyes. But that’s why I’m here. To confront my fears and take back another piece of control.

I’m here to confront my fears. I’m here to confront my fears. I repeat that mantra over and over again as I make my way to the cemetery that I’m sure has a starring role in my nightmares.

It’s just a place. The scenery isn’t scary. These tombs and the woods didn’t hurt me. The people I stumbled across after I ran through them are the reason I have a pin in my wrist and anchors holding the tendon in my shoulder in place.

I repeat that as well. But it does little to calm me when I know I’m getting ready to force myself to remember what happened that night. Taking a deep breath, I let my mind wander as I walk through the aisles. This is where Wolfe found me. I pull up the text Holden sent and hit the link, letting the GPS guide me to the last spot he saw me in. As I walk, nothing feels familiar. The uneasy feeling in my gut has more to do with my current state of nerves than anything I’m remembering about that night.

I’m at the coordinates now. I spin slowly, trying to feel which way I went. As if the breeze in the air, or the rustle of the leaves, will guide me. A branch snaps behind me.

My heart rate kicks up. Someone else is out here. I scan the trees, trying to pick out a form. I can’t see anything, because I’m too far from the party and the extra planters they’re using to light the way.

I stand still, listening for any other movement. Did I really hear it, or am I imagining things? Another twig snaps. This time, the sound comes from ahead of me. I’m definitely not hearing things. Someone’s out here with me.

My phone buzzes with one word.

Run

Chapter40

Thea

My heart gallops in my chest as a masked figure comes into view. Is this them? Have they followed me again? Have I done the stupidest thing ever and given them the perfect opportunity to finish what they started?

Pax is right about me fighting shadows. I don’t have a target because I can’t remember any details about who was there that night. Zeus, the baseball guy, was and I only know that, because my teeth marks were etched into his dick. But if Holden, Finn and Pax are innocent, and I’m not sure they are, I can’t even begin to guess who the other people were.

The figure steps closer, and I almost weep in relief when my flight response kicks in. I run now, much like I probably did that night. Trying to come up with a way to throw whoever it is off my trail. I hear whoever it is laughing behind me. It’s a deep laugh. A man’s laugh. I stumble over a tree, but keep running, sure of where I’m going. I’m just trying to get away. My chest burns. It’s been too long since I’ve run. I should’ve gone back to Wolfe Pack and suffered through Wolfe’s mandatory treadmill warm-ups.

My pursuer catches up to me way too soon. I hiss at the sharp sting from my hands and knees as he tackles me to the ground. My body tenses, but I work on my breathing, refusing to let my fear immobilize me. It’s a struggle. My body strains, and tears burn my eyes, but I drag myself to my feet. A weight lands on my back, pushing me down again. I scramble forward on my hands and knees, trying to get away. He grabs my ankle, dragging me back towards him, and turns me over, so I’m on my back. My shoulder throbs. The jarring I’ve experienced reminds me I’ve been overworking my shoulder in the gym.

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