Page 11 of Devil on the Lake

Dante’s words kick me back into gear. What the hell am I doing? I need to get away and I’m screwing up my chance by sitting in the dirt staring at him.

I should’ve run while he was distracted by getting caught in his own sick Carrie-themed trap instead of forgetting my fear in favor of checking out my goddamn bully.

With a desperate sound scraping my throat, I push to my feet and run. Every branch, tree, and boulder looks the same in the shadows. Every labored breath sears my lungs and a stitch forms in my side. I’m not the athletic type, but my body screams at me to keep going.

That's all I can think about. Instead of forming a plan or searching for my lost phone to call for help, I put all my effort into the mantra running through my head: one foot in front of the other. As long as I stay ahead of him, I’ll be safe.

I keep making all the mistakes I usually yell at horror movie heroines for doing, but now I realize it’s human instinct and fear fighting the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Logical thought is almost impossible.

The only spare brain space I have left is stuck wondering what the look he gave me while he licked his fingers meant.

This whole night is fucked up. Dante lured me out here just to hunt me down. We snipe at each other every chance but this… I had no idea he was capable of something this sinister.

My feet slam the ground with each step. I’m not doing a great job at being quiet, but it’s all I manage in order to keep running.

A gnarled branch snags my damaged skirt. I’m about ready to rip the damn thing off, but that leaves me in only the velvet bodice and fishnets. Not that the sheer skirt provides a lot of coverage, but something stops me. Instead, when I tear it free with a vicious tug, I encourage the torn fabric to continue to my hip and tie it off at the slit. Now I have more movement.

I pause for a beat, holding my twinging side while I get my bearings. It’s useless. I have no idea which direction is the right choice, where the party is in relation to where I’ve been circling, or where he is.

Actually. I strain my ears. I was so intent on getting away, I wasn’t paying attention to him following me. The woods are still and quiet around me. It’s eerie.

A shadow looms behind me when I make another turn and a scream lodges in my throat as it lunges for me. We both go down when it tackles me. I’m done for.

Fresh tears prick my eyes as my baser instincts take over. I don’t know if it’s better to play dead or fight.

I must be a fighter deep down, because I squirm like hell against the weight on top of me.

At first, I believe it’s a cougar about to eat me and drag my bones back to its den.

Then it registers that it’s not growling that I’m hearing above the rapid pounding of my heart.

It’s fucking laughter. Deep, cruel chuckling.

The faint scent of woodsmoke registers.

Dante.

“No,” I beg.

“Yes. Stop struggling.”

With a grunt, he gets to his feet while keeping my wrists pinned together. I kick at him. He swings me around, throwing me off balance.

“Playtime’s over,” Dante grits out. His arm locks around my waist and he half-forces, half-drags me in the opposite direction. No matter how hard I struggle, he doesn’t release me. “I’m tired of playing chase. This time I’m not letting my prey go.”

“Come on, Dante. This is insane. I know we hate each other, but this is crazy.” My words tumble out of me in a rush. I toss out anything my scattered mind supplies to make him stop. “Why are you doing this to me? What the fuck do you want?”

“Your pain.” He jerks me and gets in my face, seething. “Your tears.” He licks the dried mascara-smeared tear stain on my cheek and my stomach clenches. “Looks like I got them.”

“You’re sick,” I spit.

“All thanks to you.”

My brows furrow. I don’t get how I’m the reason he’s so fucked up in the head.

A secluded cabin enters the edge of my vision and I renew my struggling. I claw at his arms and wriggle as hard as possible, aggravating the cramp in my side that hasn’t subsided. Dante might have caught me, but there’s no way in hell I’m going down without a fight.

“Let me go!”

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