Page 43 of Monsters

It sounded from the thick of the woods, only a few yards away. Forgetting the flowers, I turned toward the noise. Compared to where I stood under the burning bright sun, the woods, staring in, were dark and ominous. It revealed nothing.

I waited patiently for movement, but there was none.

“Paranoid,” I chided.

Returning back to claim the last flower, my skin prickled. I swallowed hard, the ill feeling making me wish I was back at Little Wren. Maybe we hadn’t explored enough. Maybe we weren’t the only people out here. But I knew I wasn’t alone. Quickly snipping the stem and adding the flower to the bouquet, I started making my way back. I entered the woods with darkness consuming me and a chill on my warmed skin. I was only a few yards in when I heard the heavy footsteps. They crunched the debris behind me. I quickened my pace, but they followed. Gripping the scissors in my tight fist, I turned on the intruder ready to defend if necessary.

“Jesus, Mason. You scared me,” I scolded, pulling my hand back, the scissors having only been inches from stabbing his face.

For a moment he didn’t say anything. He just stared at my trembling hand.

“Why are you running, Gem?”

“Why are you chasing me, Mason?”

He answered first with a patronizing smile. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Mason’s eyes narrowed, and he continued in an unusual whisper, “What are you doing all the way out here? You never know who’s around.”

I held out the bouquet of flowers in answer, then asked, “What are you doing? I thought you were with Lucas fishing at the creek.”

He gave a small shrug. “I had to fetch a few things for Lucas from Little Wren. I saw you weren’t there and like I said, I wanted to see if you were okay.”

Lies.

Dressed only in shorts, his muscled, tanned chest gleaming with sweat. It was obvious he hadn’t collected anything from the cabin.

“What did Lucas ask for?”

He shrugged. “Couldn’t find what he needed. But now I have.”

Mason let his suggestion slap me in the face, lips twitching in amusement.

I was in danger, and I wasn’t quite sure how to get myself out of it.

If I panicked, he’d react.

“I’m going back to find Lucas,” I said, turning on my heels hoping he couldn’t smell my fear.

“Not just yet, Gem.” Mason’s hand curled around my upper arm, spinning me to face him, both the bouquet of wildflowers and scissors slipping from my grasp. His mouth settled only inches from mine, eyes hooded with a familiar look that terrified me. I tried to shrug him off, to free myself, but his fingers dug deep.

“Mason, you’re hurting me.”

“I just want to talk.” His voice said otherwise.

“Then let me go, and we’ll talk.”

“Mmm… no.” His eyes narrowed, lips turning slightly at the edges, “I’m happy just like this.” He forced me backward, my feet struggling to keep pace. Instinctively, I gripped Mason’s shoulder to avoid stumbling, a sharp, protruding branch slicing through my calf.

He backed me up against a tree and I couldn’t move. I was trapped, his body pressing up against mine, his height imposing, wide shoulders threatening.

“Let me go, Mason,” I seethed, attempting to push him away. “You’re hurting me.” Ignoring my pleas, he moved closer until I was forced to turn my cheek.

“I’m learning so much about you, Gem,” he murmured. “Wanna know what I’ve learned?” Mason didn’t wait for a response. “Almost sixteen and never so much as kissed a boy.” His finger traced my collarbone and drew a line down to my breasts. “You prefer lacy bras,” he taunted, catching glimpses of white lace. Humiliated, I bit down hard on my bottom lip to stop the sobs. “You wanna marry my brother…” Mason continued, “… but you’re too scared to tell him how you truly feel. And you’re curious. Curious about sex.”

“Enough,” I screamed. “Get off me.” I bucked and jerked, trying to shake him off. There was some give but not enough that he lost grip. In response, Mason pressed his groin against mine, the uncomfortable hardness igniting a fear for my life and everything I preserved.

“Not so fast, Little Wren.” He smirked with a perverse sense of victory, knowing he had, and always would have, the upper hand. “We’re not finished. Hell…” he laughed, “… we haven’t even started.”

Mason yanked me away from the tree, his heel coming in contact with the back of my foot. I fell to the ground, him landing on top. I struggled and squirmed underneath him, but there was little I could do when he pinned my wrists above my head with one hand.

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