Page 27 of Make You Mine

I don’t lock it, but hide behind the four walls just the same.

It’s better this way. No one will know about my moment of weakness.

No one but me.

I’m running,prickly branches scratching my skin as his laughter slithers down my spine. He’s close. Too close, and asob catches in my throat as I push past another rusty lawn tractor in my way. There are too many of them; it feels as though this maze is sending me in circles while Jason toys with me.

“I promised I’d come for you, Sugar. We’re inevitable.” Jason’s voice skims the flesh of my ear, and I scream, throwing an elbow back, but there’s no one there. Instead, I’m met with the sensation of something cold sliding around my ankles, nearly making me trip, but when I look down, I find nothing but deformed hands coming up from the ground with extra fingers attached. Different shades of skin. Different shapes and lengths. They claw at me with chip-painted fingernails, burrowing into my legs until rivulets of blood stain the grass below. “Come to me, and this will all stop.”

“No. This can’t be real,” I whimper right before I’m yanked by the ankle and stumble, my hands bracing my fall. Tiny rocks cut into my palms, the sting making me hiss as the fingers drag me across the ground.

I fight and kick. I dig my hands into the ground and try to pull my body forward, but then a pair of black boots appear in front of me.

I’m afraid to look up.

The leather is wet and sticky; a pungent stench greets my nose, making me heave. I’m trying not to think about why the shoe is that way, but fear makes it impossible to wrench my body back. Instead, I’m unable to stop him from forcing my chin up and head back until our eyes meet.

Jason’s are pitch black, like what you see in horror films. The smirk on his face sends chills down my spine. “I warned you, Sugar. You’ll pay for this, and only after I’ve lubed my cock with your blood will I forgive you.”

“This can’t be real.”

“But I am, Ava. I’m your nightmare and future.” His shoe moves from my face so he can squat down, my body within his reach, but he doesn’t touch me. Jason’s hands are clenched at his sides while the sudden blare of a siren gets closer. Just like the night of his arrest, his face transforms into one of relief. “I did all of this for you. Why can’t you see that?”

Multiple car doors open, and then there’s the heavy vibration of footsteps coming our way. It’s déjà vu as guns are drawn and voices shout—I can’t make out a single word they’re saying—but Iamtrapped by his expression.

The evident relief of being caught. Of no longer having to hide from society.

“I’ll come for you.”

With that declaration, he allows me to see the darkness inside of him.

His obsession.

His desire to hurt me.

He reveled in my fear.

Once again, I find myself drowning in that same sickening feeling as the night of his arrest. His body hits the ground so close to mine that I feel his rough exhale against my cheek—the manacle around my bleeding ankle disappears—and a small cry breaks through my lips.

I’m trembling and failing to find purchase on the ground and move away when a warm set of arms wraps around me…

“I got you, sweetheart. You’re safe.” The voice is familiar and warm, doesn’t scare me, and I find my consciousness being drawn to it. “That’s it. Open your eyes, Ava. It was just a bad dream.”

Every bit of me wants to; I find warmth in his soothing voice, but…

The horrific memories replay on repeat, and I can’tunseethem. It’s a living, breathing horror flick I’m stuck inside of.Over and over. Never pausing or giving slight relief, I’m left withering under the sound and smell—so far away, and yet I feel every vibration. Every sharp note in his vengeful promise resonates and claws under my skin, and while I’m not a hundred percent sure if it’s real or I’m imagining it, it shakes me just the same.

Right now, I can’t make the distinction to save my life.

Am I stuck in a nightmare, or is this my real life?

How can I go from being a happy bakery owner to witnessing such a crime? But then again, nothing makes sense, and the world around me continues to tremble uncontrollably.

A sob shakes me, and the strong arms holding me tighten, the soothing scent of mint and sandalwood with a hint of saltwater that’s uniquelyhisovertakes my senses. It’s the best of both worlds; the forest meets the ocean in a way that’s not overpowering or obnoxious—just him.

“Good girl.” Elijah’s deep baritone continues to break through my racing memories. It has to be a nightmare if he’s here and assuring me that I’m okay. “Come back to me.”

I whimper, and the sound hurts as I try to open my eyes. “Eli?—”

---