Page 92 of Hollow

“Viktor.” The name falls from my lips, a horrified whisper.

He reaches up, pulling the stag mask off to reveal his face, pale and hard in the moonlight. His eyesglitter with something dangerous as he tosses the mask aside.

“The one and only,” he says, his voice eerily calm. “Funny how history repeats itself, isn’t it? You in that white dress, in this maze, just like the night my brother disappeared.”

I try to back away, but his grip on my arm tightens. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t insult me.” His fingers dig deeper, sure to leave bruises. “I watched you tonight at The Vault, looking so cozy with our resident gardener and bartender. Quite the trio you three make.”

My mind races. How much does he know? How much is he guessing?

“Let me go.” I try to sound stronger than I feel. “This isn’t part of The Hunt. I didn’t volunteer for this.”

Viktor’s laugh is sharp and mirthless. “But I put the red light on your porch myself. Special invitation.” He pulls me closer, his breath hot on my face. “I thought we should have a private chat about my brother.”

“I told you before, I barely knew him. He was at my party, that’s all.”

“And then he vanished.” Viktor’s free hand slides to my waist, fingers digging into the thin fabric of my nightgown. “Some of my friends told me they saw him following you that night. Into this maze. And he was never seen again.”

My blood turns to ice. People saw us. Of coursethey did. A party full of strangers, all of them potential witnesses.

“Maybe he left the island,” I suggest weakly. “Found a tourist to go home with.”

“Liam wouldn’t leave without telling me.” He slides his hand lower, over my hip. “He wouldn’t leave his bike behind. His house. Everything.”

I try to twist away, but he’s too strong, pulling me against him. “What do you want from me?”

“I want to know what happened that night.” His voice drops lower, more threatening. “And I think you’re going to tell me. After we have a little fun first.”

He shoves me backward until I hit the stone bench. I stumble, falling onto the cold surface. Before I can scramble away, he’s on me, pinning me down with his weight.

“No!” I thrash beneath him, but he’s twice my size, easily holding me in place. “Get off me!”

“Feisty,” he says, sliding one hand up my thigh, pushing my nightgown higher. “I can see why they both want you. But I get to have you first.”

Panic surges through me. This is Liam all over again. Same place, same situation, same family. Is this my punishment? Am I doomed to repeat this nightmare?

I claw at his face, my nails catching his cheek, drawing blood. He curses, grabbing both my wrists and slamming them above my head, held in one of his massive hands.

“You’ll pay for that,” he growls, fumbling at his belt with his free hand.

I can’t breathe, can’t think. My condition makes fighting even harder, my lungs already burning from the run through the maze. But I can’t give up. I can’t let this happen.

“You won’t get away with this.” I gasp, still struggling beneath him. “Damiano will?—”

“Damiano will what?” Viktor sneers. “That gardener who took my brother from me? I’ve been waiting years to make him pay for Erik. And now I’ll take something from him, too.”

His words hit me like ice water. The confirmation that Viktor suspects Damiano’s involvement in Erik’s death sends fear coursing through me.

I feel the cool night air on my thighs as Viktor pushes my nightgown up to my waist. His hand is rough, callused as he slides it along my inner thigh.

“No,” I plead, feeling tears spring to my eyes despite my determination not to show weakness. “Don’t do this.”

“You should have thought of that before you got involved with my brother.” He leans down to bite my neck hard enough to make me cry out.

I close my eyes, turning away my head, trying to retreat into myself as his fingers hook into the elastic of my underwear. This can’t be happening again. I can’t kill another Bastian brother. I can’t.

But suddenly, the weight on top of me is gone.

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