Page 77 of Shrouded in the Dark
“There. Now, we don’t have to worry about all these silly security precautions that didn’t do you much good. Now, where was I?”
Every step he made toward me, I took a large step backward, moving slowly toward the hallway. He seemed like he wanted to talk. Cliché villain move, but it might work in my favor. I knew that I was pale, my knees shook, but I had to fight to stay focused. The panic attack that I felt building in my chest wasn’t easy to keep pushed away, but I had to focus on getting to the bathroom. After that I could panic.
“Ah, yes. You know, when you first showed up here, I was so angry that the Venandi wasn’t with you. My perfect plan ruined.” He went to the television that was bolted to the wall and I took another step into the hallway. “Did he tell you what they did to me!?”
He was repeating himself. He wasn’t all there, which made him ever more dangerous, if that was possible. I jumped when the TV flew across the room to shatter against the island in the kitchen. The monster's face had started to elongate when he turned to look at me.
“I wanted to make him watch as I killed his family in front of him. First the son, the girl, you, then the wife. I’d take you and your mother, even as I tore open your stomachs to spill along the floor.” His shirt seams began to rip as he continued to shift slowly.
I didn’t understand why he wasn’t changing as fast as the others, but it gave me more time to continue moving backward.
“You’re sick.” I was almost there. But the bad news was that he had me caged in. I couldn’t get around him if I tried.
“Maybe.” I could barely understand him now as his voice was more of an animal growl. “You just had to show up alone. I was going to wait until he showed up, even if it took another year.” His fist punched through the master bedroom’s door to his left. “But when you brought that pack here? Into my territory? I decided killing you and them would still leave me with some satisfaction. It might even bring the Venandi after me.”
He turned to the side, ripping the master bedroom door away. “You’ve let them into this house!” His muscles all over his body stretched, moving as he grew. He stepped into the room, throwing his head back in a howl as he left my sight.
This was my only chance. I ran as fast as I’d ever run before. My bedroom door banged against the wall as I rushed to the bathroom. I wasn’t going to waste time closing it. He’d just break through it anyway. There was another howl before the sounds of a large body breaking through the doorway.
A scream ripped through my throat as I made it into the bathroom. My hand slapped onto the hidden panel just as the monster appeared in front of me.
I wasn’t fast enough. Just as I touched the red button that slammed the bars down within milliseconds, the monster had my other hand in its mouth. I screamed again as it bit down, hitting bone. My right hand slapped the orange button as pain radiated up my hand to my whole body.
It was trying to pull me through the bars, but they had to be made of something even stronger than he was because he was trying to pry them apart with his claws as he yanked me into the bars. My head smacked into one, making my head spin. The sound of the security screen, as it tried to close but was stuck because of his claws, sounded like a dying animal.
The monster jerked back, letting my hand go just enough that I was able to pull it back to me. I scrambled backward before falling on my ass. The growling coming from him as he snapped his jaws, had me pulling myself into the bathtub. The monster let his claws go from the bars and the security screen slammed shut.
It took what felt like forever to pull out my phone. Using my good hand as I tried to ignore the pain, or even looking at the wound, I pressed my call button next to my favorite contact list. Only the guys and my family were on it since Jasper had grouped the numbers together for emergencies. I’d have to thank Jasper for his smart thinking if I survived this.
The phone rang twice before a concerned deep voice answered.
“Becca? What’s wrong?” Axel’s voice helped push my panic attack away.
I opened my mouth but I couldn’t get anything to come out. My whole body had begun to shake uncontrollably. My left hand started to feel like it was on fire. I couldn’t move it at all.
“H… he… help…” I finally managed to whisper.
There was a loud bang on the other door that led to the twin’s room. The monster howled again. I heard it trying to rake through the screen. The noise was like nails on a chalkboard.
“Fuck. Fuck. We’re coming, baby.”
The phone fell from my hand to the bottom of the tub as the shaking got worse. My mind began to become fuzzy and felt light. I needed to try to slow down the blood loss. My limbs were heavy as I struggled to pull my shirt off. I couldn’t get it over my damaged hand, which was fine since I was going to use it on that hand anyway.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed. The monster had continued trying to get into the bathroom, he’d even tried to go through the wall from the hallway. Whatever this room was, it kept the thing out. When the monster became frustrated, I heard it destroying everything it touched within the house. My artwork was probably trashed.
A chuckle escaped my throat. I was dying and all I cared about was my art. My body became cold everywhere. My eyes felt heavy as I struggled to keep them open. If they closed, I wouldn’t wake up again. I couldn’t even tell if I was shaking anymore.
I caught myself nodding off more and more as the destruction of the cabin continued. I was so tired. All the pain was gone. There was nothing but the cold.
I wanted the guys. I wanted to be held. I wanted all of this to end. I wanted to be able to say goodbye to them. Kiss them before I died. Fate was cruel. I’d finally found my home with them and now, I was going to leave them.
Darkness surrounded me. I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. I just didn’t have the strength.
Good bye. I love you, guys.
I knew I was crying. I knew I couldn’t reach them in time.
I focused on a picture in my mind of all of them together. At least I had that as everything just faded to black.
