Page 47 of Taunting Tarran
And there it is – the tell-tale sign that someone else is out here, close by.
I’m not alone.
The hairs on my arms rise, a primal alert to someone’s presence. Someoneiswatching me, lurking in the dark woods. A twig snaps, and I open my eyes, taking a deep breath. There, to my right, I see them, their focus unwavering. I’m within their range. In a heartbeat, their hand pulls back, drawing the bow in a fluid motion. With a swift release, the arrow flies, silent and deadly, hurtling towards me.
I’ve never been in this position before, now I know how a deer feels when it’s being hunted. My breath comes in rapid bursts as I dash for cover. I have to calculate my next move. If I run, I’ll make too much noise. I need to stay calm, think clearly.
I had tried ever so hard to remove all the triggers from my life, to build walls high enough to keep the past at bay. Yet, here I was, back in the very place where it all began.
Why did I let myself be dragged back here? I should have stood my ground, shook my head, and said no. Spain was off-limits.
Instead, I rolled my eyes and laughed, played along, and caved in. It was easier to pretend, to go along with the charade, than to confront the painful truth. Now, they’re dead, and the weight of my decisions presses down on me like the oppressive humidity of this forest.
I call out in response to their threatening callI’m coming for you, clutching my hands around the razor-sharp makeshift branch, my thumb brushing over the sharp edge, ‘Oh, but where’s the fun in that? It’s much more thrilling to watchyousquirm, to see the fear inyoureyes. Soon, you’ll understand just how close I’ve been all along. Ready or not, here I come.’
CHAPTER 23
THE PUNISHER
I have to hand it to my father – he knows how to make an impression. I’m sitting in one of five sleek SUV’s, the convoy pulling into a gravel clearing that feels more like a stage than a meeting point. The tension inside the car is suffocating, the other bidders keeping their cards close, their faces blank masks of indifference. But I know better. Any one of these bastards could snap, turn rabid, and turn this into a bloodbath just to claim our prizes as their own. My fingers drum against my watch. Ten minutes.
Through the tinted window, I catch sight of the guards – five of them, laughing like they don’t have a care in the world. But their eyes betray them as they track a woman approaching. She’sa vision of chaos. Her raven-black hair pulled back into a severe braid, a crossbow slung over her shoulder like an accessory. Everything about her screams danger, from the way she moves with theatrical precision to the oversized ego practically radiating off her.She’s a serial killer.
More contenders filter towards the gates as cars empty, their gazes fixed on something I cannot see. The guards block my view, but whatever it is, it’s enough to makeMs Darkheartpause. Her hand moves to the crossbow, her fingers curling around it with a predator’s ease. Whatever’s caught her attention, it’s about to get interesting. I slip out of the car, easing the door shut behind me, the faint click swallowed by the night. Keeping my distance, I shadow the others, careful not to draw the guards’ attention. Their eyes are sharp, and the last thing I need is to give them a reason to notice me, to recognise me.
Then I see her – Tarran. She’s a blur of movement, slipping into the woods like a ghost. My chest tightens.
She’s alive. For now.
But the clock is ticking.
I’m coming for you, Tarran.
One of the guards steps forward. ‘Can I have your attention, please? Welcome to the 50thAnniversary of the Wilderness Warfare Games. As we gather to celebrate this milestone, let’s go over the rules to ensure a thrilling and fair experience.
For our seasoned veterans, this will be a refresher. For newcomers, pay close attention.
The game will last up to seventy-two hours.Your objective will be to claim your prize or prizes before the allotted time. Failure to do so forfeits your prize, and they’ll be resold.
You may hunt and do as you wish with your prey. However, this year, there’s a twist! When the red light shines, your prey must stay still – in case you don’t see the red light, you will be notified via your headset and your prey’s collar will glow red.
THE RED LIGHT RULE: During red light, if your prey moves, they will be eliminated by snipers, so while the prey is still, you can use this time to catch up.
HEADSET: Each participant will have a headset – a one way audio that will guide you to the GPS location of your prey using ‘warmer’ and ‘colder’ cues.
