Page 65 of Freestyle
Two green masks, propped casually against the gnarled trunk of an old oak. No movement. Just sitting there, like whoever wore them shed their identities and disappeared into the dirt.
But I know better.
I know those masks.
My pulse stutters. Not from fear. From fury,from anticipation, from not knowing what this is. An invitation, a warning, a trap?
I step closer, slow.
A breeze shifts through the trees, and in the silence that follows, I swear I hear it.
The sound of breathing.
Controlled.
Waiting.
Watching.
“Well look who the wind blew in,” Gray whispers behind me, his warm breath coating my cool skin. I look up to where the masks were hanging to see them gone, but the green illuminates over my shoulders.
I stiffen, my heart racing.
Slowly, I turn around, my chest heaving with the force of my breath. Nix and Gray stand before me, dressed in all black with their green masks shining in the darkness. Their muscles flex beneath the fabric as they close the distance between us.
“You can run, little juvie,” Nix whispers against my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. “But we’ll always findyou.”
The two of them press into me, surrounding me with their heat and strength. My head spins as they run their hands across my skin, sending sparks of electricity through my body.
“This is stupid. I’m out of here.” My voice is more stable than I feel. When I’m around these two, my world tilts on its axis and I can’t be trusted with my decisions.
“You think you can defy us?” Gray asks. “Go ahead. We love a good chase. Run, little juvie.”
For some reason, I know they are smirking behind their masks at me.
My body tenses. My heart pounds against my rib cage, beating out of my chest but the truth is, I don’t want to leave. I’m just trying to save myself.
I glance over my shoulder, giving them one last warning. “Catch me if you can.”
Nix grabs me by the hair, pulling me flush against his chest. “Oh, we plan on it.” He nips at my ear as he runs his fingers across my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “Run, little juvie. Run fast.”
His voice is low and dangerous, sending a thrill through my body. I don’t hesitate this time. My years in track have led to this moment.
“Better pray I don’t catch you first.” Gray’s eyes are dark with lust and something else. Something feral and possessive.
I take off like a bat out of hell, the darkness swallowing me up. I’m not sure if they’re behind me or not, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters now is staying ahead of them. The night air is cool against my skin, making my nipples harden beneath the thin material of my shirt. My legs are burning from the exertion, but I push myself harder.Faster.The only sounds are my feet hitting the ground and the pounding of my heart in my ears. Everything else is eerily still. It’s like the whole world is holding its breath, waiting to see what happens next.
My lungs are burning, but I keep running. I know they’re close behind me, their footsteps echoing like thunder, but I can’t let them catch me. I can’t let them win. I’m not sure why this is so important to me, but it is. Maybe it’s because I know how much it would please them, and I can’t bear to give them the satisfaction. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of what they might do to me if they do catch me. Either way, I can’t let that happen.
They say that the devil was an angel, and I was a fool to believe them.
I was a fool to believe that I could escape the darkness.
Suddenly, I feel a hand close around my wrist, tugging me back.
“Gotcha.” Gray’s voice is a low growl in my ear as he pulls me against his hard chest. His other arm wraps around my waist, holding me captive. “You’re ours now, little juvie.”
Nix appears out of the shadows, his green mask glinting in the moonlight. “We told you we’d catch you,” he says, his voice smug.
