Page 224 of Hymns of the Broken
I wink, feeling a wicked thrill rush through my veins. “No promises, brother. Now let’s go.”
He grins, putting his mask on, the monster finally slipping into place.
I slide my mask over my face, pulse thrumming, heart wild.
We wait, silent shadows in the dark, watching as she steps into the trees.
JASPER
I see her clench her fists, exhale, and finally step into the shadows.
That’s my cue.
Riot and I lock eyes for a split second, and we nod. No words needed. He peels off, moving low and fast toward the north side of the woods to the spot we picked out earlier. I’ll lead her right to it, keep her running, keep her desperate.
I hang back, silent, letting her get a few yards ahead. She’s alert, darting glances over her shoulder, but she doesn’t see me yet.
The woods swallow her up, the night thickening, branches grabbing at her legs. I move through the trees silently, keeping to her left flank. Close enough to catch her, far enough to keep her guessing.
She pauses at a fork in the path, biting her lip, uncertain. I reach down and snap a thick branch under my boot, making the sound echo through the gloom. She whirls around, eyes wide, heart already thundering. She can’t see me, not really, just the hint of something in the dark.
“Jasper?” Her voice is shaky, hopeful. She knows better, but she hopes anyway.
I smile, knowing she can’t see it, then let out a low, hungry growl just loud enough for her to hear.
She spins in the other direction, bolting down the narrow trail. Her hair whips behind her, bare feet slapping earth, and for a wild moment she looks almost feral.
That’s it, Little Demon. Run for me.
I keep my distance, weaving between the trees, making just enough noise to keep her off-balance, heading straight toward where Riot waits.
She glances back one more time and her eyes catch on my mask, glowing for a second in a shaft of moonlight.
She gasps.
And then she runs for real.
I take off after her, keeping low, loving every second of this chase. She thinks she’s hunted, but she’s the one who’s got both of us exactly where she wants us.
SAWYER
My legs burn and lungs hurt from running, but I keep moving. Shadows swallow me whole, trees looming tall on all sides. Every crack of a branch, every whip of wind sounds like someone just out of sight. I stop for a second, straining to listen. There’s nothing but my own heart hammering in my ears.
Fuck, I need to run more often if we’re going to be doing this.
I can still taste the thrill on my tongue, my whole body prickles with anticipation when I hear the footsteps. Not behind me now, but to my left, quick and strategic coming closer.
Panic spikes. I shoot right, darting off the path, branches tearing at my skin. I’m sure I can outrun them, just for a moment, just until I can hide—
But then I slam hard into something solid, hands catching my arms before I can even think to scream. I gasp, already fighting, already wild.
Arms clamp around me, iron-strong, inescapable. I struggle, but the mask is right there, just inches from my face. Not Jasper’s. A different shape, a different set of eyes gleaming through the shadows.
“Caught you, Angel,” he growls. “You gonna make me drag you, or are you gonna be a good girl and let us play?”
I shiver, skin hot and cold all at once. I’m not even sure if I want to escape. But I’m not giving in that easily.
I shove at Riot’s chest with everything I’ve got, breath tearing from my lungs, heels digging into the dirt. I break free—just five frantic steps before a fist closes around my hair, yanking me back so hard my body bends.
