Page 31 of Creature's Vengeance
Halfway down, a door opened. I didn’t know what I expected, certainly not the man who turned in my direction. He wore black from head to toe, a dark hoodie that covered his head, and a black rubbery mask. The freaky face stared back at me with bright neon white Xs for eyes and a horrid mouth lashed together with threads that gaped in a toothless grin.
When he lifted his hand, I caught a knife’s sharp, serrated edge as the blade glistened.
A scream tore from my lips as I spun and ran toward the room I had awakened in. My fingers fumbled for the knob, turning and yanking on it as pure terror seized my body when I heard a heavy breath behind me. I swung the door open and raced inside, pulling it shut as the masked man reached me.
He slashed through the air with the knife, nearly cutting across my arm. His blade collided with the doorway, and a chunk of the wood broke off. It fell to the ground as he stuck a boot in the way, preventing the door from shutting.
The blade lifted a second time and stabbed downward, nicking the back of my hand as I tried to block him. Bright red droplets of blood appeared, but I didn’t feel a thing. Adrenaline had kicked in, and I knew I’d gone into survival mode for the second time in a matter of days.
Why the fuck did everyone want to hurt me?
Okay, not Creature, but it seemed like the world was against me. My mind wasn’t capable of rational thought at that moment. I reacted, not thinking about the consequences.
When my attacker’s hand rose again, ready to plunge that knife into my body, I backed into the bed, reaching behind me for anything that could help fight him off. My fingers found the coffee mug full of tea. I lifted it and swung, smacking the porcelain cup into the side of his skull. The mug shattered. Sharp shards pierced my hand but also sliced into his hoodie. Blood dripped from his ear where I had partially severed it.
He shouted with fury. “You’re gonna die, bitch!”
My arms crossed in front of me as I fell back. I just wanted to protect myself, even if it was futile.
Two shots were fired from the doorway. The masked man grunted as his body collapsed over mine. I screamed, shoving him off as I scrambled away, fell off the bed, and scooted to the wall.
Oh, God.
The knife clattered to the floor as it slipped off the bed. Blood began to pool beneath him and soaked into the soft blanket that covered my body with warmth only minutes earlier. I wrapped my arms around my waist and tucked myself into the corner, trying to hide from the world. I didn’t want any part of it.
My gaze focused on those droplets of blood that dripped onto the floor. I watched the crimson color spread toward me, horrified it would stain everything in its path. A whimper left my throat. I couldn’t swallow the saliva that gathered inside.
Panicked, I choked as a cry left my lips.
“Blair.”
I blinked.
“Blair, sweetheart, come back.”
Someone knelt in front of me and reached out, but I froze, screaming when warm skin touched mine.
“Let me try,” a soft voice offered.
“She’s fucking terrified,” a familiar male voice groaned.
“But she’s also in shock.”
“Can you help her?”
I lost track of the conversation. My mind couldn’t keep up.
“Hi, Briar. I’m Lark.”
I blinked again, turning my head away from the body on the bed.
“This is scary. I know.”
A girl close to my age sat next to me. “Can I sit by you? I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“Okay,” I managed to say, lifting a trembling hand to my face to brush the hair out of my eyes.
“I’m Lark,” she repeated. “I’ve been in a situation like this before, and I understand what you’re feeling.”
