Page 167 of Devil's Bargain

I dash through the door and collide with the wall opposite before righting myself and fleeing down the corridor. My heart thunders, pounding against my ribcage. Only this time, I will not let fear overtake me.

I fly around a corner too fast and crash into a plant stand, sending the contents crashing to the floor. Broken pieces of ceramic cut my feet, but I don’t stop. The front door is in sight.

Arms wrap around me from behind and lift me off the floor, but I free myself and pick up a ceramic shard. It’s not very sharp, but I can still do damage with it.

Chapman, the servant, approaches me with a manic smile. “Put it down!”

I back toward the door, leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind. “Don’t get any closer!”

Baron rounds the corner just then, casual as ever, his hands in his pockets.

“I’m warning you! I will cut you!” I shout when Chapman takes a step forward. He chuckles and makes a grab for me, but I jump out of the way. The door is so close. Just a couple more steps.

Baron takes in the mess with a disapproving frown. Broken plant pots and soil litter the pristine marble floor. “Let’s stop the games, and I might not make your punishment as severe.”

“Go to hell!” I spit, taking another step backward. I’m cornered.

“There’s no need for such foul language!”

One more step. Another bloody footstep.

Baron lifts his chin to Chapman and says over his shoulder as he walks out, “I want her back in the basement. I’ll be in my office.”

I point the shard at Chapman. My hand trembles.

“You know, the more you fight, the harder I get!” He smiles darkly, making another dash for me. He’s herding me away from the door.

“Fuck you!”

His smile widens. His blonde hair is in his eyes. He could be handsome if he weren’t a psycho.

He makes one more grab for me. This time I swipe the shard and cut his arm. He rears back, hissing. “You fucking whore!” Blood pours from the jagged cut.

“Oops!” I taunt. “It looks sore!”

“You won’t be so fucking smug when I fuck your ass!”

“You have to catch me first!” I run in the opposite direction, away from the door. I don’t have any other choice. My main problem is that I don’t know this house. I run through the kitchen and turn over the chairs as I go but it barely slows him down.

“You can run all you want! The hunt makes it all the fucking sweeter!”

I dash into another room, slam the door shut, and hide behind it.

When he storms inside, I run out and sprint down the corridor again. I’m growing tired, but adrenaline courses through my veins.

I round another corner too fast and crash into a bookshelf, sending books flying. I barely feel the impact. It’s only when I run into the next room that I realize my mistake. Chapman grins manically at me, clutching his bleeding arm as he approaches. “This house goes around in a loop.”

I back away. “Please…”

He cocks his head. “Please, what?”

I take another step back. “You don’t have to do this.”

“The thing is,” he starts but then hisses in pain when he moves his arm. “I want to.”

I dart my gaze around for somewhere to escape or something to use as a weapon. I dropped the shard when I crashed into the bookshelf. I can’t get past him, so I’ll have to run back the way I came.

“There’s nowhere to run!” he whispers gleefully. Blood seeps through his fingers, down his arm, leaving a trail of red drops on the floor.

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