Page 71 of Regret

Chapter 22

“I know you’re here, Little Red.”

Blanchette’s heart hammered against her ribs, the air in her lungs coming out in small, shallow breaths.

“Are you hiding from me, Little Red? Don’t tell me you’re scared of the big bad wolf.”

His voice was dark, filled with malice and evil intent. It was like a demonic whisper, and it sliced straight through to her soul.

“We had so much fun the other day. And the big bad wolf wants to play again.”

Oh God.

Bile pushed up her throat as she pinched her eyes closed, trying to get rid of the memory. The pain. The hurt. The torment.

“I know you’re here. I can smell you. Your fear. It’s making me want to play even more.”

Tremors possessed her body as she pushed her back harder against the wall she was hiding behind. The bone numbing fear now had complete control over her, and all she could do was pray to God that he didn’t find her.

“Oh, Little Red? We’re family, remember? Come out and show me how much you love me.”

She opened her eyes and frantically looked around, trying to find any way out of the barn. But there was no way. She was trapped, like a lamb with nowhere to go but the slaughterhouse. Tears slipped down her cheek and she bit down on her trembling lip so hard that she tasted blood. The bile that was stuck in her throat started to push up violently and she had the urge to vomit. Her stomach felt like it had been turned inside out, her intestines squeezed with barbed wire.

She couldn’t go through it again. Not again. There was no way she would survive it.

“I told you I would find you.”

Strong, hard hands grabbed her shoulders and it was like her heart exploded into millions of tiny little splinters, piercing through every part of her skin.

“Leave me alone. Please. Don’t touch me!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, but it was no use. They were too far away from the house. No one would hear her. No one would rescue her.

He pushed her hard against the wall, the last bit of air in her lungs escaping her with a huff. With dark, wicked eyes he stared at her, his gaze slithering all over her face.

“My, my, Little Red. What big eyes you have.”

“Please, Brent. Don’s do this. Not again.”

“Shhh.” A cold finger traced down the side of her face, sending violent shivers down her spine. With a hard, painful jerk he turned her around and pulled her back flush against his chest.

A slimy, vile tongue glided down the side of her ear. “And what beautiful ears you have.”

She couldn’t take it anymore. If someone offered her death as the only way to get away from him, she would take it in a heartbeat.

“Stop. Please” she whispered as tears softly started to move down her cheeks.

“What’s the matter, Little Red? This was your favorite story as a child, remember? Granny used to read it to you every night, how the wolf tricked Little Red Riding Hood, and then ate both her and Grandma.”

His hand brushed down the side of her arm, burning her skin, causing her to gag as he moved lower and lower.

“You can’t deny it. You enjoy it just as much as I do.” His hand slipped between her legs, and her spine turned to ice, her body shaking, her soul sobbing with so much pain.

“Brent, please…”

“Don’t you remember how good it felt, how right it felt the first time, when I made you mine? I love you, Little Red. And you love me.”

“No! No, I don’t. You’re sick!” She kept on struggling, tugging, trying to get away. But it was no use. He was too strong. All she could do was to scream again, as loud as she could, hoping that maybe, just maybe, someone might hear her. “Help me! Please!”

Brent turned her around and slammed her hard against the wall while pressing his hand over her mouth.

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