Page 31 of Giving In

I don’t think. I act. My legs move before I can take in a breath and I’m running through the dark forest.

Before I was born, my parents used to live on the North Shore of the Falls. Aaron lived there for the first few years of his life. Me, I’ve only ever lived in Stoneview. We never went on holiday, dad was just too busy, so my whole childhood was spent in these woods and I know them like the back of my hand. It doesn’t matter that it’s dark and silent. I could find my way out of here in my sleep.

I sprint through the night like my life depends on it. I think it does.

I don’t have time to let rational thoughts in my head. I don’t have time to weigh if a high school teenager would really be capable of putting a bullet in my head. I know nothing of Jake White’s background or past and I’m not going to take my chances anymore tonight.

I run for my life. I run because Jake was involved in a gang. Because he is dangerous. I can think of the humiliation later. Once I’m at home safe and alive.

Years of playing center on the lacrosse field has given me good endurance and speed but I can’t compare with someone twice my size. Soon enough I can hear Jake’s running footsteps behind me and his cruel laughter make it past the wind in my ears.

“Quick, Goody. You’re almost there,” he exclaims behind me.

I see the parking lot at the edge of the woods and double my speed despite my lungs begging me to stop. When my feet slam on the asphalt, I bend to the right to reach his car. I need to get in, lock the door, call the police.

I’m close enough to touch the car when I feel a weight slamming into my back. My legs can’t take it and I’m pushed to the ground. My hands and knees take the fall, the rough ground peeling at my skin. I whimper at the sharp pain before rolling on the floor. Miraculously, I manage not to hit my head.

“Got ya,” Jake smiles as we stop rolling. He managed to get himself on top of me and in a split second his gun is below my mouth, pointing up. “How did you like the run? So much fun to give you false hope, isn’t it?”

“You’re a psychopath,” I pant. I’m out of breath, completely exhausted and he looks like he didn’t break a sweat.

I don’t wait for him to reply. I need to get myself out of this situation. I should have done this when we were still in Stoneview and people were around. It doesn’t matter. I have to try. I take in a deep breath and let out a strident scream. I scream again for help and another time, almost breaking my vocal cords before Jake gets to slam a hand over my mouth.

“Are you stupid? No one is going to hear you here.”

“Please, let me go,” I beg once his hand is off my mouth. The lump in my throat gets bigger and I struggle to swallow back the tears. “You can’t just kill me.”

“Not so brave now, are we? Are you scared yet? Or does it take more than a gun and a dark forest?”

I flinch at the words I used a minute ago. I was scared then, I’m terrified now.

The click of the gun brings back horrible memories and I shake my head to make them go away. My scar is burning through my skin. I look away from him as the tears start rolling down my face. “Jake-”

“What?” he cuts me off. “If you’re not about to finish this sentence with ‘I’m sorry for disobeying’ then you can save your breath.”

I can’t look at him. He’s so heavy, I’m struggling to breathe, and the tears are now freely flowing.

I can’t believe I used to find him attractive. Just like any girl in our school, I’ve spent my high school years fantasizing about Jake White. But there is nothing attractive about a sociopath like him.

He runs the barrel of the gun up and down my cheek smearing my tears over my face.

“Are you? Sorry?”

I nod multiple times because I’ll do anything to not meet the same fate as my father. Is this how dad felt when Volkov’s man killed him? Was the last thing he saw the hatred and coldness in his eyes?

“Then say it,” he orders.

“I-I’m sorry,” I sob.

“Mm…look at you, you’re such an Angel.” He thinks for a second. “You’re so hot under me, Goody. You know that?”

I bite back the insults I want to throw in his face and look behind him to avoid looking at him. There’s something curling inside my gut, lower actually. It’s my lower belly. It tingles with excitement and grips at me, but I’m forced to ignore it as fear takes over.

“So, tell me now. Are. You. Scared?”

I nod multiple times because, fuck, I’m so scared.

“Good,” he smiles. He gets off me and puts the gun at the back of his jeans. “It’s called survival instinct. Don’t forget that feeling when you’re around me.”

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