Page 8 of Bite of Sin

“What are you doing?” Lisa sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself. “I thought I was going to treatment.”

“You are,” Norman soothed her as he stepped closer. “We need to cross the river to get there.”

“Cross here?” Lisa asked doubtfully.

“Right over there.” Norman pointed into the darkness. “There’s a bridge.”

When Lisa turned toward the river, Norman pulled a gun out from under his shirt and quickly put it to the back of her head.

“No!” The scream tore from my throat right when he pulled the trigger.

Helena’s yell was cut off when Warner raised his arm, putting his hand over her mouth before dragging her back. Lisa’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground, but the men weren’t focused on her. They were shining their flashlights our way. I stumbled back as tears streamed down my face.

“Someone’s out there,” one man said.

“Vampires,” another voice rang out.

“No,” Norman snapped, his eyes scanning the trees. “They wouldn’t be hiding. We have civilians out here. Find them.”

Raw panic sliced through my grief as I turned toward the road. Warner was dragging Helena with him, and he turned to look at me, his eyes wild with fear as he whispered to me.

“Run.”

Chapter3

Kali

We were halfway back to the bikes when new flashlights sliced through the darkness. A lump grew in my throat as Warner grabbed my wrist, hauling me the opposite way. There must have been more men in the trucks, and they were too close to our bikes. We couldn’t take the chance of going that way.

“We’re going to have to split up,” Warner said tightly.

I shook my head. “No—”

“There’re too many of them,” he cut me off. “Get back to the tunnel. Don’t wait. They didn’t see our faces, so we’re safe as long as they find us back inside the walls.”

“I’m so sorry.” Helena’s voice shook as we pushed through the branches. “It’s my fault. We never should have come.”

“Don’t worry about that right now,” I breathed out, my panic swallowing me when the footsteps behind us drew closer. “Focus on getting home.”

“And don’t let them see you,” Warner reminded us. “Or we can never go home.”

“Be careful,” I muttered, squeezing Warner’s hand before I let go.

“Get to the tunnel,” he whispered before veering to the left. Helena raced straight ahead, and I turned toward the right to keep the river in sight. I’d been in this forest so many times in the last three years that I could easily find my way back on foot.

As long as I didn’t get turned around in the dark.

There were at least a few men chasing me, and one was yelling at me to stop. Clouds were blowing in, hiding part of the moon and making it easier for me to disappear into the darkness. It also meant I needed to be extra careful not to run into anything. I weaved between the trees, hissing out a breath when I stepped on a rock, nearly twisting my ankle. A jolt of pain shot up my leg, and I darted to the left, not running in a straight line.

“Stop. Now,” someone bellowed from behind me.

The voice was much too close for comfort, and I sucked in quick breaths, trying to keep my fear controlled. If I let the terror in, it would strangle me, and then I’d never survive. I could let it take over if they caught me. It was nearly pitch black as more clouds covered the sky, and I risked slowing a bit so I didn’t run face-first into a tree.

“I have a shot.”

“Take it.”

My mouth went dry, hearing the shouts behind me. They really didn’t want any witnesses to what they’d done. I pushed myself faster, my eyes straining to see in the darkness. A silenced gunshot went off, and bark flew off the tree near the left side of my head. I bit back my cry, lunging away, zigzagging as much as I could between the thick tree trunks. One second, my feet were on the ground, and the next, I hit nothing but air.

---