Page 44 of If You Dare

The darkness is my only advantage. If I can disappear into the shadows, I may be able to hide. Wait them out until they grow tired of searching for me.

I veer off the sidewalk and dart between brick buildings, my feet already screaming, still raw from the miles I was forced to walk back to campus. The hoots and shouts get closer, the hockey team yipping behind me like a pack of coyotes on the trail of wounded prey.

Tears threaten to obscure the little vision I have left in the darkness. I blink them away, pumping my arms and ignoring the sting already growing in my calves.

I can’t let them catch me. I can’t let them catch me.

They will hurt me beyond recognition.

If I survive them at all.

Near the library, I spot a brick wall the height of my waist surrounded by hedges. Heart in my throat, I scramble onto the wall, skin on my hands scraping and peeling. I jump down, crouching as low as I can to blend in with the shadows.

Two pairs of sneakers slap against the concrete, slowing when they realize they’ve lost my outline in the darkness. I freeze and hold my breath, not daring to move a single muscle.

“I can’t wait to fuck her,” Trey sneers. “Been wanting to destroy that sweet pussy since day one.”

Bile rises in my throat. If there’s anyone I’m scared of just as much as Wes, if not more, it’s Trey.

He’s gotten his hands on me before. If he manages to do it again, I’m not sure I’ll escape him this time.

“You take her pussy; I’ll take her mouth,” Brody tells him. The two laugh together, their footsteps fading as they pass.

I wait for their footsteps to come back or others to arrive, but when they don’t, I take a slow, calming breath before inching back up the brick wall and bracing my hands to push myself up and over.

I’ll run back to the dorms. I’ll stick to the shadows near the buildings and blend in, escape them—

Watching me from the sidewalk five feet away are two Devils.

Trey and Brody.

“Ready to play, pretty girl?” Trey drawls.

My heart nearly explodes in my chest, and I attempt to launch over the wall and escape, but both of their hands are already on me, dragging me back.

A scream rips from my throat, my last weapon to save myself. But they only laugh, not even bothering to cover my mouth.

They’re well aware we’re alone out here. Me, and twenty-five Devils.

“We got her!” Brody shouts to his teammates. A few whoops in response before more come running.

Trey bends down to my ear and hisses, “I’m disappointed. I expected a better fight.”

I flail in their arms, but it’s no use. A repeat of the day they forced me to my knees in the hallway, holding me in place and preventing my escape.

Except this time there are twenty-five of them and no chance of anyone saving me.

Trey’s threat rings in my head. Now that he’s got his hands on me, he’s going to destroy me.

They throw me onto the concrete in front of six other pairs of legs. More are slinking through the darkness to surround me. Terror makes my head pound, the pain in my hands and knees already throbbing. My heart racing so fast, it could compete in the Olympics.

I scan the eyes behind the masks in front of me. None of them belong to Wes.

How can he let this happen to me? How can he orchestrate this? I get that he wants to punish me. But this is worse than I ever thought he’d be capable of.

I expect them to wait for their captain to show up, but Trey grips my hair, yanking down and forcing me onto my back.

I claw and kick at him, but several pairs of hands quickly pin me down. Their laughs and masks swirl above my head.

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