Page 37 of Deadly Little Games

With each step I take into the forest, the light from the car becomes more and more distant, disappearing into the surroundings. The wind rustles through the trees, bringing with it the intermittent calls of nocturnal creatures, and I instinctively run my tongue over my dry lips. I hold the knife tightly as if my life depends on it, because it does. The sound of footsteps crunching on the forest floor alerts me to someone approaching from behind. Lucas comes into view and casually drapes an arm over my shoulders.

Gage and Hazen close in on me, forming an impenetrable circle that leaves no room for escape. Their bodies envelop me, pressing close as my body ignites. With their black hoods up, half of their faces are hidden from view.

I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, immersing myself in the forest’s refreshing aroma. One second, the warmth of their bodies is wrapped around me, and in the blink of an eye, they vanish into thin air. The cool air brushes against my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake, then a soft exhale of warmth brushes past my ear.

“Run, little thorn. Run until you get him, then we can play,” Lucas whispers into my ear, and my heart races faster and faster. Like I’m about to jump off a cliff or do something reckless.

I sprint into the dark forest, disappearing into the shadows. Trees surround me, and I dodge each one. The light fades the further I run, leaving behind the full moon to guide me between the shadows and darkness.

Slowing down slightly, I become acutely aware of everysound around me, hoping to detect any hint of Gavin’s whereabouts. The snap of a stick to my right startles me, prompting me to continue. Running has always been a favorite of mine, with the exhilarating feeling of my heart about to burst and the subsequent wave of release when I finish. As a child, I had a routine when Mom came home blitzed: I would quickly jump out of my window and sprint away, running until my lungs gave out. Lately, I haven’t done that, and I miss it.

I follow the sound of feet slapping against the forest floor and a faint grunting coming from deeper into the woods. Between the trees, a figure moves in an erratic manner, looking around with urgency. With his small, thin body, Gavin zigzags through the dense undergrowth, probably hoping it will shield him from what’s to come.

Using the same trees for cover, I stealthily trail behind him, closing the distance with every step. Until I’m right behind him. In a split second, his back straightens and he spins around, but I am already on top of him, forcefully bringing him down to the ground.

His fists swing wildly, and with each blow, a wave of pain erupts across my body, accompanied by Gavin’s menacing grin. I roll sideways to avoid his strikes, and he uses my retreat to his advantage.

Gavin propels himself upright and bolts away, his eyes meeting mine briefly, a crazed smile on his lips. He’s so busy watching me that he doesn’t see Hazen. The impact of Hazen’s punch sends him sprawling to the ground like a sack of shit.

Lucas extends his hand toward me, and I grasp it. As I get up, my free arm automatically wraps around my torso where Gavin landed most of his punches, and I bite into the inside of my cheek. Lucas grabs my shirt and pulls it up. Helooks down, his knuckles gently grazing over my bruised side, and I take in a sharp breath. His chest swells under his hoodie as he breathes in, then loudly exhales.

With a swift spin, Lucas positions himself above Gavin, his boot firmly planted against the side of his face. The cheerful guy I’m used to seeing is nowhere to be found, replaced instead by the formidable monster who belongs to The Daring Brotherhood. Kneeling, he pulls back his hood and inches closer to Gavin, their faces almost touching. Gavin’s body trembles with uncontrollable shakes. I should feel sorry for him and intervene, but my feet remain locked in place. He’s a monster.

“I’ll do anything you want. Please,” Gavin begs, his eyes filling with tears. “I’ll suck your cock.”

Lucas’s lip curls back in disgust before he swings his fist and snaps Gavin’s head sideways. “I’m not gay, you piece of shit, and even if I was, I wouldn’t let your filthy mouth anywhere near my cock. It’s got standards.” Not taking his eyes off Gavin, he asks, “Freya, will you do the honors?”

Hazen and Gage flank me, their presence urging me to inch closer. Bending down, I firm my grip around the knife and press it to Gavin’s neck. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing against the knife’s lethal edge. Blood begins to ooze from where the blade digs in, yet his eyes still hold a glimmer of hope as he looks at me. Pleading for me to save him.

The image of my mother returning home in a disheveled state, her skin marked with bruises and her clothes in tatters, is etched in my memory. We were left hungry, with no money to buy food. How many times did she beg him to stop? Or to give her the money he owed her for whoring her out? Too fucking many times to count, and now here he is, begging me to have mercy.

“Your mother needs me,” Gavin rasps, and tears fill my eyes and fall down my cheeks.

He’s one of the reasons she’s like this. I hate him so much.

Without another moment’s hesitation, I slice the unforgiving steel of the knife across his throat, the sound of his gasp echoing in the silence. Gavin chokes and gurgles on his blood, and I fall backward, landing on my ass. What did I just do? Death has crossed my path countless times throughout my life, yet I have never been the cause. My hands, stained with blood, tremble uncontrollably.

Strong hands pull me to my feet from behind, and thick arms wrap around my waist, pinning me to a hard, warm body. Gage takes the knife from my trembling hands as I collapse against Hazen, his protective hold securing me. Without his support, I’d fall back to the ground.

Lucas aims his gun at Gavin’s head and his eyes widen, pleading for mercy while blood gushes down his neck and out his mouth. Gage grips Gavin’s shirt and rips it off forcefully, then he brings his knife down on Gavin’s chest, etching words into his skin. I can’t tear my eyes away from Gavin lying there, all the fight within him gone. I can’t move. Hazen’s heart pounds against my ear, echoing my own rhythm. Gage finishes carving, then underscores the bottom two words with one last slash of the blade.

Regards,Daring Brotherhood, it reads, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

Gavin’s soft sobs fade away, leaving an eerie silence in the air. As Lucas pulls the trigger, the deafening sound of the gunshot reverberates through the dense forest. Stumbling out of Hazen’s embrace, I collapse to my knees and retch, emptying the meager contents of my stomachonto the forest floor.

Someone gathers up my hair, pulling it away from my face.

“And just like that, the debt is cleared,” Gage’s voice echoes from above, and I shake my head in disbelief.

Just like that.

Chapter Nineteen

Lucas

Ididn’t really know her back when she lived here in Daringville, can’t say that I know her now, but I do remember her. My father always kept us away, shielding us from her for reasons unknown.

I saw her at the Hendrixes’ house like twice. I remember her hair, neatly divided into two matching pigtails, swaying as she walked with a lost look in her eyes. She smiled at me the first time we met, and I’ll never forget the way her smile brightened all the darkness that surrounded me. She brought hope into my life, but then vanished and was never mentioned again until she reemerged alongside Amirah. The desire to catch her and keep her by my side has consumed me completely.

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