Page 104 of Truth or Dare

A sharp shove sent me stumbling forward, my palms scraping against rough bark. Pain flared as a branch scratched my cheek, the sting accompanied by the warm trickle of blood.

“What the hell?—”

I turned, but a hand grabbed the back of my shirt and slammed me against the tree. The impact knocked the air from my lungs.

“You fucking ruined everything,” a voice hissed.

Evan.

My stomach twisted as I stared into his furious eyes, the shadows making his face look monstrous.

“Evan,” I choked out, struggling against his iron grip.

“You think you can just walk away?” His voice was venomous, his breath reeking of beer and anger.

“Let go,” I growled, twisting my body, but he was too strong.

Instead, he yanked me forward, dragging me deeper into the forest. My heart pounded as panic took hold. I clawed at his hand, my nails scraping uselessly against his skin.

“Stop!” I shouted, planting my feet, but it only made him yank harder.

He spun me around and backhanded me, the force of the blow sending me to my knees. My cheek burned where his palm had connected, and the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth.

“I came for what you owe me,” he snarled, his words slurred but full of malice.

Fear shot through me like ice water.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as realization set in.

“Yes,” he sneered.

I gasped, the forest spinning around me.

Evan covered my body with his and sank his teeth into my shoulder in a vicious bite that had me yelping. When he let go, he spit. I knew he drew blood.

As realization leaked into me, I struggled. Evan Braddock wanted to rape me. I fought but he was too strong. His body on top of mine made me almost powerless. My legs were trapped, and he had my wrists in one hand. He bit me again, this time my ear, digging his teeth into the cartilage.

I screamed and when he pulled away, I felt another trickle of blood leak down my skin. He would ruin me both physically and emotionally. Angry tears squeezed from my eyes as he fumbled the button on my jeans. As another scream ripped from throat, he slammed his mouth on mine, swallowing it down.

“You taste so fucking good. You owe me.”

His hand was around my throat, choking me, making silver dots dance across my vision as I struggled to breathe. I couldn’t reply. I was losing consciousness, a veil of black closing over my eyes. And then his body was ripped off mine as I passed out.

My name is calledbut it sounds like it’s floating through water – all muffled and echoing. Every nerve fiber in my body aches and before I open my eyes, it all comes flooding back like a roaring river after a spring storm. Evan – the woods – his hands all over my body.

I can see the light through my closed lids and it’s obnoxious, intrusive when all I want to do is fade back to sleep. I forced my eyes open to see my mother sitting by my bedside wringing her hands. In the corner, Neil and my father are asleep, their heads back on the small green vinyl couch and mouths hanging open.

Through a seam in the louvres covering the windows, I can see a sliver of dark blue light. It’s almost dawn, a new day is coming. I stare at the ceiling for a moment before I call for my mother.

“Mom,” I croaked.

Her head shot up and her eyes met mine as tears rolled down her cheeks. She reached for my hand where clear tubes connected snake up to bags delivering drips. Her skin is cold andunwelcoming since I’m chilly but not unwanted. I curl my frozen fingers around hers. I notice my nails are caked with dirt.

I wanted to ease the tension. “The one time I go out….”

Her tears a now a flood and she’s covering her face with her other hand, trying to wipe away the wetness from her skin to no avail.

“Mom, please,” I begged.

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