Page 118 of Creep

Things were going well until I actually pushed open the old wooden door, and it squeaked, the sound deafening in the silent house.

I knew they heard it, too.

I didn’t wait.

I got up and ran out of the cabin as shouts erupted behind me. I didn’t turn around to see where they were. I just pushed myself harder and harder. Even when my legs ached, and my lungs burned, I kept going.

The shouts got louder.

Panic began to rise as I blindly ran through the woods, trying to avoid the trees. I ran around in circles, hoping that would throw them off. I couldn’t see further than a few feet in front of me, so hopefully, they couldn’t see me as well.

I didn’t know. I turned sharply to my right, catching my foot on a rock, and my ankle twisted as I fell.

No time to panic or think of the pain.

I pushed myself up and ran again.

Too late.

Too fucking late.

I was tackled to the ground from behind.

I grunted in pain as my wrist was pressed beneath me with the weight of the man on top of me.

I struggled, kicking my foot out and connecting with something hard. A low grunt sounded, but I couldn’t get any satisfaction from that because suddenly, the weight lifted, and I was being hauled up against a big sweaty body.

“No!” I screamed. “Let me go! Help me! Help me!”

I screamed as loud as I could, even when my throat hurt.

A hand slapped me across the face, and I let out a small moan as pain exploded, disorienting me.

“Shut it, bitch. There is no one around to hear you.”

I shook my head and kept screaming. This couldn’t be happening. How could there not be anyone around to hear me?

The bald man threw me over his shoulder and headed back to the cabin.

I struggled harder in his arms, but it was no use. He was stronger than me, and he had help. I was outnumbered and helpless.

I was…

Fucked.

33

MAEL

I moved aroundin the dark.

It was hard to see anything in front of me.

But if I couldn’t see them, they sure as shit couldn’t see me.

I closed my eyes and tried to get my bearings straight. If I let myself focus on anything but the mission at hand, thoughts of Lia would take over.

Where she was, how she was faring with fucking Briggs by her side, and how the fuck I was supposed to get her back.

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