Page 132 of Creep

I took in a deep inhale of the fresh morning air, feeling at least some of the restlessness inside me disappearing.

We walked in silence.

I mostly tried to ignore him while Mael stuck by my side. I was sure from the outside, it looked like we were lovers taking a morning walk.

I let my eyes take in my surroundings, but it was no use, and Mael was right. I could run, but I wouldn’t get far, especially since everything around me all looked the same. How could I have any hope of running away from the cabin when I didn’t even know where I was going?

How hopeless.

“How did you find me?” I asked when we were about half a mile away from the cabin. I didn’t look at him. Instead, I looked at the bare trees around us.

“Now that you’ve found me, what are you planning on doing with me?” I asked. I didn’t want to ask it, but the not knowing was killing me.

“What else am I going to do? I’m going to keep you.”

I scoffed. “You can’t just keep me.”

“Why not?” he asked, genuinely sounding confused. What the fuck was wrong with him?

“Because I’m a human being.”

“So?”

“So? Are you serious?”

I stopped walking and turned toward him. How had I not known just how unreasonable he could be, just how… unhinged?

Had I just been blinded by his pretty face?

Did the loneliness I felt really fuck with my judgment that much?

He grabbed my hand, and I shook my head and tried to pull it away. But Mael had always been stronger than me. He pulled me in close to him until my front was pressed up against his front, and we were looking at each other. He was so close to me, I could feel his breath fanning over my skin, could see the clear silver flecks in his eyes, and could see that light scattering of freckles on the bridge of his nose, fucking with my mind.

“You’re mine,” he said. I nearly forgot what we were talking about. That wasn’t good. He continued. “You’re mine, just as I am yours. I’m keeping you. Just as much as you’re keeping me.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want it. I don’t want you.”

If my words hurt him, he didn’t show it. Instead, he smirked. “You think it works that way?”

“It should.”

He shook his head. “Nope. We are irrevocably and forever tied to each other. The only way you can escape me is if I stop breathing.”

I sucked in a deep breath. I didn’t want to know why it felt like there was a sharp pain in my heart from his words.

I pressed my hands against his chest and pushed him away. Thankfully, he let me. His closeness was fucking with my mind.

I continued my walk, and he followed me silently.

There were so many things I wanted—needed—to know from him, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask them. I was afraid of what the answers might be. Mostly, I wanted to know why Leo had left me here with those men because that was exactly what he had done. There was no other reason for them to just randomly show up to the cabin, with the keys, no less, with the intent of hurting me.

I closed my eyes and tried to will away the hurt. It seemed everyone I trusted was just betraying me.

I stopped suddenly.

Mael glanced over at me, but I didn’t bother looking at him. I didn’t think I could handle it if I kept looking at him like this. “I want to head back.”

He didn’t say anything, just cupped my shoulders and turned me until I was facing him. I held my gaze on the ground.

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