Page 63 of Bear Hunt

“Bear?”

“Yeah?” I turn, and for one second the world around me falls away as she says the only words I care to hear.

“Let’s get your girlfriend back.”

This time, my grin is feral and my need to slay is as real as the ground beneath my feet.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Athena

The dark scabs of the burns all up my arm and chest are flakey, some of them have peeled away from the skin showing bright red flesh beneath them. Spots of dried blood are mixed in with the crust and flesh, but as far as wounds go, they could be worse. After the first day, the burning pain kind of subsided, then the blisters began to burst by yesterday, leaving me in my current state.

What really hurts are my face and my ass. Mustache Guy and his silent sentinel were ruthless in their punishments, all while Mistress watched like it was her favorite show. She even applauded every time one of them came or drew blood.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I push aside all the crap because I literally can’t stay here any longer. Master is on some kind of countdown, and after the conversation in the garage, I know it’s not going to turn out well for me. My life has never been a bunch of roses, but the time between using me was always much farther apart than it has been since I’ve been back.

Although, they’ve left me alone since yesterday afternoon when Mistress got upset as she was dressing me in my current outfit. She was crying about how she wanted the next one to be exactly the same size as me so she could reuse everything.

Rich psychopath problems.

Also severe alarm bells. I think their whole keeping-me-alive thing is coming to an end. Very soon. Another reason I have to get out of here.

I have zero sympathy for them, and as much as they scare me, I know Bear, or even little Paxton, wouldn’t accept this kind of treatment. Hermione definitely wouldn’t. I’m a grown ass woman and these people don’t own me like they think they do.

I overheard Mustache Guy and Master talking about houses being burned down and some of Master’s business associates have been killed recently too. They’re shaken over it and it confirmed what I already knew about moving locations. The information has only given me more determination that this time when I escape, it’ll be forever.

Or I’ll die trying because I can’t come back. I won’t.

Bear or no Bear, I won’t continue to live like this.

During her tantrum, Mistress smashed the mirror in my room and I stashed one of the broken pieces beneath my mattress. The clothes I’m wearing contain a lot of ribbon, which is more than I’ve worn since I’ve been here, and I don’t know how exactly, but if I could get a good grip on it around someone’s neck… I don’t know. I’m being optimistic here. But another reason now is the best time to make my attempt is because I’m actually relatively covered up with the tutu-style white skirt and matching tubetop.

The window in this room is small, but it’s not locked and there are no bars—I’m assuming because they didn’t actually plan on coming here until they had to, last minute. I’m on the second floor, but there’s a porch below with a roof that I can jump ontobefore reaching the grass. I’ve been looking out of that window every second I can to try and scope out my escape route.

Mrs. Laurel has been keeping me well fed and watered, so while I’m covered in blisters, scabs, and bruises, my energy levels are actually okay. I suspect the worst of my punishments are coming once Master has finished with all his meetings. He’s been spending a lot of time in the office space here, and according to Mistress, it’s all my fault. She scolded me about it yesterday morning when I was scrubbing the kitchen floor tiles with a toothbrush as repayment for her kindness in gifting me clothes and supplying me with food.

Grabbing the mirror shard, I carefully tuck it into the tight waistband of the skirt before sitting on the mattress and unthreading the ribbon from the tulle. At the same time, I listen for footsteps beyond the door, hoping they continue to leave me alone for at least a few more hours. The house is crawling with visitors coming and going, plus the however many guards there are, and I’m praying to the goddess Tyche for luck and good fortune in my escape.

I memorized Bear’s mobile number when he gave me my new phone, which is pretty much the only thing I did with it other than take a few photos because it was a little confusing to use, so my plan is to find a house nearby or get a car to stop and help. I wish I had those photos here. I took them so I would be able to look at him, smiling, happy, whenever I wanted. When, not if, but when I get out of here, I’m taking a ton more pictures because they feel like something precious now.

If I call him, I know he’ll come for me. If he’s already on the way, Goddess knows how, but if he is, then at least my call will stop him from having to come anywhere near these people and he can meet me somewhere. Not that I actually know wherehereis, but I can ask someone.

With two long strands of white ribbon in my fist, I stand and take a deep breath. In through my nose, out through my mouth. My top lip stings a little at the movement, from a cut Master inflicted when he punched me in the garage. I move my mouth again, stretching the skin as I open wide, and I touch my tongue on the small trickle of blood from the wound. It’s metallic but also satisfying knowing this is the last time I plan on bleeding in this room.

Clearing my throat, I move toward the window and carefully slide it open, pushing up the bottom half of the glass all the way. The light noise of rushing feet outside my bedroom door makes me inhale sharply because I really don’t want to have to endure anymore. It tapers off and I let out a deep breath of relief.

I haven’t seen a lot of security guys around the back of the property so far, which is where my window leads, so I have my fingers crossed that it stays that way.

I can’t see anything as I discreetly glance out the window just in case, as if I’m just trying to look at the scenery, which is basically a large swimming pool with cabana-style seating. There’s a dense line of trees out back too, and just beyond them, a tall, stone wall I’ll have to climb over once I’m lost among the thick branches.

It’s the early hours of the morning and the sun hasn’t begun to rise yet so it’s freezing out, but if it’s anything like the last few days, it will get warmer within a few hours. I'm relying on the darkness to shield me, despite my white outfit.

I sigh, knowing my plan isn’t exactly the cleverest or smartest, but I need to do this while I still have the strength. A shard of mirror and a bunch of ribbon may not be the mightiest of weapons, but they’re all I have. I don’t want to feel the helplessness and utter despair that I felt before the doctor came to see me a few days ago. Or every time Master and his friends touch me, hurt me, abuse my very soul with their evil. Thethought makes me shudder as I prepare myself to climb out of the window.

There’s another sound, this time from outside, and unless I’m hallucinating, I think there are people hiding in the trees. My heart sinks because that was my escape route. If they have guards stationed there, my chances just went from bad to impossible. I haven’t seen a soul in those trees in the last few days, though. Each time I’ve been able to look out the window, it’s been a dead-zone.

Typical.

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