Page 5 of The Invite
“How nicely you plead and show us the respect you haven’t until now.”
“You’re insane.” I marvel at his audacity.
Hooking his fingers in his front pockets, he replies in a calm yet chilling voice, “I don’t like being called a rapist, a torturer, and a murderer in the same breath.”
I was wrong.
He’s worse than a monster.
He’s talking and demanding as if I’m the one committing a crime. The one who is offending them. Unpredictable and arrogant, I don’t stand a chance of outsmarting them. Physically, I never stood a chance. Mentally, it seems impossible.
“I-I’m sorry.” I push past the dryness in my throat. “I was rude to call you those things. Please let me go.”
“To report us and get us arrested?” tsks his friend in my ear. The soft material of his mask brushes the side of my face, making me shiver in fright.
“How will I?” I whisper. “I haven't seen your faces. I’ll forget all about this, I swear.”
As they lock eyes in a wordless conversation, I pray my plea works.
Or provides me an opportunity to escape.
I’m pondering how to uncuff myself from the chains and stay out of reach of that knife without drawing attention to my movements when they focus back on me.
“All right,” says the one whose voice alone makes my skin crawl. “You can go.”
“Thank you!” I sigh gratefully, sensing my wrists go free. The moment the weight of the chain disappears, I turn away from them and walk faster. The heat of their gaze is searing me. Nevertheless I don’t look back.
A few steps remain between the forest and the street.
I march faster, smiling in relief.
Almost there—
Something locks around my ankle and I trip, screaming. “Ahhh!”
Flat on my belly on the unforgiving ground, I’m dragged backward. I futilely seek purchase and all my hands grab at is dirt and dry leaves. I look behind and see my masked monster looming over me and holding the chain in his fist.
“Why?” I whimper, betrayed and frightened beyond words.
Straddling my back, his knuckle traces my jaw reverently, in stark contrast to the malice staring me down. “You said it yourself, little runaway. You don’t know our faces, which means you’re ourperfect preytonight.”
CHAPTER – 2
Nessa
Flipping me onto my back before I have a chance to truly beg, my wrists are once again cuffed with the heavy chain. I’d fight but my strength is no match for his.
Every single decision I made tonight slaps me in the face.
The biggest one is stepping into this forest alone.
Now, my screams for help will be unanswered and I’m going to die.
Escaped from one predator and trapped by another.
Forcing me to my knees using the chain as a leash, he says, “Walk on your own or we’ll make you crawl. Your choice.”
“Don’t do this,” I beg.
