Page 51 of Darkness Tempt Me
That faint knocking sound happens again, only this time it’s from below. I peer down at a haphazardly tossed sheet, but freeze when I see it’s covering something large… and human-sized.
Tear-filled eyes blink up at me.
Fear fills my chest like ice water trying to drown me. I open my mouth to pull in air, but I can’t breathe.
I can’t scream.
I can’t call out my brother’s name.
I’m frozen, and I want to cry.
My brother is on the floor, half covered with a sheet, paralyzed, except for his slowly blinking eyes. “Tyler,” I whisper. “What’s wrong?”
Tyler’s eyes widen and jerk to the right. I duck just in time for a large book to miss my head.
How could I be so fucking stupid? This was a trap. Billy stumbles forward, shocked that he missed. I use his momentum to shove him forward, and he crashes to the floor. Terrified and so out of my depth, I reach for my phone and swipe to unlock the screen. I select Mavik’s number and hit Call.
Then, I rush out of the room, praying that Billy will follow me, rather than hurt my brother even more.
I’m so scared, I can’t even lift my phone to my ear, afraid that Mavik will be too busy to answer. Of course he’s fucking busy. He’s with Daniel Sinclair. The man he’s been trying to kill for over eighteen years.
Loud footsteps stomp after me.
That’s right, asshole. Follow me.I can’t let him touch my brother ever again. “Did you drug him?” I shout behind me.
Billy… or Connor… or whatever the fuck his name is, laughs.
“It’s just a little bit of fun to loosen him up. Why? Do you want to watch what I plan to do to him?”
I choke on silent tears. No! I can see a flash from the corner of my eye, and that’s when I spot the knife Billy is holding.
I scream. Rushing into the bathroom, I slam the door shut, instinct and adrenaline taking over, and I knock over the largehamper and slide it against the door. I angle it in such a way that he won’t be able to get in, not without breaking down the door.
I glance down at the phone and see that it’s been connected with Mavik for a minute or two now. “Hello?” I whisper into the phone.
“Peyton, sweetheart.” Mavik sounds distraught, almost desperate. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“No. No, I’m not okay. I locked myself in the bathroom.”
“Good. Good boy. I’m almost there. Stay in the bathroom.”
I nod frantically. “My brother, Mav. He’s been drugged. He’s in the other room. Oh god. I left him in the other room.”
“Pey, listen to me. I know it’s hard, but I’m going to need you to worry about yourself first. You can’t help your brother if Billy hurts you.”
“You know?”
“I do,” Mavik growls. “Keep me on the phone, okay, baby? Don’t hang up.”
I nod again.
“I’m only one minute away. Is he armed, Pey?”
“I-I-I don’t know. I think I saw a knife. But Mavik, something is wrong. I’m so cold.” I shiver, angry that my body seems to be failing me now.
“You might be in shock, baby. Hold on for me, okay. I’m pretty much here. I’m here, okay?”
My legs feel shaky, causing me to crash to the ground. I try to stand, but my body is too slow. Too weak.
