Page 17 of Neon Pestilence
Come back, little raver.
I don’t stop. I run from it all. And the forest swallows me whole, accepting me into its darkness.
My skin is slick with sweat and dirt. It sticks to the dried blood like some death glue. Picking up everything it touches.
My lungs are heavy, and my body is sore. But I can’t stop running. Every time I do, I hear his heavy footsteps not far behind me, like some fucked up game of cat and mouse.
Where are you, raver?
I bang my palms against my forehead, trying to beat his voice from my head, but it’s no use.
Ahhhhh, his voice whispers.I think I’m getting warmer.
A chill runs up my spine, and I hear a branch snap only a few feet away from me. My heart bursts into overdrive as I try to scramble behind a large fallen tree, my body contorting into the spot where the wood meets the earth.
Holding my breath, I refuse to let a single wisp of air out. My heart beats in my chest. It’s so fast, I can hear it in my ears; a constantthump, thump, thump.
I try to focus on the music playing far off in the distance, imagining everyone dancing and happy. Instead of the death dealer following me.
A twig snaps behind the bark of the tree I’m cocooned in. It brings me back to my reality in a microsecond, but I don’t move a muscle. I continue to wait until the sound of his boots echoes through the forest.
It feels like hours have passed until I feel like I’m safe. Climbing out from my hiding hole, I turn around and take a peek over the dead tree to make sure the coast is clear, which it seems to be.
Letting out a soft breath, I turn around to start heading back toward the festival.
There you are, angel.
Chapter 16
Indy
His sickly, sweet scent floods my senses as I fall to my knees in front of him.
“Please,” I beg, not a hundred percent sure what I’m actually asking for. For him to stop? For him not to kill me? Or just for him?
Please what?His voice echoes through me, ringing off my bones.Use those sweet words for me, little raver.
My pulse quickens as he reaches for me.
“Please…,” I trail off, trying to form the words. “Don’t kill me.”
He tilts his head at me, his dark presence feeding the air around us.
Now, why would I do that, angel?
“Be-because,” I hiccup. “Tommy said you wanted me dead,” I say, my voice shaking.
His arm snaps out, wrapping around my throat like a noose.
Don’t you dare speak that infected’s name,he growls into me, pulling me to my feet. His hold is tight, but it doesn’t hurt.
He lifts me over his shoulder as I try everything I can to wiggle out of his grasp, but he’s too strong. Against my better judgment, I continue to squirm, pounding my fists into his back.
How many times is this fucker going to just pick me up and throw me around like a rag-doll, seriously?
Fight all you want, angel. I’m still doing this.
“Doing fucking what!” I screech, not really ready for his answer.
