Page 3 of My Demon Desire
I'm not ready to die yet. I've not seen the Bahamas, Greece, or shit, I haven't even traveled outside the east coast. My fingers twitch, hunting for anything I can use as a weapon. A cold sweat covers my body. Finally, my fingers curl around a branch and I grab it, pushing myself to my feet.
I brandish the stick at the monster who feels entirely too close and I shuffle backward. My heart pounds in my chest and the air I manage to drag into my lungs is ragged gasps.
When I try to scream, no sound comes out. I'm trapped, and I don't know how to escape this nightmare that's drawing closer to me each second.
There's no way I can fight it off. It has to be at least seven feet tall.
It lifts a clawed hand at me, and I swing with all my might. The branch breaks across its thick forearm and splinters. The demon lets out a harsh chuckle. Panic sinks into my gut, wrapping its tendrils around my chest and squeezing.
There's a predatory glint in its eyes and it lets out a triumphant howl and the raw intensity has my whole body shaking, but I manage to keep my legs from buckling.
The demon points at me, and I swallow the bile that rises in my throat.
This time, I can't reason with myself not to move too quickly as my heart slams against my chest and an intense desire to run seizes me. I spin around on trembling legs. I race through the forest and leaves crunch under my feet as trees flash by in a blur of brown, red, and orange. My feet hammer against the ground, pushing me forward. But I don't feel like I'm moving fast enough.
Tears sting my eyes as I pump my legs harder. My skin is coated in perspiration.
I swear it feels like the demon is breathing along the back of my neck, but I dare not look behind me. Seen way too many horror movies to know whoever looks back ends up dead.
White-hot pain splinters along my side with each jagged inhale as I push myself faster and harder. I stagger forward and round a wide tree straight into a dark chest.
I bounce back from the force and hit a bush.
What? I glance behind me and the first demon is barreling toward me, the flash of teeth in its hideous smile.
In front of me stands two more monsters, just as tall and muscular as the first. Each of them with horns like the first, though one has a broken tip and the other one's eyes are a dark, ruby red.
A scream lodges in my throat. I clamp my eyes shut, willing this to all be a nightmare. I bite the inside of my cheek so hard the copper taste of blood coats my tongue.
"Wake up, Annalise," I whisper, pinching the inside of my forearm. "Wake up."
One of the monsters lets out a huff of irritation. Images of the three of them ripping me apart fill my mind and my knees buckle.
CHAPTER2
ANNALISE
All three monsters circle me, their pupils shifting to thin, vertical lines like wild cats. I'm on my knees and I know there's no way I can fight even one of them, not to mention three of them. My heart’s pounding in my throat. The increasing fear that I will be eaten alive consumes me. My legs tremble and a cry bubbles up in my chest.
The one with a broken horn grabs me by the throat and lifts me off the ground. I struggle and claw at his thick, scaly skin, trying to break free.
"How did you get here?" he asks, his voice husky and deep.
When I don't answer, he squeezes harder, his talons piercing my skin.
Oh god, oh god, it is going to kill me.Black spots dance before my vision.
His growl puffs hot breath across my face, but I don't stop thrashing and kicking, trying to escape his hold, even though inside I'm trembling.
Blood rushes into my head. My vision starts to go black along the edges. The other two monsters snarl and sound like they're encouraging this one to kill me.
My lungs burn for air. I let out a strangled whimper because I'm terrified and I don't want to die.
But no matter how hard I fight, I can't seem to break free from his grip. My strength starts to wane and I feel myself losing consciousness. My arms are too weak to move and my hands fall limply to my sides.
As the darkness closes in, I think about my father and how much I wish I could see him one last time. How I don’t want him to worry about me and fade away like he’s done since Mom died. And then, everything goes black.
* * *
