Page 26 of Welcome to Carnage

“Yeah,” I reply, the admission tasting like ash in my mouth. “My old man was a monster. He deserved it. My mom was collateral damage.”

There’s a silence, then. One that stretches on for longer than I’m comfortable with.

“So, you’re not a good guy, Nyx,” she says, her voice steady. “But I didn’t need a cabin in the woods to tell me that.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “You’re smarter than you look. Stick with me, and you might survive our twisted game.”

Her throat bobs. “I don’t fear you. I know you won’t hurt me.”

Oh, little hellion, how wrong you are.

I grin at her. “I never said I wouldn’t hurt you,” I say, stubbing out the cigarette on the worn wooden table. The embers sizzle out, a stark reminder of the cruel fate my family met at my hand. “But if you mean I won’t kill you, you’re right.”

Pain and pleasure are two sides of the same coin. And I intend on flipping that coin tonight. She won’t forget this night. I will make her mine for the rest of our lives.

“Come here,” I demand.”

She hesitates, the air shifting as she wonders if she’s lost her fucking mind. I think she has, but it’s hot. I like seeing how willing she is to look past my darkest side. It makes me want her more.

Slowly, Avina walks over. I can see the pulse throbbing in her neck, the flush in her cheeks. Fear, anticipation, excitement - a cocktail of emotions.

I reach out, my fingers ghosting over the soft skin of her arm. “You’re shaking,” I comment.

She swallows, her gaze flickering to mine. “I’m not scared,” she insists. The tremor in her voice betrays her.

I lean into her, my lips brushing against her ear as I speak. “Good.” The corners of my mouth twitch upwards. “Because neither am I.”

I pull her close, my hand gripping her waist, fingers digging into her flesh. The cabin suddenly seems too small, too confining. I want her. I need her. And I will have her. She will become irrevocably mine tonight, under the moonlight.

“We’re two lost souls playing a dangerous game in the forest’s shadows. Do you think you can handle my games, Avina?” I question.

Her throat bobs as she looks me in the eye. “Yes.”

“Then run.”

Realization dawns in her eyes, and they dart to the door I left open. The cool fall air fills the cabin.

And then she takes off, rushing into the forest. Out into the dangerous wild. The wild I know better than the back of my hand. Time for the hunter to catch his prey.

I watch her disappear into the dense foliage, her form swallowed by the night. A grin spreads across my face, my heart racing. The chase is on. She is in my territory now, marked by danger, mystery, and raw, primal instincts. I let out a low, throaty chuckle. I pull my Ghostface mask from the inner pocket of my jacket and put it back on.

I give her a head start, listening to the distant rustling of leaves as she navigates through the dark forest. She’ll lose her way, stumble, and fall, but that’s part of the game. A game where I’m the predator, and she is my chosen prey.

Finally, I kick off, my boots crunching the dry leaves underfoot. The forest is my playground, and the thrill of the hunt sparks a euphoric rush. The night comes alive with sounds. The rustling of leaves, the snapping of twigs, the hushed whispering of the wind. I move with precision, each step calculated, familiar with these woods.

A rustle to my right. I freeze, my senses heightened. Every muscle is coiled, ready to spring. I smell my little hellion before seeing her, a scent that has become my obsession. It’s a mix of strawberries and jasmine. She stumbles out from behind a tree, her breath coming in ragged gasps and causing plumes of condensation. My little hellion glances around, trying to get her bearings.

I see her, but she doesn’t see me. Not yet.

Avina presses herself up against a tree as if it can save her from me. I smirk as she’s not facing me, making sneaking up on her much easier. I move silently.

I’m a few steps away from her when she whips around, her eyes wide with fear. Her chest rises and falls rapidly as she takes in my menacing form. There’s something tantalizing about the fear mixed with determination in her gaze. She’s captivating and intoxicating, and I can’t look away.

“Back off, Nyx,” she snaps, her voice trembling. But she stands her ground, her chin jutting out stubbornly.

“Or what?” I challenge, stepping closer, my gaze dropping to her parted lips. They’re slightly chapped, likely from the biting cold, but they’re damn inviting.

“Or I’ll scream,” she stammers, but we both know that won’t help her here.

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