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“It’s kind of creepy in here,” I whisper, looking around the darkened forest.
He laughs, pulling me close. “Sorry, but I wanted to get you alone for a bit. I think Tom and Connor have a crush.”
I giggle. The two are always flirting with me, but it’s just banter. “They’re harmless.”
“They’ll be armless if they keep on,” he mutters. “How are you feeling? Are your ribs still hurting you? I’m sorry about the sleeping conditions—I didn’t even think.”
I squeeze his hand. “Banner, it’s fine. They ached for all of an hour. I can deal with that.” Sleeping on an air mattress wasn’t the best idea for my ribs. I woke up stiff and sore. It was the first time for a few weeks that I had to take something for the pain.
He stops us by the edge of the river. The slope leading down looks steep, and I shiver, stepping back. It looks angry, running fast and smacking up the side of the bank as it flows downstream.
He grips my chin softly, turning my head so we’re facing. The breath I was about to take freezes in my lungs at the look in his eyes.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while,” his whispers, his voice husky.
“There is?” I ask breathlessly.
His thumb caresses my jawline, and my eyes droop as my body sways forward.
“Yeah.”
“What is it?” I ask, moving closer. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was nervous. But that can’t be right. He never gets nervous.
“Emma, I—”
He pauses in confusion when my eyes go round with fear. Stepping up behind him is dark figure, and I know in my gut this isn’t one of the lads playing around. Before I can scream and warn him, something swings in the air. Seeing my expression, he looks over his shoulder, but it’s too late. He turns back to me, his eyes wide with horror. I cringe at the sound of the branch hitting him, the sickening crunch turning my stomach. He tries to reach for me at the same time I reach for him, but the man stalking me hits him one more time. Our fingers slide against each other’s, and I scream when he falls backwards, down the bank, splashing into the water.
“Banner!” I scream, moving to take a step towards the river, needing to get to him. He’s going to freeze to death, and that’s only if he’s conscious. If he’s not, he could drown.
A hand grabs my arm, swinging me around and smacking me in the face. I cry out, taking a few steps back, getting ready to run. My torch drops to the ground.
I need to get to Banner.
Terrified, I glance at our attacker, my eyes widening when they step into the light. “Mr. Flint.”
“Did you think I would have forgotten you, you silly fucking cow.”
I look to the river, not seeing Banner anymore. I rub my chest, feeling tears flowing down my cheeks. I may have just lost the one man I could ever truly, deeply love. He’s my one and only, and I never got to tell him how I feel.
From the corner of my eye, Mr. Flint jumps forward, grabbing me by my coat when I move back too quickly. He looks rough, like he’s been in the wars, and the stench coming from him is overwhelming.
“Get off me,” I scream, hoping someone from the camp can hear me.
With strength I didn’t know anyone could possess, he throws me, and I land with a thud against a tree, sliding down.
“I’m going to fuck you, then fucking kill you, you snivelling, whiny little whore.” He laughs humorously. “And to think I thought you were meek and weak.”
I watch in horror as he pulls out a silver knife, the moon reflecting off the large, sharpened blade. I yelp, fear churning in my stomach when he steps closer. Quickly, I shuffle to my feet, my back pressed against the tree, holding my hands out in front of me.
“Please don’t,” I cry out, my life flashing before my eyes. For a long time, I had nothing to live for. I had nothing Iwantedto live for. I had lost everything, and I was drowning in depression. Then Banner climbed in through my bedroom window, the same night I took an overdose, and made everything easier. Day by day, he made me feel alive again.
I have people in my life now who I love and adore. God wouldn’t take Banner from me, not after he gave him to me. And for him, I need to get through this. He needs me. He could be struggling in that river, calling out for help, and I’m stuck here with a lunatic.
“There’s no one here to save you this time, Emma. Your boyfriend’s dead.” He laughs, sounding crazed. “When I get done with you, I’m going to cut your insides out. You’ll be screaming for help and no one will hear you. No one is going to save you.” He holds the knife up, a murderous glint in his eye. “The only option you have left is whether you make this easier on yourself. Not that I mind you fighting, just expect the pain that is to follow.”
I scan the empty forest, seeing no one or nothing that can help me, deflating any hope I had of surviving this. There is not a weapon in sight, nothing to help get me away from him. I could try to run, but the size of the forest… I’d be lost before I got far, and that’s if he doesn’t catch me first.
I hear him go for me, and I close my eyes, waiting for the blow I know is about to happen. Only, instead, I hear a scuffle. My eyes fly open with hope.