Page 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Seated on a wood log, I picked up a rock and began to write names with it in the sand, starting with Liam's.

I was in the spot the boys and I had discovered just a little way down from Aaron's house, which wasn't quite far from my home or Jake's. We had been on a study date when we found the spot during my third week in Redwood.

There was nothing exceptional about it. No lake, no flowers, no meadow; it was just a bare stretch of grass with scattered wood logs around. Yet we had claimed the place because of the calmness it provided. No insects or birds were chirping, just complete and utter silence. It was the perfect place to stay hidden from everyone and mope about my life.

My hand shook as I wrote down the names Leila and Gina; the memory of how Liam had admitted to killing them because they hurt me filled my mind. Mason's name was next, but I couldn't write it without breaking down in tears. I missed him with every bone in me, but I couldn't bring myself to see him. It scared me to think of what I would find if I went looking.

The sound of a twig snapping alerted me, and I quickly turned back to see what it was, my heartbeat accelerating, but there was nothing there. I sighed. Maybe everyone was right, and I was starting to imagine things.

However, that thought soon left my head when I felt an arm snake around my neck and a hand covers my mouth to stop me from screaming.

"You're coming with me," came the gruff voice of a man.

Now genuinely terrified, I kicked out my legs and trashed against the person who held me as my eyes widened with terror. My screams couldn't be heard as they were muffled in my assailant's palm, but I soon managed to bite down on his palm and let out a loud scream before my mouth was covered again.

Determined not to give up, I stamped down on the man's leg with my heavy boots causing him to groan in pain. Luckily for me, the grip he had around me loosened, and I was quick enough to jab an elbow into his stomach and run like hell.

"Help!" I screamed as I ran blindly away from the man who was now chasing me. "Please, help!" I yelled, tears falling from my face now and making it harder for me to see the fallen branch before me, which I soon tripped on.

'This is it,'I thought as I lay on the ground with scraped arms and a cut on my forehead, wincing in pain.'I'm going to die.'

As I lay there, eyes closed, and awaiting death, I felt an arm embrace me, and the sweet scent of roses filled my nose. "Kat, what's wrong? What are you doing here?" Aaron asked.

Slowly and gently, I opened my eyes to see my best friend crouched by my side, and I quickly fell into his arms. "Aaron, over there… there was a man and he… he tried to kill me. He kept dragging and chasing me… he said…" I would have continued, but his expression stopped me. It was clear Aaron had no idea what I was talking about. "Didn't you see him? He was right over there, Aaron.”

Aaron shook his head in confusion. "There was no one here, Kat. No one but you," he whispered calmly, and I began to sob.

"Oh God, I need help, don't I?" I asked a question we both knew the answer to. It was clear to me now that I was hallucinating things. I had to start taking my therapy sessions with Dr. Martin seriously.

Aaron smiled kindly, his green eyes glinting with the reassurance. "It's alright, Kat. We'll figure it out," he said as he pulled me up and led me toward his house.

* * * * *

I was seated on one of the kitchen chairs in Aaron's house, and I noted that his parents and younger sister, Renee, were not home. I watched as Aaron fumbled around while searching for the first aid kit.

"Found it," he said, his voice muffled from his head being in one of the kitchen cupboards.

I smiled as he came toward me with the first aid kit and sat on the chair before me. He placed the kit gently on the kitchen counter before digging out a bottle of antiseptic, cotton, and plasters. I soon started wincing as he began to dab the antiseptic on my injuries.

"Sorry," he muttered as he blew on my injuries.

"Thanks," I whispered back when he was done treating them all.

He responded with a broad smile of his own before watching me with a severe look on his face. "You know I'm here for you whenever you need someone, right?"

Feeling too emotional to speak, I simply nodded my head with a warped attempt of a smile. "I know Aaron, and I really appreciate that," I whispered when I finally found my voice.

He stretched out a hand and caressed my cheek while his eyes shone with love. "I love you, Kat."

Instead of responding, I leaned closer to him and captured his lips with mine. Hesitant at first, Aaron began to kiss me back, burying his hands in my hair while I sighed contentedly. My hands trailed upward to rest around his neck as my tongue tangled with his.

Groaning, his hands came to rest on my waist, and he soon picked me up to set me on the counter while I wrapped my legs around him to pull him even closer. "Kat," he whispered.

I moaned when his soft lips left mine to trail kisses down my neck, sucking and lapping at it as he went. He bit my ear playfully and licked the dip behind my ear, causing me to shiver in delight.

My body quivered when his hand pushed at my leather skirt and caressed my thighs in a way that made me beg for more. "Please, Mason…"

As soon as I spoke, I felt Aaron go rigid, and I swore beneath my breath at my stupidity.'What on earth had I been thinking?'

Aaron pulled away from me with his head lowered, and his fists clutched beside him. "We shouldn't have done that," he said, his breath still irregular from our make out.

"I'm sorry, A…"

"You should go, Kat. Go after him. He's the one you want,” he said to me with a sad smile, and I didn't need to be told twice.

I nodded frantically, picked up my bag, and went ahead to find the one my heart sought after.