Page 93 of Freaks Of Nature

I feel his heated stare travel over me from my blazing cheeks down my legs and back up, but he doesn’t say anything. Then he nods to the helmet on the backseat.

“Woah!” I unlatch the straps and pick it up.

My breath hitches. It appears to be the same helmet, but instead of a plain matte black shell, I’m holding a unique piece of art made specifically for me. Golden filigree designs that remind me of a tattoo swirl along the sides. The words Baby Girl are written in bright purple letters across the front. The details and the shading are insane.

I turn it back and forth in my hands. I remember Ash mentioning the shop’s custom paint jobs and wonder if Mason did this himself.

He tips his head over his shoulder as I just stand there admiring it.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmur.

I’ve never received anything this meaningful. No one evermadesomething for me.Boughtstuff? Sure. But this is so much more.

The words choke in my throat. I don’t know what to say except, “Thank you.”

My eyes linger on the reflective visor, searching for his, and several seconds slip by with us simply staring at each other.

When he revs the engine, I take my cue and straddle the bike behind him, the helmet secured under my chin.

Mason still doesn’t speak a word, not even when I realize he’s driving in a different direction than the house, and I ask where he’s taking us.

His silence is starting to become unsettling.

My fists clench his sweatshirt tighter as we climb in elevation. The trees flanking the highway grow dense beforehe makes a turn onto a winding backroad, and then lastly onto an unmarked dirt path.

Towering woods press down on us from both sides. My heart drops further into my stomach. It’s dark, and sinister, and the mere ambiance sends my pulse racing.

Mason stops the bike in the middle of nowhere. I dismount and remove my helmet before taking a look around. I amble a few feet, wondering why he brought us here.

Sounds of him moving make me swing back around. His helmet is off, but in its place is the half mask of the skull, black eyes trained on me. He looks terrifying.

My breathing judders, and I take a trepidatious step backward. My sight is drawn to his clenched fists. He’s still wearing the motorcycle gloves.

He reaches into the pouch at his front, and before I even see the knife in his hand, understanding crashes over me.

I whip around and run.

Em

Idashthrough the thicket, veering around trees and leaping over roots. I have no idea where I’m going, but I’m sure he’s right on my heels. I hear the snapping of twigs.

Short breaths burst out of my lungs as I bob and weave to avoid low-hanging branches. I can feel him gaining on me.

“Where are you, baby girl?” I hear him calling after me. “Do you really think you can hide from us?”

Us?

Just then my feet stop, and I shriek as I catch sight of Ash straight ahead of me between the trees. He’s dressed in the same all-black outfit and a matching mask.

Fuck!I swing left, pushing more speed from my tiring legs.

Sweat trails down my spine. I stumble blindly in the dark, swatting at the leaves blocking my view. Everything looks the same to me, but I have to assume they know these woods like the concrete maze in their city.

“You can’t hide forever,” Mason’s sing-song voice reminds me. “See, my brother and I have this bet. Whoever catches you first, gets to fuck you. The other one has to back off.”

His voice is no longer behind me. He’s somewhere to my left as I continue sprinting.

I don’t know for how long I manage to evade them. Minutes race by. I feel my strength fading. I can’t keep this up.