Page 7

Dani

How does he know my name? I shake my head, not important right now.

Think, Dani.

My mind races with a whirlwind of thoughts, each one battling for attention like waves crashing against the shore.

As adrenaline surges through my veins, I feel a heightened awareness of every detail around me—the faint sounds of a bird cooing, the rush of my heartbeat echoing in my ears, and the electric energy that seems to pulse against my chest.

I lift my foot off the ground and slam my boot heel into the man’s foot as hard as possible.

He hisses menacingly, “That’s not going to do anything, little dove.” His voice drips with condescension, cutting through the night like a cold blade.

The leaves crackle beneath the weight of movement to my right, and another figure emerges from the shadows—with a metal mask. As he shifts, the patterns etched into the surface seem to dance and ripple, giving the impression that the metal is alive.

“Now, Dax,” he says smoothly, his tone almost playful, “this isn’t any way to treat our lady. Let her go. She won’t run.”

‘Our lady’? The fuck I am!

The words linger in the air, thick with implications, as I process the unexpected claim, my heart racing with trepidation.

His voice flows like silk, smooth and soothing, complemented by an underlying gentleness that wraps around me like a warm embrace, as if he is calming down my emotions.

“Dani, it’s ok, we aren’t going to hurt you.

But we do need some things from you…” His masked gaze shifts from me to the man, Dax, behind me. “Drop your hands, Dax!”

“Calm down, Killian,” Dax grits his teeth while still holding me tightly. “Only if she promises not to scream,” his low voice sends shivers down my spine and legs.

His grip tightens around my mouth, warm yet unforgiving, and the familiar surge of panic rises from my throat, threatening to burst forth.

He leans closer, the metal on his face cold on my skin. “If I let go, Dani, will you behave like a good girl?” The weight of his words send a chilling challenge that makes my heart race.

I nod slowly, feeling a surge of determination, and Dax immediately retracts his hand from my mouth, relief washing over me like a cool breeze. Warm and salty tears cascade down my cheeks as a mix of fear and adrenaline courses through my veins.

The instant his other hand relinquishes its hold on my stomach, I spring into action, bolting forward with every ounce of strength I possess.

The man Dax called Killian yells at Dax. “Now you’ve done it! I told you not to sneak up on her! She is terrified of us!”

As I sprint into the thick woods, my feet pound against the uneven ground, branches clawing at my arms and legs. A branch with massive thorns rips through the fabric of my shirt, tearing my skin open. I whimper. Blood rushes down my arm.

My arm burns, but I push myself to go straight, the underbrush rustling beneath my hurried steps. I can feel the weight of the other man’s presence nearby; his silhouette starkly etches against the soft silver glow of the moonlight.

With every step I take, it’s as if he’s always a heartbeat ahead, casually leaning against a tree, exuding an air of boredom. The shadows dance around him, creating an unsettling aura that heightens my sense of unease.

How did he get ahead of me so fast? I keep running. Sweat is dripping from my forehead, and my heartbeat feels like it’s in my head.

I instinctively veer to the right, desperate to evade capture. The man, once again, leans casually, and the weight of survival claws at my mind, urging me to run faster, to escape the danger lurking in the shadows.

It’s like this is a game to him, and a part of me… is enjoying the chase.

I keep running. It’s so incredibly dark, now that the clouds have rolled in, and the rain has started. I wish I had a flashlight. I thought I knew where I was going, but I should have been home by now…

I don’t stop running, even though my legs are screaming to stop.

I dart to the right, then swiftly shift to the left, weaving through the dense woods in a desperate attempt to zigzag and outsmart the men pursuing me.

I spot a massive oak tree looming ahead, its knotted branches reaching out like protective arms. I slip behind its sturdy trunk, the rough bark pressing against my back as I stumble to my knees.

With the earthy scent of damp soil filling my lungs, I lean my head back, resting it against the cool, solid surface of the tree.

I close my eyes and take deep, steadying my breaths, trying to calm the whirlwind of fear and adrenaline coursing through me.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

My arm is searing with pain as it feels like it’s burning from fire. I grab it and apply some pressure, as my blood drips on the wet leaves below my feet .

Fuck, this hurts.

“Dani, I know you’re out here,” his voice floats through the crisp night air, strikingly familiar... but how do I recognize it ?

The bar! This is the man from the bar!

My insides do a little flip.

I should not be excited right now.

“Yes, Dani, you are correct. You don’t need to be scared. We need to talk to you...”

I remain frozen in place, bewildered. Did I even utter a word? Can he... read my thoughts?

“This will be much easier Dani, if you just comply and do what you are told.

“Fuck you!” I scream back at him, knowing he is nearby.

“Is that what you want, Dani? You want me to catch you and fuck you? Do you like this game? You run; we chase?”

Is this man joking right now?

I should be outraged. I should be disgusted…

He lets out a low, rumbling laugh that sends a cascade of shivers racing up my body, resonating with an unsettling charm.

“You are most certainly not disgusted, my sweet, sweet goddess. Your body is telling me you are feeling… excited…” There’s something cool and collected about his deep voice that both mesmerizes and terrifies me.

I curse my body and my hormones for betraying me. Why do I have to be into this kind of shit?! I think of something witty to say but something else catches my attention.

As the fog begins to creep in, an eerie stillness cloaks the surroundings, heightening my sense of unease.

I find myself enthralled, captivated by the soft rustling of leaves whispering in the damp air.

Unsettling sounds emerge from the depths of the dense thicket, cracking twigs and indistinct rustles, like a giant animal is nearby.

The atmosphere is tense, as if the very woods are holding their breath and waiting for something to disturb the silence.

Suddenly, a colossal shadow materializes before me, its form looms menacingly against the dimly lit backdrop of the forest. Rising over ten feet in height, the creature’s hunched, sinewy frame is cloaked in a tangle of matted, midnight-black fur that seems to merge seamlessly with the surrounding darkness.

Its elongated limbs stretch like twisted branches, each ending in razor-sharp claws that glisten subtly in the faint light, hinting at their lethal potential.

As the creature steps forward, the ground beneath it quakes softly, heightening my sense of dread.

Its face is a grotesque collage of animalistic features—fierce and primal.

Glowing red eyes, like twin embers ignited by an unholy fire, pierce through the shadows, surveying me with a malevolent intelligence.

What in the actual devil is this thing?!

“Dani!” the beautiful man from the bar yells from a distance. I stand frozen.

The creature growls low and menacingly, revealing a set of jagged fangs glistening threateningly in the dim night.

Thick, viscous drool drips from its muzzle, pooling beneath its massive, clawed feet.

Its nostrils flare on its elongated snout and twitch, drawing in my scent.

With each breath, it emits a series of unsettling clicking sounds, as its piercing gaze locks onto mine, seemingly examining deep into the very essence of my being.

With a sinking dread, I realize that whatever stands before me is not merely a beast but a nightmarish sentinel of the forest, a sign of unknown terrors.

My eyes widen in terror, a chilling wave of panic crashing over me as a single tear cascades down my cheek from overwhelming fear.

Just as a scream threatens to escape my lips, powerful arms grab me, lifting me effortlessly and throwing me over a broad shoulder.

“Time to go,” his voice cuts through the chaos. Sexy man from the bar is an anchor in this tempestuous storm. Strangely, despite the panic surging within me, his presence offers a flicker of comfort, a bizarre sense of safety amidst the turmoil .

Shadows creep in from beneath him, swirling around his form like an ominous mist, wrapping us in a blanket of darkness. It feels like the very shadows are consuming me, pulling me deeper into their embrace.

A tingling sensation prickles at the back of my mind, urging me to fight and maintain my grip on consciousness. But just as I struggle to keep my eyes open, I am suddenly whirling into an abyss of night, my thoughts spiraling into a suffocating blankness...