Page 4

I step inside the glossy black double-story trailer, the words The Hollows splattered across its side in jagged strokes of paint. The trailer has an odd atmosphere, like it breathes darkness, swallowing every ounce of light that dares to touch it.

Noir jogs up the stairs ahead, her voice trailing behind her.

“Wait in the kitchen, Ara. I’ll only be a minute!”

She vanishes from sight before I can respond and I let out a small sigh before turning the corner to my left, my gaze flicking around. I take in my surroundings, noticing everything is black—the walls, furniture, even the air feels thick with it.

I spot Hell seated at the kitchen table, his focus fixed on his phone as he types something out. He doesn’t acknowledge me when I enter, so I move deeper inside, my fingers grazing the countertop before gripping the edges on either side of me as I lean back against it.

The quiet stretches, until, without looking up, Hell finally speaks.

“You gonna be good here if we leave for a bit?” His tone is casual, but there’s something beneath it, something unreadable.

I don’t answer. I just watch him, my silence lingering long enough that he finally turns his head, his swirling eye locking onto mine.

“This place…” He exhales, glancing around before returning his focus to me. “Oddity. It’s…”

Suddenly, the front door swings open, slamming against the wall with a force that sends a ripple through the trailer and both our attentions dart toward it.

Wrath stands in the doorway, his crimson eyes locking onto me the second he sees me again. My fingers dig into the wooden counter, nails pressing deep enough to leave indents, but I refuse to react. Instead, I turn my head to the side, forcing myself to look away.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Hell shifting, his gaze flicking between the two of us before he leans back in his chair, placing his phone onto the table. Settling in and observing.

Wrath finally moves, his footsteps slow, careful, each one sending a fresh wave of strain through my chest, a knot coiling in my stomach, winding tighter with every step closer.

His focus never wavers, it’s fixed, and just when I think he’s going to pass me, he stops dead in front of me.

I inhale sharply, my lungs suddenly too small. His towering presence blocks out what little light remains in the already dim kitchen, casting a shadow over me, swallowing up the space between us. I refuse to look at him, my eyes fix on some meaningless spot to my right, forcing my body to stay still.

But I feel him. I feel every ounce of him all over me without him even touching me.

He’s trying to intimidate me, to rattle me, and if I’m being honest, he fucking is.

But how bold can a man be? I’m not stupid. I can sense it from a mile away when a guy’s interested. Still, I can’t shrink beneath his scrutiny. Not here. Not in front of Hell. I want Noir to enjoy her time away with him, and I won’t be the reason she has to worry.

So, with daring confidence, I drag my gaze away from the empty spot I’ve been locked on and let it sweep up his body, taking my time.

When I finally tilt my head back far enough to meet his eyes, the movement strains my neck, he’s that damn tall. The moment our eyes collide, his jaw clenches, the muscle there flexing.

I arch a brow in defiance as his gaze roves over my face, his expression cold but tinged with fascination.

Then, I hear Noir’s footsteps descending the stairs, and when she reaches the bottom, she stops, taking in the strange, electric scene unfolding between me and Wrath.

Suddenly he steps forward, his firm body pressing against mine. My breath hitches as an unexpected, unwanted heat sparks where we touch. My body goes rigid on instinct, every muscle locking up, but all I can feel is something dark and dangerous curling under my skin.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Noir’s reaction. She panic’s and moves, taking a hurried step toward me, but before she can reach me, Hell stands and steps in front of her, blocking her path.

“You know the rules, pretty girl,” Hell murmurs, his voice smooth but firm. “You wanted her to stay here.”

“But nothim.” Noir’s voice is edged with something I don’t quite understand. Fear. Real, tangible fear. “He’s—”

She cuts herself off, but it’s enough to send a pang of unease through me.

What the fuck does she mean?

I stay still and silent, but I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

As Wrath’s gaze holds mine, swirling red spirals that seem to pull me under, drowning out the rest of the room, Hell and Noir’s voices blur into background noise. And then, slowly, so carefully it makes my skin break out in chills, he lowers his face to the side of my neck. I feel the warmth of his breath ghost over my skin, and my eyes flutter shut.

Oh god. Is he… Is he fucking smelling me?

If I weren’t new here, I’d possibly tell him to fuck off. Maybe even drive my knee straight into his balls for having the audacity to touch me and be this close in my personal space.

But I don’t.

Not because I’m scared, no, that’s not it. But because I’m stuck in this situationfor Noir’s sake, and I need to show her I’m not going to be scared off by this fucking guy while she’s away.

Then, without warning, Wrath shifts.

Fast. Too fast.

Before I can do anything to stop it, he dips, one arm snatching around my waist, the other gripping my arm. And in a single, effortless motion, he throws me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing more than a lightly packed bag.

The sudden movement knocks the breath from my lungs and my vision tilts, stars bursting at the edges like scattered fireflies from the lack of energy inside me.

I barely get a second to process what the fuck is happening before he starts walking, attempting to carrying me out of the kitchen. Attempting to fucking kidnap me.

“Wrath…” Hell’s voice rumbles from a short distance away, low with warning.

Wrath halts in an instant.

With his arm still firmly wrapped around the back of my thighs, his fingers press into me, like he’s battling with himself, not wanting to let me go. As if I’m now a precious toy he wants to play with.

Then, as quickly as it all started, he lowers me to the floor, my body sliding down the front of his. My legs give way, and instinctively, I grab his leather jacket, my fists balling into the material to steady myself.

I take a slow, unsteady breath, my head bowed, before lifting my gaze to meet his. His eyes are wide now, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

I release his jacket like it’s burning me, and the moment my hands fall away, he moves past me, disappearing into a room behind me without a word.

“Here, sit down,” Noir says, hurrying over and gently guiding me into a seat.

I settle, and she continues. “Sorry about him, he’s a bit...”

“Deranged.” Hell finishes her sentence, cutting in smoothly.

I glance up at him, surprised by the bluntness.

“Deranged?” I scoff, still trying to catch my breath. “I’ve never heard someone be described as that before.”

Hell raises an eyebrow, amusement plastered across his face, and I glance aside, feeling a bit self-conscious.

“If I wasn’t feeling so damn weak, he wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

Hell chuckles lightly, shaking his head. “Maybe youarefor Oddity after all,” he muses, taking a seat across from me. “But don’t underestimate him. Ever. You’ve just made yourself the target of the most psychotic bastard in this place.”

I place my elbow on the table, rubbing my forehead with my eyes closed.

“And what does that mean?” I ask, though I’m not sure why.

Hidden interest, maybe. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been in situations before where I didn’t see anything coming, just blind and naive to the people around me, and in the end, it’s always been me who ended up worse for it.

Hell leans back, exhaling deeply, his gaze flicking up to Noir, who’s standing at the end of the table.

“It means…” Noir begins, but before she can finish, Hell stands quickly, his presence suddenly towering over her.

His eye locks onto hers before he grabs her wrist, pulling her away from me. My brow furrows in confusion, their sudden exit leaving me feeling anxious. I glance behind me, hoping not to see Wrath standing there again. Luckily, he isn’t.

Vaguely hearing Noir and Hell whispering in the other room, I strain to catch their words.

“You can’t let her go into this blind, Hell,” Noir snaps, her voice tight with concern.

“Did anyone tell you what and who I was?” Hell shoots back, his tone sharp and unapologetic.

“Yes, actually. Blush gave me a small heads up.”

“And did it help? Did it stop me from doing what I wanted? Did it stop me from getting what the fuck I wanted? You.”

“But this ain’t the same, and you know it! He’s only just met her, and he almost fucking took her right in front of us.”

My face twists, the words filtering through the walls making my mind race. I lower my head, exhaustion sweeping over me, my thoughts spinning too fast.

“Just leave it, dolly.” Hell’s voice lowers, but it still holds a hard tone. “Nothing you or I do is gonna stop this shit now he’s seen her. She needs to figure it out on her own, just like the rest of us. What he is and what this place is.”

Feeling like I’ve had enough, I push myself out of the chair and head in the direction of their voices. As I reach the threshold of the dark living room, both of them turn to face me.

“Look, thank you, but can’t this wait until tomorrow or something?” I say, my voice tired, my gaze darting between them. “To be honest, all I want right now is a hot shower and some sleep.”

They exchange a small glance, before Hell pulls his hand from his jacket pocket and passes Noir a set of keys.

“Trailer 666,” Hell states, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Noir pulls her head back, her face morphing into horror, and Hell lets out a soft snicker.

“Sicko,” she mutters, followed by a frown, turning her nose up at him, but his amused grin doesn’t fade.

“You know what that attitude does to me, Noir,” Hell responds, his tone low but charged. “Keep going.”

Noir rolls her eyes dramatically before heading toward me. She leans down and grabs a bag at the bottom of the stairs. Hell gives me a nod, his eye lingering for a moment before Noir opens the door, and we both step out into the chilly night.