Page 75 of Love Me

“Shut up,” she gritted.

“To answer your question…no. I don’t think you will cut my throat.” As I said that, my hand brushed over a rock. “Now Gabe, on the other hand, would do it. Maybe even Amber. Both of them just act without much thought and they allow their emotions to rule their actions. But you…you’re a coward. It’s why you always have others do the dirty work for you. You’re too afraid of what Daddy might do.”

“Shut up,” she growled out again, her anger building and building.

“Cassy,” Amber said.

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Cassy snapped.

My smile grew at how easy she was making this. “You’re just a miserable little girl with a fucked-up home life and the only way you know how to deal with it is to take it out on others.”

“I said shut up!” she roared as she lifted the knife in the air, intending to bring it down on me.

But I was ready for her. I caught the wrist of her knife hand as it was coming toward me, and with a rock in hand, I swung, hitting her right in the temple. Cassy flew off of me, crying out.

I rolled and got to my hands and knees. I took a moment to assess where Gabe and Amber were. Stunned, they just stood there, staring at Cassy writhing on the ground. Taking advantage of their shocked states, I got to my feet.

Gabe, in his Ghostface mask, glanced in my direction as I took off running.

“Get her!” Amber yelled.

It was very dark. I tripped many times in my heels, which resulted in me scraping my knee and rolling my ankle. The only light I could see was coming from the cabin. It shone between the trees like stars. I ran in that direction, desperate to get help. I could hear Gabe and Amber gaining on me. With their boots and knowing exactly what direction I was heading, they’d undoubtedly catch up to me.

Logan’s voice popped into my head.“Never take the obvious road.”

I changed direction. I began running further from the cabin.

“Where’d she go?” I heard Amber say and I ducked behind a tree.

“I don’t know. She was just here,” Gabe said, his voice echoing through the trees.

I did my best to keep my breathing quiet. I was thanking the universe I’d picked up running or else I’d be winded right now.

“She’s in a white fucking costume, Gabe. How did you lose her?” Amber snapped.

“Don’t put that shit on me. You lost her, too.”

As they bickered, I worked quietly to undo the straps of my heels and take them off.

Amber let out a frustrated growl. “We need to split up. I’ll go check the cabin and make sure she didn’t somehow make it back there and you look around here.”

Gabe didn’t respond, but I knew they had gone their separate ways. The forest became quiet, and I couldn’t gauge where Gabe had gone.

Look or run?I debated.

“Shiloh!”

“Shi!”

“Shiloh!”

I heard my guys shout for me. They sounded so far away, and I couldn’t yell back. Not without leading Gabe right to me.

Something snapping sounded near me. My debate was over. I ran. I ran further from my guys.

Pine needles, twigs, and rocks stabbed the bottoms of my feet, but I didn’t let the pain slow me down. The pounding of boots and heavy breathing was right behind me.

Don’t stop!