Page 13

Fern

By the time morning arrived, I couldn’t stop shivering. Packing up the tent and my belongings took far longer than it should have, but I got it all stuffed into my bag eventually. I pulled out the small burner phone and switched it on as I started walking. Snow was falling heavily now. Already a few inches thick, and the wind was picking up. I had to move quickly and generate some heat.

The phone beeped, and I saw a notification for a new message. I froze. No one had this number. It was a burner. I clicked into it.

Keep running little bird. That monster is trailing you and he’s mad you skipped bail. If he catches you and brings you back, I’ll have to deal with you both.

The message hit me like a kick to the stomach. Luke and his friends were the only people who called me little bird. And Kiy was coming after me? Was he really angry with me? I’d skipped bail. Left without saying goodbye and probably cost his boss a lot of money. It was his job to come after me. I couldn’t imagine him being mad at me. But did I really know him?

None of that mattered. I couldn’t let him be hurt by Luke. Even if he hated me now. I pushed forwards, tears pricking at my eyes. I had to keep moving as quickly as possible. My bag was too heavy to run. My shoulders and back ached, and I was still shivering. The faster I moved, the warmer I’d be, though.

I managed a brisk pace at first and even felt warm for a while. But the snow fell heavier and heavier and the wind began lashing against my face. Stinging like a dozen bitter little slaps with each gust. It slowed me down more and more. Soon the snow was halfway up my calves. My legs hurt more now as I had to take huge, high steps.

That sense of pulling in my chest tightened slightly. Like the hole that had been there was filling back up. Kiy. I knew it meant he wasn’t that far away. How had he caught up to me so quickly? He was big; I supposed it made sense that he could cover a lot of ground quickly. There was no way to hide my tracks, either. The surrounding snow was pristine, and in this weather, I was probably the only person walking this trail for miles.

Adrenaline spiked inside me, and I found fresh energy to move. I had to get away. But he’d catch me on the trail. Without thinking it through, I swerved into the trees. Doing the one thing you should never do. Leave the trail. I kept going until the trees were so dense that there was barely any snow.

It was a ridiculous idea, but my brain was roiling with fog and panic. I couldn’t let him catch me. I couldn’t let him get dragged into this. And my stomach sank as I realized that I also wasn’t sure I could face him if he hated me now. If that affection in his eyes had changed to disdain.

Tears fell from my eyes as the bond between us tightened again. I didn't know why I could sense him like this, but it sent a shot of adrenaline through me. I pushed again and? started to run. I hadn’t run in years, and my lungs immediately felt like they were burning. Every sound made me jump. Was it him? What would he do when he caught me? A vision ran through my mind of him grabbing me and throwing me to the ground. It made me feel strangely turned on. Now definitely wasn’t the time for that.

The thought kept pushing itself into my head. Him grabbing me. Pushing me into the mud. Taking me angrily. Wetness spilled into my panties and heat flushed through my body. I imagined his hands grabbing my waist and my skin tingled as though he were really touching me. Something in the strange bond between us changed. It snapped quickly back into place. He was here. Moments later, I heard branches breaking behind me and the thud of large footprints. I stopped and turned. Maybe I could hide. I spotted a large shrub and moved behind it. It wasn’t enough.

More crashing and thudding. I pulled at the shrub and tried to climb inside it. The branches scratched me, but I forced myself into the middle of it. Within moments the heat I’d generated from running began to leave me and cold nipped at my hands. I slowed my breathing and closed my eyes. I had to be quiet now and hope he couldn’t find me. Hope that I hadn’t dragged him too deep into my mess.