Page 17

Chapter 17

Raven

T he girls have left me in a small office-like room with a long table in the middle and chairs surrounding it. It would seem that the captives aren’t to eat with their captors, and when I look around, every single one of us is in some kind of kinky, showing outfit or another, and are told to sit and eat. When we're served, it looks like slop straight out of the pig's pen, but it smells okayish, and I’m going to need whatever energy I can get for this shit.

Running around in the woods with my tits out and a micro miniskirt, I’ll need whatever they’re willing to give us. I slam every bit they put on the plate in front of me, including the cheap ass vodka shots they have lined up. At least the vodka will help me stay warm until I can make it to that asshat’s cabin later.

Let’s just hope I don’t get caught or freeze before I can get there.

When we are through eating, I see that there are multiple helpers stationed around the room now, all bundled up in large coats and snow boots. They are all silent, keeping their eyes on the floor in front of them. Except one. This one seems to be dressed for a party, and that’s when I realize they aren’t one of the help.

It’s an older woman, with white hair and wrinkles up the ass. But she’s dressed to kill, and with that murderous look in her eyes, I’d say she’s done plenty of it in her time.

“Hello, my loves. I’m Grandma Black. But that isn’t what matters. What does is that it’s time to head out for a stroll in the woods. Your masters will meet you out there. But they will have to find you. Your goal is to run. Hide. Do whatever you can to stay away from them. Don’t go easy on them. They wouldn’t like that and may take it out on you.”

She says that the last part, like it may happen when we all know it’s going to, regardless of how hard we run or hide. Like, who the fuck is she trying to kid?

“So let’s get going! The helper will take you out to the starting point, and when you hear a gunshot ring out, run. Happy Huntmas and good luck!”

She backed out of the room just as quietly as she entered, and while my helpers prepared me for what tonight will bring, it would seem none of the others had any idea. They all look confused and scared, and I feel bad for them. None of them will survive tonight. Not a single one.

Except me.

I have to make it out alive.

I have to bring light to what these sick fucks do and get them shut down.

I have to kill the two fucks who humiliated me in a crowd full of people.

Ones that took away everything innocent about me.

They will die tonight.

One way or another, they will not leave Sica Hollow this Christmas.

I stand and follow the help out of the small room and out the back door. The cold instantly chills me to the bones. The blizzard from last night is still going strong, and the winds have to be hitting forty miles per hour, and from the north still, no less. Fucking brutal cold. My nipples are hard as diamonds beneath the black X pasties they gave me, and I swear I can feel my pussy freeze shut.

We are all lined up just inside the clearing of the forest before us. I turn and look at my surroundings. Trying to gauge if I’ve seen this house before, and sure as shit, I have. A few times, actually, but it’s always been vacant the times that I have wandered here. Darkness has swallowed everything up this time, but it’s still recognizable in its vastness. It’s the only place within miles that is this extravagant.

Looking at the porch near the large bay windows, I see dozens of people lined up and waiting. They are all wearing those dumbass plastic masks with the X’s over the eyes that you buy near Halloween.

So not only do they like murdering people for Christmas, they like to be anonymous. How original.

I look at each of them in turn and realize I don’t know which ones are the Black brothers. They are all dressed the same, with the same mask on. This will prove harder than I was anticipating, but I can’t give up. One last look at all the other Christmas Eve victims just before a gunshot rings through the air.

I bolt.

I don’t even think twice. I just run. The snow is soft under my feet, and I sink to mid-calf with every step. It makes it hard to move very fast, but since I know where to go, hopefully, that helps. My legs are slowly going numb, and it’s hard to see very far in front of me. Between the blowing snow and my breath billowing out in front of my face, I don’t see how I’ll make it there. But I have to try.

I come to a break in the trees, and I stop. Twirling in a slow circle, I realize I’m down at a parking area near an outhouse for park guests. This is where I always park, and when I turn around, I see the footbridge leading onto the trails.

Oh, my god. Fuck yes!

I turn and bolt toward the bridge when I hear the first of the many screams I’m sure are coming. It’s blood-curdling, and the laughs that follow only prove that these people are sick in the head.

Hauling ass around the bend, I come to a set of stairs built into the hill to lead to a scenic overlook area. One that will take me straight up and out of this hell-hole. I trip on the edge of one stairs and slide down the hill on my ass. I can feel every rock and stick under the snow slice into my skin, cutting me open.

“Fuck,” I breathe out, surveying the damage done just now.

There are slices down my right leg and ass cheek, dripping blood steadily. They sting, but the cold is keeping me numb enough to where I’ll be able to fight through the pain easily. Just for fun. I decide to leave a little message on the railing of the staircase.

Think you can catch me?

I made sure to put a little arrow pointing up. If the trail of blood isn’t enough for those idiots, the arrow will help them out. Once I’m happy they’ll see it, I turn and run up the opposite side of the railing so that I don’t slip on the stairs again. I’ve always been better with the rough ground anyway.

The top of the stairs comes into view quickly, and when I go too slow for just a moment to catch my breath, I hear hushed voices from somewhere down below. Two men are down there talking. I can’t make out who they are, or what they’re saying, but they’re there, and I can almost bet that it’s the brothers.

Hauling ass forward, I bypass the scenic overlook platform and head off trail. The asshat’s cabin is just ahead. I just have to make it through the last of these trees, and I’ll be there.