Page 107 of Tempt Me

But that was short-lived. Ferdinand heard her scream of pain. The branches behind us were snapping, and I could hear that ragged breathing and maniacal cackle as he got closer to us.

I looked over to Taliah.

“Go. You need to get away from here. He doesn’t want you. He is here for me.”

I looked down at the empty barrel and swallowed.

Maybe I can fool him.

Raising my hand to the woods, I waited to see his cruel face come through the foliage.

My bluff worked. He stopped when he saw the gun raised in his direction, and I looked over at Taliah again.

“Get the fuck out of here, Tal. I don’t need your death on my conscience. Your brothers would never forgive me.”

Taliah looked at her wound and over to the enemy.

She knew as well as I did. She was in no shape to try to fight him. I didn’t need her to be a martyr.

“Go. Now.”

She looked at me, the desperation in my eyes. I needed her to be okay. If nothing else, I needed someone to fucking survive this monster…even if it wouldn’t be me.

“I will come back. I will get help.”

I sighed in relief, seeing her push off the boulder to make her way toward the opposite end of the woods.

Ferdinand watched her and stepped forward to follow her.

“Stop! I will shoot you,” I screamed, shaking the weapon toward him.

Ferdinand stopped and walked toward me instead.

No…he didn’t believe me.

I looked over to where Taliah was again, and she was gone. Her body had disappeared into the forest.

At least she would be safe. I let the tears fall, knowing I wasn’t going to survive this man…maybe this was meant to be. He laughed when I turned on my heel and took off running toward the cliff, away from Taliah’s escape and to my own end.

“Oh, Pet, here we are again. Tick-tock, tick-tock! Another will drop.”

I ran as fast as I could, feeling him get closer and closer. The trees were behind me, and the cliff was my only view. I screamed, stopping myself at the edge. There was nowhere else to run. I had to face my demon.

“Fuck you,” I said, spitting in his direction. He was walking toward me with an eerie smile plastered on his face.

“How poetic. Are you, my Juliet?” he said. “You would die for me? Tick-tock!”

I backed away from him. My feet sent small rocks tumbling off the edge, and I had to stop.

“No! Get back!” I waved the weapon in his face. He was on me now, just an arm’s reach away. He could push me, and I would be dead.

He stared at the barrel with intrigue.

“Hmmm…You’d think when up against death yourself, you’d pull the trigger, Pet.”

I whimpered, trying to find a way around him.

“Unless, of course. You can’t.”