Page 50 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Chapter 49

MELODY

I break through the surface with a gasp.

My heart slams against my ribcage, the adrenalin flooding my veins as I lunge for the wall. Shivers ripple through my body as I cling to the edge of the pool, fighting to stay warm in this uncomfortable swimsuit.

It’s a new routine I’ve gotten into, sneaking back to the college at night to see if the fear is still there.

Some days it is, some days it isn’t.

The night terrors are mostly gone, but I don’t like knowing something as simple as water has a hold over me. I don’t like feeling like I’m about to puke every time my shoulders drop beneath the surface.

Every time it happens, it feels like I’m failing. Like I’m still not strong enough to break free of Finley’s hold .

And it’s really fucking annoying.

“I should have bitten his finger off.” Grumbling to myself, I climb out of the pool and scurry over to grab my towel.

Marlin doesn’t know I come here on the nights he’s busy working. This is something I have to do for myself, a goal I need to achieve without any help.

The shivers reach a new level when I leave the thick humidity and enter the changeroom. My wet suit gets peeled off and dry clothes get tugged on. The back of my blouse immediately dampens from the dripping state of my hair, but that will have to wait until I get home.

Slipping my backpack over my shoulders, I slip out of the changeroom and head for the parking lot. Erik has been kind enough to let me borrow his car until things calm down, and as much as I hate to admit it, not having to walk these trails after dark has been a relief.

Wolf Hollow is many things, but safe is not one of them.

The old Honda sits quietly by the exit door. Skirting around to the driver’s side, I unlock it with a beep and reach for the handle.

And that’s when I notice the figure in the dark reflection of my window.

Instinct takes over and I yank open the driver’s door and lunge inside. Slamming the door shut, I’ve almost pressed the lock button when the man rips the door back open.

A horrible scream rips from my mouth when his gloved hands reach for me. I throw myself into the passenger side, trying to crawl out the other door .

Not again. Not again. Not again.

The panicked state of my heart overrides the skin that gets ripped from my knees when I fall onto the concrete. Curses flair up behind me as I scramble to my feet, sprinting in the opposite direction.

Something hits the back of my knee and I go crashing to the ground. Rough hands grab my hair and suddenly I’m being pulled backward, dragged along the concrete like a piece of trash.

I’m screaming, clawing at the pavement as he pulls me back towards the car. My nails are coming off in chunks, the matted blood covered in gravel as I writhe and kick until the man finally lets me go.

Clambering to my feet, I don’t get a second to run before he’s shoving me back against the hood of Erik’s car.

“You don’t want to do this.” I’m pleading, thrashing against his grip, “Please don’t do this.”

He grins, showing a set of brittle yellow teeth, “Anton Clementon sends his regards.”

The horror sinks in when I recognize the haggard lines of his face.

It’s the man from the forest.