Page 22 of Wanna Play A Game?

Finally, I stop, gasping, putting my hands on my knees. I look around and notice I’m in a pasture – I would guess a cow pasture – with nothing but tan and gray scrub and a tree line in the distance. I look behind me, and it’s nothing but the same. I veered away from the roads, knowing that he would probably chase me down in a car first.

“Fucker,” I growl. I want to keep running, but I force my racing brain to slow. I need to think. Strategize. The man didn’t give me any food or water, and I’m already thirsty. I know the absolute longest I can stay out here is three days, assuming the rattlersand other creatures don’t get me before thirst does. I need to find civilization.

Sweat rolls down my face and chest. I rip off the stockings, stuff my feet back in the shoes, and continue at a slower pace, trying to conserve energy while putting as much distance from me and him as possible.

Sweat creeps into the waistband of my mini skirt, itching like hell.

Is he hunting me? Why did he dress me up?

Oh my god. My grandparents are going to hear about my death on the news and see my mangled body on the desert floor in this ridiculous get-up. The thought makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. They’ll absolutely croak.

I jog for maybe another 20 minutes before I hear a motor in the distance. I cuss and sprint to the nearest tree line. It’s nothing but thorns and scrub, but I duck down as best I can. I’m not sure if it is just a stranger or the man, but I can’t take any chances.

I look around for a stick or rock or anything I can use as a weapon.

As the motor gets closer, my adrenaline ramps up. I see an ATV drive into my vision, and my stomach sinks. It’s the man riding it with the mask still on his face. I hate not being able to see his expressions. The blank mask scares me.

The man drives up to my line of scrub and stops. The cut-off of the engine and the ensuing silence is loud.

He gets off the bike slowly.

I slide a rock into one of my stockings and wait.

The man walks toward me slowly, looking right at me. At least, I think he is. He looks menacing.

There aren’t many shadows since it’s midday, and I know there isn’t much chance he doesn’t see me.

“I see you. C’mon out now.” His voice sounds different. More level.

I stay crouched. He faces the mask directly at me.

“I see you,” the man repeats. “Don’t make me come in there after you.”

He takes one more step toward me and I dart to my feet. I take off, squeezing between two bushes to get to the other pasture.

“Stop!”

Fuck, there’s a wire fence. I scramble over it, hearing him chase behind me.

“Fuck,” he says, and I glance back to see him get caught up in the fence.

I run harder. I have to get away. He’s going to kill me when he catches me; there’s no doubt about it. Probably rape me first, then kill me.

My legs are like putty from my sprint earlier. I hear the man behind me again and throw a wild look over my shoulder. He’s over the fence, his huge body giving chase.

I scream and run faster, but it’s not enough. I know he’ll catch me.

I take the sock with the rock in it and whirl around. I swing it right for the man’s face.

He ducks, and it smashes into his shoulder right before his arms wrap around me, and we hurl towards the ground. I tense, closing my eyes, but the impact doesn’t come. Instead, he lands, cushioning our fall with a grunt.

Fuck! I scramble to get away.

The man flips his heavy body on top of me, pressing my stomach into the dirt.

“Easy,” he growls. “Don’t fight me.”

“Like fuck I won’t! Let me go.” I struggle and kick and flail my arms. The man fights with me for a second before freezing, “What the fuck are you wearing?”