Obsession (Raven’s Vale Psychos #1

Chapter One

Hollis

Raven’s Vale reeked of fear and blood. Happiness ceased to exist here, and escape was a dream for most. Survival consumed me daily, draining my energy.

“Morning, Hollis,” Dr. Nora Fields greeted, her voice strained as I passed her clinic.

“Morning, Doc,” I muttered, scanning the distance for the psychopaths that haunted our lives.

“Fresh bread!” Lyla shouted from the bakery doorway, her enthusiasm tainted by impending danger. “Get it while it’s hot!”

“Thanks, Lyla,” I said, buying a loaf and feeling my stomach growl in response. Hunger was just another problem in this town.

“Take care, Hollis,” Lyla said. I noticed the way her eyes darted from right to left, as if scanning the area for danger. I knew why. Everyone in town did. The murderers’ presence lingered like a dark cloud. Their monthly killing spree loomed over us.

“Will do,” I replied with a forced smile. As I continued my errands, the air grew heavy with tension.

There they were: three menacing silhouettes casting shadows across the ground -- our collective nightmares materialized before me.

“Riot,” I whispered under my breath, captivated by his imposing figure. He was the worst of them, the one who made even the other two psychos look like amateur hour. My pulse quickened as I watched him walk, his movements fluid and predatory -- like a fucking big cat on the prowl. Was it just me or did it seem like he was coming closer to me?

“Keep moving, Hollis,” I whispered to myself, shaking off the strange mix of terror and fascination that gripped me. No good could come from staring at The Butcher himself. I had heard stories of what he’d done to those unlucky enough to catch his attention. And yet… there was something about him that made it impossible to look away.

“Fuck,” I muttered, forcing myself to focus on my errands, trying to push the image of Riot from my mind. I couldn’t let my curiosity get the better of me -- not in this town, and certainly not with him. But damn if it wasn’t hard to forget that face -- the face of the devil himself. Why did he have to be so sinfully gorgeous?

My heart hammered in my chest as I turned a corner, trying to distance myself from the chilling sight of the psychopaths. The wind howled like a banshee through the darkened streets of Raven’s Vale, carrying whispers of terror and pain. I tried to shake off the unease that tightened around me like a vise.

Get your shit together, Crane. I knew if I didn’t, I’d be next on their list. The town was holding its breath, waiting for the next blood-curdling scream or gruesome discovery to shatter the fragile illusion of safety. We were all just playing our parts in this fucked-up game, and it seemed I had drawn the short straw today.

“Hey, Hollis!” a voice called out, causing me to jump. I turned to see my friend Lyla hurrying toward me, her eyes wide with concern. “You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“Something like that,” I admitted, glancing over my shoulder one last time. The psychos seemed to have disappeared, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. Fuck! I realized my suspicions were right. My gaze locked on to the piercing eyes of Riot Tredway. He was watching me -- not just watching but studying me. His eyes held an intensity that sent shivers down my spine and made my pulse race. “Riot.”

“Riot?” Lyla asked, following my gaze. She gasped, pulling me behind a nearby building. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

“Watching us, apparently,” I replied, my heart pounding like a jackhammer. “We need to get out of here.”

I could feel Riot’s gaze burning into me. It made me feel stripped bare and completely vulnerable.

“Come on,” I whispered to Lyla, trying to drag her away from our hiding spot. “We need to move.”

But try as I might, my legs refused to listen. They were rooted in place, paralyzed with fear. And it wasn’t just fear -- there was something else too. I couldn’t deny the perverse fascination I felt, the sick curiosity that drew me to him like a moth to a flame.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing,” Lyla reassured me, squeezing my arm. “It’s just fear. Let’s go.”

“Right,” I agreed, finally managing to tear my eyes away from his chilling stare. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

The looming presence of The Butcher cast a dark shadow over the streets, his name a whispered curse on the lips of those who dared not speak it aloud. Riot’s gaze seemed to pierce through the veil of reality itself, drawing me closer with a magnetic pull that both terrified and intrigued. His eyes held secrets, hinting at a depth of darkness that sent a shiver down my spine.

Every step I took away from him felt like a battle against an invisible force, urging me to turn back and face the unknown. The air was heavy with unspoken danger, each heartbeat echoing like a drum of impending doom. As Lyla’s whispers urged me to flee, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning of something far more sinister. The tangled web of fate seemed to weave tighter around us, entangling our fates with threads of uncertainty and dread.

But despite my terror, I saw a strange allure in Riot’s gaze, a forbidden curiosity that beckoned me closer even as my instincts screamed to run. The promise of danger and mystery, tempting me toward the unknown depths of darkness that awaited.

In that fleeting moment of hesitation before our escape, I sensed a shift, as if destiny itself had taken hold of our lives. I walked with Lyla back to her bakery, leaving Riot’s haunting gaze behind.

I did my best to stay away from Riot the rest of the day. As night fell, a chill skated down my spine. The streets of Raven’s Vale were empty, the shadows creeping in closer as the sun sank below the horizon. I could feel eyes on me. The sensation was like a thousand tiny needles pricking at my skin. It was that fucker Riot Tredway -- I knew it. There had been times throughout the day it felt like someone was watching me. Since this morning, I hadn’t spotted him again, but I’d known he was there.

Everywhere I looked, I saw nothing but dark corners and deserted alleys. But someone seemed to always be watching me. I could feel it. Didn’t matter if I could see him or not.

“What do you want with me?” I called out, trying to sound braver than I felt. My voice echoed through the empty street, the sound bouncing back at me mockingly. No response came, but the oppressive weight of his presence remained.

“Damn it,” I whispered, quickening my pace. My heart pounded in my chest, blood thundering in my ears. I couldn’t let him see how much he affected me -- how much he terrified me.

I turned a corner, nearly colliding with a tall figure that seemed to materialize out of the darkness. I stumbled back, cursing, before realizing it was Riot himself.

“Watch where you’re going,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“Fuck off,” I snapped, quickly regaining my footing. If he sensed weakness, it would only make things worse. I had no choice but to appear as strong as possible. I couldn’t appear to be prey to him. If I did, I was done for.

“Feisty,” he murmured, smirking down at me. “I like that.”

“Get bent.” I pushed past him and continued on my way. The brief interaction left me shaken and angry -- but most of all, vulnerable. It was like he’d reached inside me and grabbed hold of something, squeezing it tight until I could barely breathe.

The wind sliced through the air, carrying the smell of blood and decay. I shivered, pulling my jacket tighter around me as I hurried down the street.

I stopped at a rundown café, ordering a steaming cup of coffee to warm my chilled bones. As I sipped the bitter liquid, I saw him again, watching me from across the street. Riot’s eyes bored into mine, his gaze predatory and unnerving. I felt a familiar unease coil in the pit of my stomach.

“Still following you, huh?” The barista, an older woman with sad eyes, shook her head. “You gotta watch yourself, Hollis. That man’s got a taste for blood.”

“I know,” I admitted quietly, staring down into my now cold coffee. I couldn’t deny the warped attraction I felt toward Riot, and it only seemed to grow stronger with each passing day, each brief encounter. I hated it, but something inside me craved it too.

“I need to get out of here.”

“Be careful,” the barista warned, her voice full of concern.

“Always am,” I lied, forcing a weak smile before stepping out into the biting cold once more.

I didn’t make it far before hearing Mayor Rawlins’ voice boom out from behind me. “Hollis Crane!”

“Mayor? What’s going on?” I asked, turning to face him.

“Riot… it’s time for another sacrifice. One life to save hundreds. He’s been watching you. We all know it. It has to be you, Hollis.”

I knew the town offered up someone every month. It didn’t seem to stop the killings, but they did seem to be slower than the months they didn’t offer one. I understood the reason behind it, but it didn’t mean I wanted it to be me!

“Me?” My heart pounded in my chest, my blood running cold. “Why?”

“Does it matter?” Mayor Rawlins snapped, anguish etched on his face. “I’m sorry, Hollis. There’s nothing I can do. You know the rules we live by.”

“Fuck you! You’re just gonna hand me over to that monster?”

“What choice do we have?” he asked, desperation in his voice. “If we don’t, he’ll kill us all!”

“Then let him,” I said. “I’d rather die fighting than be some sick bastard’s plaything!”

“Enough!” Mayor Rawlins roared. “You will be the next sacrifice, whether you like it or not. It’s for the greater good.”

“Fuck the greater good!” Deep down, I knew he was right. My life was nothing compared to the lives of everyone in Raven’s Vale.

As I walked away, my thoughts turned one last time to Riot Tredway. He’d become an obsession, a dark force that haunted my every waking moment. And now, it seemed, he would be my downfall.

I hurried home, my heart pounding in my chest, my senses on high alert. I glanced up at the rooftops and into the darkened alleyways, but no one was there. I closed the door behind me, triple-checking the locks before collapsing onto my bed.

“Lunacy,” I muttered, drawing my knees to my chin. “It’s gotta be.”

But even as the words left my lips, deep down, I knew it wasn’t lunacy at all. The Butcher of Raven’s Vale -- Riot Tredway -- had his sights set on me, and I didn’t know why.

The wooden door splintered. The cold grip of a strong hand pulled me from the safety of my apartment and dragged me downstairs to the street. My vision blurred, but I could still make out the anguished faces of Dr. Nora Fields and Sheriff Dalton as they watched, helpless.

“Let her go, Goddamnit!” Nora shouted, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Back off, Doc,” one of the thugs holding me snarled. “This ain’t your fight.”

“Like hell it isn’t!” she insisted, but Dalton held her back, his eyes filled with silent apology.

“Please, don’t do this,” I whispered, my heart pounding with terror.

“Shut up, bitch,” the thug said, tightening his grip on my arm until I winced in pain. He and the three others worked for the mayor’s office. Their sole job was making sure the sacrifices made it into Riot’s hands. At least three times a year, Crash and Kane also accepted sacrifices, but they didn’t slaughter as many people as Riot did.

“Leave her alone!” A new voice joined the fray, and I turned to see an older lady I’d spoken to a few times pushing through the crowd that had gathered. Her face was a mix of worry and determination, her fists clenched by her sides. What was her name? Right.

“Stay out of this, Mrs. Norris,” I begged, not wanting her to get hurt on my account.

“To hell with that,” she snapped, glaring at the man who gripped my arm. “You can’t just take her!”

“Watch us,” the thug sneered, shoving me toward another man waiting nearby.

As I stumbled, I caught a glimpse of Riot watching from the shadows. His piercing eyes were locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, something flickered behind them -- something other than bloodlust. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, swallowed by darkness once more.

“Get her in the car,” the thug ordered, his voice cold as ice.

“Please,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face, “don’t do this.”

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he replied with a cruel grin. “But it’s you or the whole town.”

“Fuck you!” Mrs. Norris retorted. “That sweet girl never hurt anyone.”

“Stay out of it, hag,” he growled.

“Take care of yourself, Mrs. Norris,” I whispered as they threw me into the car.

I glanced back and saw Lyla in the crowd. Out of everyone there, why hadn’t she tried to stop them from taking me? Instead, she’d stood by, silently watching the entire thing. The car began to move, and the last thing I saw before we disappeared around a bend was Lyla’s face, and what I’d have sworn was a smile.

My heart pounded like a drum in my chest. I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself against the fear that threatened to engulf me.

“Look who we got here,” a thug sneered as they dragged me from the car and shoved me toward Riot. I wondered if they delivered the sacrifice to him in the same spot every time. “Your latest prize, Butcher.”

“Leave her with me.” Riot’s voice was low and dangerous. The thugs exchanged glances before scurrying away, leaving me alone with the man who haunted my nightmares.

“Please,” I whimpered, my knees trembling as I stared up at his imposing figure. “Don’t kill me.”

“Silence,” he snapped, his eyes burning into mine. I flinched, feeling a wave of terror wash over me. My mind raced, desperate for any way to save myself from this monster. “Riot, I know there’s more to you than what everyone sees. I’ve seen it in your eyes. You don’t have to do this.”

“You know nothing about me,” he said, grabbing my arm and pulling me close. “I am a fucking killer. That’s all you need to know.”

“Then why haven’t you killed me yet?” I shot back, defiance flaring up within me. “If you’re really the monster they say you are, why am I still breathing? I’ve seen you following me. You could have slit my throat at any time.”

“Maybe I’m just savoring the moment. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s something about you that intrigues me. But don’t mistake that for mercy, girl. One wrong move, and your blood will paint these walls.”

“Then I’ll make sure not to give you a reason,” I replied, my voice shaking but determined. “If you let me live, I’ll show you there’s more to life than death and bloodshed.”

“Bold words,” he mused, releasing my arm and stepping back. “But can you back them up?”

I swallowed hard, knowing that my life hung in the balance. “I can try.”

“Good,” Riot said, his expression unreadable. “You’d better pray you succeed, or this will be your final act of defiance.”

As I stood there, trembling before the man who could end my life with a single swing of his blade, I knew everything had changed. Something had sparked between us, a connection neither of us fully understood.

And as I stared into the eyes of the notorious Butcher of Raven’s Vale, I found myself filled not with terror, but with anticipation for what would come next.