37. Hunter And Prey
HUNTER AND PREY
ROGUE
Pain throbs in my skull, and muddled thoughts cloud my mind as I attempt to grasp onto consciousness.
My body jolts, pressure pushing against my ribs as I’m lifted.
Panic flares like a fire in my veins as I’m tossed over a shoulder, moving away from the trunk of the car coming into focus.
Darkness surrounds me. Cool air trickles over my skin, raising goosebumps on my exposed legs.
Fight.
My mind screams. My body remains limp and heavy, dangling like a slaughtered pig.
I wore a dress and heeled boots to appeal to this pervert, but he was never supposed to get this close.
Sickness coils in my gut and spreads through my veins as his sweat laced scent fills my nose.
His filthy, murderous hands are on me. The touch is like oil slithering into my pores and staining me forever.
What happened?
I scramble to remember. Bits and pieces flash through my mind. I went after Cutter and was texting Kitty when something hit me in the back of the head. The pain exploding like a bomb in my brain and stealing the light.
Fight.
Willing strength to my legs, I kick out, attempting to flip my body from his hold.
Strong, thick arms tighten around my thighs, dipping me farther down his back.
The ground seems far away despite my head being close to his lower back.
He’s tall and smells like dirt, sweat and wet dog.
I blink my eyes, trying to focus. We’re traipsing over grass and abruptly change to concrete.
Sucking in a breath, a screech rips from my lips when he maneuvers me, forcing my weight off him in a quick swooping motion before dropping me.
My back hits something soft, but the impact is rough, expelling the air from my lungs.
Fight.
My fingers grapple with what appears to be hay. I’m in a barn. Wood-slated panels make up the walls surrounding me. Stables.
Fight.
Reaching down into my boot, I pull out a blade and swipe franticly at the dark, imposing shadow looming over me.
“Bitch!” a hoarse voice bellows as my blade slices through skin. A fist connects with my cheekbone, rattling my teeth, forcing my head to whip sideways. Stars blot my vision. The bastard is strong.
Fucker.
Tight fingers clasp around my wrist, squeezing, prying the knife from my hand.
Kicking out, I make contact with his junk, and he releases me and backs away, groaning and mumbling under his breath. Scrambling to my feet, I rush him, but he’s faster, and I’m still woozy and unstable on my feet. A door slams shut with me inside.
Slapping my palms against the wood, I scream out a frustrated roar. I can’t believe I allowed myself to be taken. I let my guard down, worrying about Kitty. Monster won’t know how to find me. Callan will never forgive any of us if I don’t get out of this alive.
“I like the feisty ones. Makes breaking you more satisfying,” the voice grunts on a sneered breath.
My hand once again slams against the wood containing me inside this stall.
“I’d save some of that energy, little girl. You’re going to need it for what I have planned for you. So many delicious things I’m going to do to that body.”
“You won’t get that chance, asshole. Worse men than you have tried.” I flex my jaw, the pain spreading down my face, and try to get my breathing under control.
Think!
“I doubt that.” His low rumble deepens, and the distinct sound of a metal blade scraping against wood lifts the hair on my neck.
“I’m going to kill you,” I snap. Angry at myself for showing my knife too soon. I should have gotten my equilibrium back before attacking.
His dark laugh echoes through the door, sending chills over my skin.
Irritation floods into my veins. “Get comfortable. You’re going to be here a while, and when I’ve taken everything there is from you.
” he taunts. “I’ll send you back to that bastard who thought he could track that fucking amateur Trevor to me, in pieces. ”
“Fuck you!” I scream.
“All in time, pet.” My stomach turns. The way he says “pet” is almost a caress. I feel it skin-deep, burning like acid.
A lock engages like a cartridge being loaded into the chamber of a gun.
Snap.
I’m a hostage.
The beast has me caged in his lair.
Pushing my ear against the door, I listen to his fading footfalls, my heart slamming against my ribcage.
Think!
I look around the space, kicking at the layer of hay on the ground. The stable can’t be more than twelve-by-twelve with a metal hoop attached to the back wall. There’s nothing else in here. There’s no noise, just piercing silence all around me.
I move to the side panels, looking through the inch-gap between each slat.
It’s another stable next to mine. Empty.
Rushing to the other side, I peer through, rearing backwards and nearly falling on my ass at the blue eyes staring back at me.
“Shit.” I gasp in shock, my breathing coming out in quick puffs.
Small fingers push through the lower slat into my prison. Dirty, broken, bloody nails push against the wood until they turn white.
“Hey,” I exhale, placing my hand on top of them. “What’s your name?”
Silence.
“Are you okay?”
Silence.
“How long have you been here?”
Silence.
“I’m Rogue,” I say in a calmer tone.
Nothing.
A million thoughts race through my mind . What if she can’t speak? Doesn’t have a tongue? Has her lips sewn shut? What if she’s in my imagination?
“I have people looking for me,” I tell her. Knowing it’s true but scared to death that it may be too late if they ever do find me.
Monster has a tracker on my phone, but I’m unsure if I dropped it when I lost consciousness or if the animal who took me has it. Monster won’t stop until he finds me, but how long will that take?
I need a weapon.
“Do you have anything I can use as a weapon?” I ask, aware that she has likely already attempted to escape.
Deafening silence.
“Why won’t you speak to me?” I ask, looking at her again. She backs away and shakes her head, placing a hand over her mouth.
“You can’t speak?”
Another shake of her head . No.
“Did he do something to you?” My gaze travels over her naked form littered with scars and dirt.
Wide, lost eyes stare back at me, and I rack my brain, recalling the pictures we have of all the missing girls, but can’t connect her with any of them.
Fuck. What has he done to her? How long has she been here?
“Are you alone…are there others here?” I ask desperately.
Shaking her head, she wags her finger toward herself and then me, holding up two fingers.
“Just us two?” I surmise.
A nod, and she holds up two fingers again.
Just us two.
All those pictures of missing girls and only one is here alive.
“I’m going to get us out of here,” I promise to her and myself.
I’ve already survived one demon, I can survive another.
I refuse to let this bastard defeat me. Monster has shown me some defensive moves.
I’ll wait for him to come back, and now that I can think straight, I’ll be smarter. Stronger. Ready.
Placing a hand on the back of my head, I wince and pull it away. Wet, sticky blood stains my fingers, and Callan floods my thoughts, followed by my mom and Bear. My heart cracks. I have to get home to them.
Looking around, panic rising in my chest, I already know there’s nothing in here I can use. I scan my body. Nothing but the dress I’m wearing, panties, bra, and the boots on my feet. Boots with a heel. And laces.
A noose.
Dropping to my ass, I untie the laces and weave them out from the loops, tugging them free one after the other. Wrapping one of the ends around each fist, I stretch it to test its strength. It may work. It has to work.
Kicking my boots off, I stand barefoot, grab one of the shoes, and smack the heel against the wood, wiggling and jerking until I loosen it. After several more strikes, the heel finally comes off and drops to the hay at my feet. I sigh in relief, swiping it up.
Hiding the leather in the hay, I palm the small, spiked heel, grateful I wasn’t wearing flats for once.
Tying one of the laces around the hoop attached to the back wall, I sit beneath it and tuck the lace around my throat and into the back of my dress, clutching the other lace tightly in my other fist.
Sensing the girl watching me through the slats, I place a finger to my lips. “Shhh,” I command, tilting my head to the side and closing my eyes.
I breathe shallowly, willing myself to stay calm and still and praying like hell that it looks believable. Time passes in what feels like hours. The silence only shattered by the chirping of insects. Finally, I hear a latch give way, and footfalls pound against the concrete.
Stay calm.
When a lock disengages and a door creaks open, I will my eyes to stay closed. It takes every bit of self-restraint. Mewling sounds from the stable next to mine, then a thud and a gurgled cry. He’s in there with her, not here with me. “Are you going to behave, now?” I hear him ask her.
Stay calm. Stay still. Stick to the plan.
It’s so silent, my stomach tenses and I wonder if he’s testing me, watching me. Vomit threatens when I hear the distinct sound of a zipper opening.
No.
“On your knees, show me how sorry you are.”
Oh god.
“What, what is it?” he growls.
More mewling and then a palm slamming against the wood. “Fuck! What have you done, you stupid bitch!” the deep voice bellows.
Movement then doors opening and closing ring around me until I sense him entering my stable and dropping to his knees before me.
Stay calm. Shhh.
When I feel his breath against my cheek and his hand pulls at the lace around my neck, I strike.
Fast, precise, with malice.