Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Everleigh
From Ashes to New - Barely Breathing
I was on autopilot. A heavy weight in my chest as I navigated my way to breakfast. Maybe I should have eaten at home. Anything was better than having to endure the heated stares from other students boring into me. Since those posts about me from the anonymous user, people have been staring a lot more frequently. Some of them murmured ‘slut’ under their breath. Some couldn’t fathom why I’d cheat on Lucas. Some were even jealous. But it was all so complicated.
The days were getting harder and harder to get through. Loneliness trickled through my veins until it had burrowed so deeply inside of me that it was all I could feel. No friends, no lover, no family. Just people who wanted to hurt me and fuck me and then hurt me again.
I kept my head down, allowing my dark hair to hide everyone from view. I couldn’t bear to see their arrogant looks. Chatter was loud around me, but even through the commotion I could feel them looking. The three guys who had somehow weaseled their way into my heart while simultaneously making me despise them.
It wasn’t until I was safely in the lunch line that I lifted my head, suddenly wishing to God that I hadn’t. Amber was standing a few spots in front of me, a cold look on her face as she took me in. She hated me just as much as everyone else in my life did. Her maroon painted lips curled into a snarl and she was turning her back to me again, her burgundy hair swishing behind her shoulders.
A dull ache formed within my chest. I missed her so damn much. She’d probably never forgive me after what I did. Heat was steadily building behind my eyes, and I was half-tempted to ditch breakfast and run out to my car to wait for my class to start. But that would draw too much attention, and they’d know that I was crumbling. I couldn’t give them the satisfaction.
I collected a plate and filled it with random items, knowing I probably wouldn’t be able to eat a quarter of it. The scent of tater tots permeated the room, causing my stomach to grumble. I plucked one off my plate, popping it into my mouth. The crisp, salty flavor kissed along my tongue, making me groan out in satisfaction.
I started for the drink station and filled a styrofoam cup up with bitter coffee. Casting a glance around the room, my throat constricted with tension and nerves.
I didn’t even have anyone to sit with. Maybe I really was the problem. Why else would everyone be leaving me? Briley hated my guts, but that was mutual right now. Amber couldn’t even stand to look at me. I certainly wasn’t good enough for Lucas—not that it mattered much. There was always something missing between us. I’d known that from the beginning.
Steeling my spine, I marched out of the cafeteria. The warm sun grazed over me, a welcoming contrast to the chilly breeze. I slipped into my car, letting out a ragged breath. I didn’t realize how important basic socialization was until it had been stripped from me. There was a hollowness in my chest, threatening to open wider and swallow me whole.
Quietly, I ate in silence, my mind no longer on the meal within my lap. My drink rested in the cup holder, the steam billowing from it. Tears stung my eyes as I watched groups of friends walk toward the cafeteria together. Their laughter was loud and contagious, slamming through the barrier of my vehicle just to reach my ears, as if the universe wanted to torture me even more.
Once my coffee had cooled enough, I raised the cup to my lips and took a long drink. It was absolutely disgusting and way too strong. I hadn’t even had the energy to add sugar or creamer to it. Not that it would have helped a whole lot anyway. On the plus side, it did feel good going down my throat.
I sucked in a ragged breath, attempting to calm my aching heart. How much more could I possibly take? What was my breaking point? When would it all be over? I’ve already lost everything. And while I’d really like to blame it on the guys, part of my loss came from my own bad decisions. That knowledge just frustrated me more. That wasn’t me. Right? I didn’t betray my friends or family. I wasn’t a selfish person.
But when it came to Ashton and Jameson, maybe even Kash now…
Fuck. I wanted to be selfish with them.
I wanted them all. Regardless of the bad blood between us. Regardless of how selfish it was that I couldn’t choose between them. I knew in reality that if we managed to get past whatever this was, I’d have to choose. But that was just a fantasy. There was no getting past this. Ashton made that abundantly clear. Still, I couldn’t shake the way the three of them made me feel. Ashton, with his domineering presence and ruthlessness. Despite our vast height and weight difference, he never treated me like a fragile little doll. He owned me, possessed me, destroyed my body in the best of ways. Jameson was someone I could connect with on a deep, emotional level. His darkness called to mine, even more so now that I’ve actually experienced some of it myself. Then there was Kash…
My face heated at the latest reminder of what we did.
Kash opened up something inside of me I didn’t know existed. A kinkier side who wanted to indulge in all of his wildest fantasies. They were all rough in their own way. And I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to get enough even though I knew it would all come to a screeching halt when Ash finally snapped his fingers.
I finished my bitter coffee in peace, staring out at the variety of students walking back and forth across campus with their friends and romantic partners. Their life must be so simple. Only having to worry about drama, their relationship, and passing their classes.
With a lot of reluctance, I placed my plate in the passenger side of my car and returned the empty cup to the holder. I’d take care of it later. Maybe. I propped my car door open and stepped out onto the cement, allowing it to slam closed behind me.
My legs felt numb as I walked to the main building, the voices fading into the background around me.
When I reached my first class of the day, I dropped into my seat in the lab, thankful that I’d arrived before Amber and Ashton. My moment of solitude was quickly shattered when Amber dropped into the seat diagonal to me. She avoided my gaze, her lips drawn tight while she fished out her supplies and placed them on the table in front of her.
I wanted to apologize, to beg for her forgiveness, but I didn’t know how to.
I wouldn’t be able to handle her rejection on top of everything else. Reaching down, I unzipped my bag and gathered my own supplies for the class period. My head was foggy, and I already knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on any of the lessons today, but at least I could say that it wasn’t without effort.
To my relief, Ashton left me alone. No mean comments, no glares, just complete disinterest. For some reason, maybe that was even worse. At least when he was actively hating me it was because he cared enough to do so. Now, he just seemed like he was bored. Done . My chest tightened at the thought, even though I should have been jumping with joy.
My class with Jameson and Kash was no better. Jameson didn’t look at me once. Kash kept his back to me the entire time, his spine ramrod straight. It just solidified what I already feared. The end of their terror was just on the horizon.
I wanted to laugh but was too numb to do so. Why wouldn’t I want them to leave me alone? They’ve done nothing but make my life miserable since they bulldozed into it. And yet, the thought of never seeing them again, or never having them speak to me again, seemed like a worse fate.
Even soccer couldn’t take my mind off it this time. It took everything in me just to participate. Coach had to yell at me at least a dozen times to get my head in the game. I vaguely remember him telling me to pull my head out of my ass, but my mind wasn’t all there these days.
After practice, I mindlessly changed into a pair of clean clothes. I’d just shower at home like usual. Swinging my bag over my shoulder, I made a beeline for my car, ignoring the three assholes standing off to the side. Their heated gazes landed on me as I crossed the parking lot and jerked my car door open, tossing my bag in the backseat. I sucked in a deep breath and retrieved my keys, ready to get home and sleep the rest of the evening away. That’s all I seemed to want to do lately.
I placed my key into the ignition and twisted. A loud screeching sound erupted through the air, piercing through my eardrums with ruthless ferocity. What the hell? I flinched away from the noise and tried again. When the same thing happened, panic wormed its way through my chest, bringing me to the brink of an explosion. My gaze flickered to the boys standing near the sidewalk. Kash was smoking as usual. But Ashton’s smirk told me that this was anything but accidental.
Liquid heat snaked through my body, curling deep within my abdomen. Hot tears threatened to slip free, but I held them in with all my might, using the last bit of energy I possessed in doing so.
Fuck. This.
They took my job, my sister, my friend, my body, and now my goddamn car.
I wrenched my door open again and stumbled out onto the pavement. Adrenaline flooded my system from the rage building inside of me. It was all I could see. All I could feel .
I marched across the parking lot, toward the one place I knew would have something of use. Once they were out of sight, I allowed the angry tears to spill. My feet were fast through the grass, and I didn’t dare stop until I’d reached my destination. The softball field.
As expected, there was a basket of aluminum softball bats in a basket near the locker room, hidden from view. But I’ve been coming here long enough to know where most things were. I wrapped my fingers around a light blue one, the grip melting into my hand. The bat was heavier than expected, but that was good. It meant that it would inflict some damage.
Grabbing the bat, I made my way back to the parking lot. I didn’t miss the surprise on their faces, or how Kash’s hand stalled halfway to his mouth when he went to take another drag of his cigarette.
To make things even easier, their cars were all lined up side by side. Well…a car, a truck, and a motorcycle. My heart was hammering inside of my chest, a sick feeling settling deep within my stomach. But the rage and adrenaline were much more potent.
I stopped in front of Ashton’s hCallenger, propping the bat over my shoulder before taking a wild swing at the windshield. Glass shattered all around me, a few pieces cutting into my flesh. But I barely felt it, even when a trickle of blood started running down my cheek. Pure satisfaction shot through me at the beautiful wreckage. And then I swung again, denting the hood this time. And again, taking out one of the side windows.
Strong arms wrapped around me, but I weaseled out of their grasp immediately, whirling around. A snarl captured my lips, and I swung the bat at Ashton’s kneecap, causing him to buckle to the ground.
“Who’s laughing now, bitch?” I seethed, feeling more unhinged and out of character than I ever have.
“Fuck,” he hissed, holding his injured leg.
I turned back to his car and continued my assault until I knew there was no coming back from it. He could easily afford a new one, but his friends couldn’t. The next one I attacked was Jameson’s motorcycle. The tires popped beneath the pressure of the bat, my muscles screaming in agony from exertion. When it was completely totaled, I stopped in front of Kash’s truck, my heart aching as I stared it down. The same truck I’d given myself to him. A tear trickled from the corner of my eye, and I brought the bat down hard against the hood. It barely dented, so I swung again and again until there was a decent gash in the exterior.
Someone tried to grab me again, but I shrugged them off and kept going. I couldn’t reach the windshield, but I managed to take out two of the windows.
Police sirens sounded off in the distance, pulling me out of my rage-induced haze. My entire body locked up at the sound, and I knew instantly that I was in deep shit.
“Give me the bat,” Jameson said frantically, holding his hands up in surrender like I was a wild animal in need of being tamed. Ashton was still crouched on the ground, examining his knee. I must have got him pretty good. Guilt shot through me at the fact that I’d hurt him, but he hurt me, too.
Reluctantly, I allowed Jamie to pry it from my fingers. The adrenaline was beginning to fade, replaced with complete shock of what I’d done.
Two cop cars whipped into the lot, their sirens still blaring. My heart was racing wildly in my chest, but I’d own this. I still refused to let them see me crumble. My only regret was that this would cost me my scholarship. Everything I worked so hard for, was all for nothing. Jameson was shaking with anger, his gaze resting on his motorcycle that had been pummeled to death. Despite that though, he pulled me into his arms. I tensed against him, my entire body trembling from a mixture of fear, shock, and anger.
“It’s okay,” He whispered into my ear. “We’ll get you out of this.”
This . It was their fault this even happened in the first place. I highly doubted they were here for Ashton. Then again, whatever he did to my car was a lot more subtle. It wasn’t just vandalism or destruction of personal property, either. I hit Ashton in the knee with the bat. That’s assault with a deadly weapon. My hands tightened against the front of Jameson’s shirt, my fingers twitching as my anxiety amplified. Jameson ran his hand through my hair in a soothing gesture, but it did little to calm me.
“I love you, Evie,” he whispered as the car doors opened and slammed.
A sob got caught in my throat at his admission. What was I supposed to do with that information? Was this another form of torture?
“Everleigh Knight,” an authoritative voice called out from behind me. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say and do may be held against you in the court of law.”
Jameson gripped my face between his hands and kissed me fiercely, not giving a shit that his two best friends were standing a few feet away. Not caring that the cops were waiting for him to release me so that they could cuff me and haul me away. I knew I shouldn’t kiss him, but deep down, I also knew this was my last chance to do so. So against my better judgment, I parted my lips and welcomed him.
In the next breath, I was being wrenched away from him, my hands jerked behind my back and cuffed. The metal bit into my wrists. They were a lot more uncomfortable than I would have expected.
“Don’t tell them anything,” Jameson warned me.
I wasn’t stupid. But we were on school grounds, so there was probably video evidence. It would have been different had this happened near the front of the soccer fields where there were no cameras, but of course these douchebags had to park near the streetlights. Still, there was a small chance that it was also a blind spot.
The cop steered me toward his cruiser and helped me into the back seat. My stomach twisted into nervous knots of energy while I peered out the window. The other cop was talking to the guys, their posture relaxed as if they’d dealt with the police a number of times before. If they wanted me broken, I think they just succeeded.
I’d only been in the cell for an hour before a cop was unlocking the door and calling my name. Confusion wormed its way through me as I glanced around. A few of the women glared at me with pure disdain while others gave me soft smiles and the rest ignored my existence.
Hesitantly, I stepped out of the cell. I didn’t understand what was happening. Trial wasn’t for three weeks, so they weren’t sending me to prison.
“Today’s your lucky day,” the bald-headed police officer told me. “You’re being bonded out and charges are being dropped.”
We’ll get you out of this.
Those had been Jameson’s words. I hated to admit it, but I didn’t believe they’d actually succeed in talking Ashton out of the charges against me. He hated me so damn much for reasons I couldn’t even fathom anymore. I understood that I hurt him. But this was too much of a price to pay for something that happened approximately three years ago.
“Would you like to get dressed?” The cop glanced down at me.
I shrugged. I was wearing an orange jumpsuit with the name of the jail plastered across it. “I just want to get out of here,” I murmured.
He grunted in response and led me to the front to collect my things. He offered me my old clothes that were in a sack and then handed me my phone and keys that had been inserted into a sandwich baggy.
Ashton was waiting in the lobby, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his sweats. I didn’t miss how he was favoring his left leg, putting the majority of his weight on it despite being stronger on his right.
“Why?” I asked him.
He shrugged, his expression an unreadable mask. “I told Lucas I’d take you to him.”
I vaguely remembered that conversation, but a part of me thought he’d been bluffing to get him to lay off. That just proved that he truly didn’t care about me. But I could handle Lucas. Despite his little act of violence, he wasn’t typically like that. I’d like to think it was just a one-time thing and that he'd let me go at my request. But there was another part of me that thought something darker may be lurking beneath the surface—that he wasn’t truly who I thought he was.
Ashton led me to a silver Equinox, one of the older editions. Jameson was in the passenger seat and Kash was in the back. I climbed in the back, taking up the spot beside Kash. My chest was tight with tension and exhaustion was clinging to me. I was exhausted and hungry. Thirsty even. I just wanted to get this over with.
Darkness blanketed us immediately when we pulled out onto the main road with Ash up front. This was probably one of his dad’s many vehicles. For whatever reason, Ash didn’t feel the need to turn on his brights, like he had tunnel vision or some shit.
Kash shifted closer to me, his body taking up the middle row. Which was saying a lot since he was pretty thin. I wanted to sink into the warmth of his body, to have him comfort me and tell me he cared, just like Jameson had. As if sensing that’s exactly what I needed, he wrapped an arm around me and tugged me against his chest.
“It’s almost over,” he whispered, low enough so that only I could hear him.
Right. Delivering me to my crazy ex-boyfriend was the final stop. And then what? They’d leave me alone and pretend I didn’t exist? I nuzzled against Kash, craving the small amount of comfort he was willing to offer me. He sucked in a sharp breath, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. Something was off with him. I could see it in the tense way he set his jaw, in the way he kept avoiding my gaze, in the firmness of the one arm he had snaked around me.
I wanted to beg them to stop this. To let me explain everything from my perspective in the only way I knew how to. To beg them to listen and accept me again. But Ashton seemed like he was beyond reason. I’d hurt him, and he wanted to make sure I was as broken as he was, if not more.
Confusion tore through me when we pulled into Ashton’s driveway. Not the one at the frat house, but the one belonging to his parents.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, glancing around. Why wasn’t he taking me to Lucas? Was Ashton not coming? I glanced around frantically, my heart beating so hard I could feel my pulse thrumming against my neck.
Kash tightened his hold on me in an almost possessive manner, like he wanted to protect me from Ashton’s wrath. I knew the moment Ash bonded me out that there was a darkness to him, one more sinister than usual.
Ashton wrenched his door open and stepped out. Instead of heading up to the house, he stopped by my door and opened it. My body immediately became tense, his gray eyes swimming with a thousand storm clouds. His eyes dropped to where Kash had his arm wrapped around me and his jaw feather in irritation. He braced his hands on the back seat that I resided in, his fingertips brushing along the outside of my leg.
“After tonight, this is over,” he said in a calm, tense tone. “You won’t exist to me—to any of us. You’re worthless, Everleigh. They know it, I know it, and soon…you’ll know it, too.”
I thought my heart couldn’t hurt anymore. I thought I was already too broken to break anymore. But his words had me shattering into a million pieces. My throat was tight, and tears burned my eyes from his callous words.
Despite the war raging within my body, I pulled in a ragged breath through my lungs, doing my best to keep my head held high regardless of the tear that had managed to trickle down the side of my face. “Fine by me.” He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes tracking the lone tear, as if it were the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. Finally, he jerked a nod and straightened his spine.
Glancing over at Jameson, he gave him a pointed look. “You know what to do.”
Jameson climbed over the center console and took the driver’s seat. “Yep,” he confirmed. It wasn’t until Ashton stepped back and closed my car door that Jameson tore out of the driveway.
Tension mixed with anticipation was thick in the air. They were acting like this was some kind of final battle. Maybe because they knew this was the end. That alone was doing things to my heart I didn’t even want to admit to or dwell on.
Kash took his free hand and gripped my face in a firm hold, turning my head toward him. I was about to ask what the hell he thought he was doing, but his lips were on mine in the next breath. The cold metal of his lip ring pressed against my mouth, and I inhaled his spicy cologne so thoroughly, knowing this was indeed the last time I’d be close enough to smell it. I kissed him back, just like I’d kissed Jameson earlier. This kiss was softer, more urgent, and mixed with words neither of us dared to say.
“Really, asshole?” Jameson snarled from the front seat, glancing in the rearview mirror. Kash huffed out a laugh before pulling away, brushing his thumb along my lower lip.
The ride was silent, and I found myself paying close attention to my surroundings. This wasn’t the way to the university. In fact, I had no idea where they were taking me. The lack of knowledge had dread settling in the pit of my stomach.
“Why aren’t you taking me to their frat house?” I inquired, unable to hide the nervousness from my tone.
They were both silent for a moment, but it was Kash who decided to indulge me. “Apparently, they’re hosting a frat party in the woods tonight. An exclusive one with just members. You’ll go home with him afterwards.”
“Unless…” Jameson trailed off. “You decide to leave him again. We can’t stop you there.” He shot me a look in the mirror, one that told me he hoped I’d do just that.
“Well, I’m certainly not staying with him,” I grumbled. “This entire thing feels pointless.”
Kash nodded, running his fingers through my long hair. “I know. We tried telling Ash that. He’s a stubborn fucker.”
That was the understatement of the damn century. Silence stretched between us as we moved onto some creepy backroad near the country. My grandparents didn’t live far from here actually. Jameson stopped in the middle of the road, trees flanking us on either side. A cold chill swept down my spine and I glanced around in confusion. They were having a party out here? In the middle of nowhere? It was probably a precaution so the cops didn’t get involved, but still…
Jameson raised his phone to his ear, waiting for the other person to pick up. “We’re here.” And then he hung up.
“I don’t want to be here,” I admitted under my breath. It was creepy and far away from my home on the north side. Knowing Lucas, this party would go well into the morning. I haven’t eaten, showered, slept, or anything. Not to mention, school wouldn’t even be an option if this turned out to be a banger. “Something feels off.”
Kash glanced over at me, his unreadable mask snapped firmly in place. “It’s just a party, Little E. It’ll be alright.”
I hesitated, but he was right. I was just being paranoid. We sat in silence for a while and then a figure in a gray hoodie emerged from the tree line. His blonde hair was sticking out all over the place and he looked so unlike himself that I had to do a double take. He seemed fine at school. The dark shadows covered a good portion of his face, giving him a more sinister appearance. A cold chill swept down my spine at the mere sight of him.
Maybe it was my anxiety, but something really did feel off about this. My heart leapt into my throat and my muscles started locking into place from the mere tension alone. It was odd that Lucas would request my presence here of all places, this far away from the university, or away from civilization in general.
“Breathe, Everleigh,” Kash said calmly. “If we thought for even one second that he planned on doing something to you, we wouldn’t be here right now. Just relax.”
I bit my lower lip and nodded. They might have been assholes, but they weren’t monsters. This wasn’t some kind of set-up. That thought gave me some relief. They might have resented me, but they weren’t evil people. Not at heart.
Blowing out a breath, I scooted away from him, allowing his hand to drop from around me. I reached for the door handle with shaky fingers and hauled myself out. The cold air greeted me instantly, kissing along my flesh until a shiver was tearing through me despite the jean jacket I wore.
I spared one last glance at Kash, an ache forming within my chest. And then I slammed the door shut. Lucas assessed me silently, his hands inserted in the pockets of his black slacks. He hadn’t moved an inch since stepping into view, and that realization unsettled me further.
“Come, Everleigh,” he ordered in a bored tone that was equally unlike him.
A shudder rolled through me, and I hesitantly took a step forward, praying that Jameson or Kash would change their mind and stop this. At a snail’s pace, I finally reached Lucas. His gaze darted to the vehicle still lingering in the road and his jaw feathered with annoyance at the fact.
“They don’t care about you,” he said coldly. “If they did, why would they bring you back to me?”
I knew he was right. If they cared about me, they wouldn’t have done half the things they’d done. It still didn’t make me feel any better. In fact, the ache in my chest only amplified.
“I know.”
Lucas glanced over at me in surprise, like he didn’t expect me to believe him. But I think I’d known all along and just hoped I’d been wrong. If anything, this proved it. He reached for me suddenly, causing me to tense. He was unpredictable, something I’ve learned about him recently. His hand curled around my waist, and he tugged me against his warm body. Repulsion zipped through me at the possessiveness he was displaying as if to simply prove a point. His lips found mine in a sloppy kiss and I tried to jerk away, but his other hand was moving to the back of my head to hold me in place.
The sound of the Equinox taking off sent sharp slices of pain tittering through me. They were leaving me. They hated me. They didn’t want me. Nobody did. Not really.
A callous smirk flashed across Lucas’s face as he took in their departing vehicle with a flick of his gaze and then he was pulling away completely. “Come on, babe. You’re just in time for the party.” He slipped his hand in mine and led me through the trees, darkness surrounding us instantly.
Twigs and leaves crunched beneath our feet, terror winding through me like a vise. Party. He confirmed that it was a party. That’s all it was. Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had sprouted within me. His hand around mine felt like a noose, and I wanted to shake him off, but that would just start a fight I didn’t have the energy for. I’d play along until we were far away from wherever the hell we were.
The further we walked into the woods, the more unsettled I became. Finally, my gaze snagged on what appeared to be some kind of fire up ahead—a bonfire of sorts it seemed. The tension slowly started ebbing from my muscles and I started to relax. But I didn’t hear the usual laughter and cheers that usually erupted at one of the frat parties. Then again, by the way Jameson and Kash had said it, it sounded like there would only be frat members here. Just the guys, and…me.
The fire grew brighter as we got closer and finally, I could make out the shadows of some of the guys standing around the fire. I recognized Colt immediately, but he wasn’t his usual, goofy self. In fact, he looked like he was torn by something. One of the guys, Elijah, shot me a sleazy smile that had my skin crawling. I didn’t have many encounters with him, and he typically ignored me for the most part, but that look…
A shudder rolled through me as we approached. I glanced around, realizing there was only a small cooler tucked away between a couple of the trees and nothing else. No drugs, no alcohol, and definitely no women.
“I thought you said this was a party,” I muttered under my breath so that he was the only one who could hear me.
Lucas shrugged. “More like a get together,” he explained. “We were just waiting on you to get started.”
I realized pretty quickly that this wasn’t the entire frat. Just Lucas’s most trusted of the group. “Waiting for me?” I repeated, glancing at the ten familiar faces surrounding the bonfire—if you could even call it that.
“Yep.” He jerked me forward, tightening his grip around my hand like he expected me to bolt. I’d be lying if I claimed that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.
Elijah was rounding the fire in the next instant, his dark hair swishing around his face with the movement. I always thought he seemed a little…off. Darker than usual. Maybe it was the scar on his upper lip, or the danger lurking within his green eyes. He was attractive, but most of the guys in the fraternity were. He had absolutely nothing on my guys, though.
My guys.
They weren’t my fucking guys. This solidified that if anything.
Elijah closed the space between us, his warm breath fanning across my face due to our close proximity. The alcohol he’d consumed before my arrival lingered heavily in the air between us. His hair was choppy, giving him that emo-boy style that girls seemed to like a lot. Ashton’s was shaggy in that way, but shorter and not as intense.
“Mmm. She smells fucking exquisite,” he commented in a deep, raspy tone.
Lucas grinned, but there was nothing friendly about it. It was ruthless and unhinged—a side of him I’d never seen before. I trembled between the two guys, fear rippling through me.
“What is this?” I whispered, failing to keep the panic out of my tone.
Elijah reached out, brushing his calloused fingers over the side of my face. Everything inside of me was screaming, telling me to bolt. But I was frozen with fear, unable to move. My heart stuttered in my chest when my gaze locked with Alex’s across the fire. He appeared just as emotionless.
“Your punishment,” Lucas said simply. “I told you that you didn’t get to leave me. That you were mine ,” he snarled. “All the while, you were fucking your way through your ex-boyfriend’s friend group.” He dropped my hand, moving to place his palm on my lower back instead. “It’s only fair that my friends get a turn, don’t you think?”
I lurched backwards, astonishment slamming into me with ruthless ferocity. But Lucas was quick to keep me from moving any further, his hand pressing against me more firmly.
Elijah’s lips tilted into a manic grin, his eyes blazing with raw excitement that had shivers skittering through my body. “I love it when they run,” he groaned. “Maybe we should let her go. See how far she gets.”
What the actual fuck? Fucking psycho.
“No,” Lucas replied dryly, like they’ve had this conversation before. “It’s too risky and it’ll take too long. Plus, she’s fast. Just fuck her and get it over with.”
Elijah shrugged like he didn’t give a shit either way, and then he closed in on me, pressing his front to mine. His hands moved to grip my waist, his nose dropping to the column of my neck. “Fuck,” he growled. “Just like cherries.” His tongue darted out of his mouth, and he swiped it along the sensitive skin there.
“Please,” I choked out. “Don’t do this.” Tears blurred my vision as I was faced with the twisted reality of what this really was. They all came here to have their way with me. To rape me.
Elijah’s deep chuckle tittered through the air, sweeping in the wind as it was carried all around me in an unsettling caress. His hands found my jacket and he pushed it down my shoulders in a single movement, letting it fall to the ground with a soft thud.
Commotion caught my eye from the other side of the fire, and I realized that it was Colt, panic flaring in his eyes as he tried to get to me. Two of the other guys held him back, keeping him from being the hero. One of them delivered a punch to his stomach, causing him to double over and wheeze.
My attention was captured by Elijah again when he grabbed the fabric of my thin shirt and ripped it down the middle with ease. A sob caught in my throat, my body vibrating with fear. The cold, night air drifted along my exposed skin, but that was clearly the least of my concerns. His gaze skimmed over my sports bra for a moment and then he gripped the zipper in the front between two fingers before jerking it down. I tried to move to cover myself, but Lucas was pinning my arms to my sides from behind. In no time, my bra was crumpling to the ground, too. My nipples pebbled due to the cold, humiliation rippling through me in waves.
Did Ashton know that this was the plan? He must have, right? I suppose it didn’t matter. He was the reason I was here in the first place. He was the reason this was happening.
“She’s got some nice tits,” Elijah stated, pinching one of my nipples between his thumb and forefinger. “A little small for my taste, but a decent handful.” I hated how he talked about me like I was just a slab of meat. Something he could use and discard when he was done. But what else would I expect from any of Lucas’s friends?
I wriggled between him, trying to get away, but my attempts were futile at best. I didn’t have my arms, and my stomach was twisting with hunger.
“Told you.” Lucas smirked. “She’s also got a really tight pussy.”
Bile burned the back of my throat, tears slipping down my face more freely now. He had me fooled. He was the furthest thing from a loving boyfriend than one could get. There was more commotion happening on the other side of the fire, but my gaze was locked on the immediate threat standing before me.
Elijah’s hands drifted down to my waistband. “We’ll see,” he supplied, before jerking them down my legs.
“No!” I cried out, hoping someone might hear me. I wriggled against Lucas, trying my hardest to get out of his grasp. Panic flared to life inside of me even more potently than before. This was actually happening. This wasn’t just some fucked up attempt to scare me.
One of the guys nearest me was holding up a phone, directing it at us. Was he recording this? Disgust churned inside my stomach, fear snaking through every part of me until it was locking me in place again. Elijah jerked one of my shoes off, followed by the other, and then he was pulling my pants from my body, discarding them with the rest of my garments. He was kneeling now, his nose brushing against the front of my panties. I trembled, not wanting him anywhere near there.
“Fuck yes,” Elijah groaned from my scent alone. He hooked his fingers in my waistband and wrenched the last bit of cloth from my body, leaving me completely and utterly exposed for all of them.
Before he could touch me anywhere intimately, I jerked my knee up, catching him in the side of his jaw. His head whipped to the side, sending his black hair flying with the movement.
Lucas cursed under his breath, winding his hand in my hair and jerking so hard that my vision blurred from the pain. He leered over me, a snarl twisting his lips. “You’re at our mercy, slut. Don’t try us again.” He shoved me forward so that I was falling, my hands hitting the cold, hard ground.
Elijah’s maniacal laughter rang out and he was shoving me on my back. “I was going to be nice and get you wet.” He smirked, jerking my legs apart. “Not now.” He positioned himself between my legs after pulling his dick out, lining himself up with my center. I started thrashing around, trying to make this as difficult for him as possible. It seemed to be working if his frustrated growl was anything to go by. His fist connected with the side of my face, sending pain exploding through my jaw. My vision blurred, followed by a persistent throb where the blow had landed. “That’s more like it.” My head thumped against the ground, dizziness overtaking me.
In the next movement, he was inside of me. A cry tore from my lips as he stretched me out, my body not welcoming him at all due to the lack of preparation. It didn’t seem to deter him. He continued to force his way inside until he was fully seated.
“You are tight, Miss Everleigh Knight.” He eased out and then slammed into me again. Pain shot through my pussy from the brutality, tears blurring my vision. “Fuck yes.” He slammed into me again and again until my body started reacting to him, moisture slowly gathering between my legs. Stones and sticks dug into my back with every jerk of his body against mine, incoherent cries falling from my lips.
“Please,” I choked out in a state of delirium. Humiliation clawed through me at the fact that I was actually getting wet somehow. I wasn’t the least bit turned on. But it did make it hurt less, so that was something. His hand moved to grip my throat, and he cut off my airway, sending another round of terror shooting through me. My nails bit into his forearms, begging him to relent, but he kept slamming into me.
“Don’t make her pass out,” Lucas barked. “I want her awake for all of this.”
Of course he did. Sick bastard. He had to know that he wasn’t getting away with this. Unless they planned on killing me…
That thought alone brought forth a new fear. I didn’t want to die. And if they were willing to go to these lengths, what else were they willing to do? Would they really film a murder?
Elijah loosened his grip on my throat, moaning as he thrusted in deeply, forcing my back to arch. I sucked in a sharp breath of air, trying to fill my lungs with more and more oxygen, but all I could smell was him . Something woodsy with pine, the scent wrapping around me like a cocoon of needles. With one final thrust, he was spilling inside of me. A sob wrenched its way from my throat, his warm seed trickling down my thighs as he pulled out.
“Who’s next?” he called out breathlessly, tucking himself back in his pants. “I got her all loosened up for you.”
My mind was screaming at me to get up and run, but I was far too weak. I couldn’t even force my arms to move. Instead, they were on either side of me, resting on the cold, hard ground.
“How bout you, Colt?” he taunted, knowing damn well that Colt wanted nothing to do with this. “You knew the rules before showing up. No one leaves here without a turn. Better to have her now before she’s a gaping hole filled with everyone’s cum.”
My body shook with sobs, fear and humiliation barreling through me. There was more commotion followed by grunts and the sound of a fist connecting with flesh. But I couldn’t even bring myself to look. Have they done this to women before? They seemed to have planned it all out beforehand.
“Fine,” Colt ground out, his voice tense with pain and anger. His voice had gotten closer, his footsteps scuffing against the dirt, kicking up pebbles and twigs as he stomped toward me. My gaze traveled up the length of his body when he came to a stop, his eyes holding so much regret and sympathy.
“Don’t make me take your dick out for you, Fisher,” Elijah taunted.
Colt clenched his jaw and unfastened his jeans before shoving them down his legs. He was lean and his legs were just as strong looking. I always knew he was toned but seeing him in this state was much different. Especially when I knew he was about to be inside of me. I couldn’t even be mad at him. His lip was busted, and a bruise was forming around one of his eyes. All because he tried to refuse. He was being forced into this just like me. His boxers were on the ground next, and I purposely avoided looking at his dick, staring up at the darkened sky instead. Leaves fluttered in the wind, crunching with the movement due to the seasonal change.
Colt positioned himself between my thighs, his brown eyes containing so much emotion. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered through cracked lips. He lined the tip of his cock up with my entrance and eased himself inside, much gentler than Elijah had. My pussy sucked him in, disgust trickling through me at that fact. He lowered his body on top of mine, his breath coming out pained and ragged. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. He eased out before thrusting back in. I could tell that he was holding back, that he was trying not to make this harder or more painful than it had to be.
“Good God,” Lucas muttered. “You aren’t making love to her. Fuck her like the damn whore she is.”
Colt hesitated, his jaw feathering with tension.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “Do what you have to do. It’ll go by quicker that way.” My words came out forced and choked, even to my own ears, but I meant them. Anything to make this end as quickly as possible.
He clamped his eyes closed before jerking his hips back and driving into me. A strangled gasp tore from my lips, heat pooling in my stomach from the single motion. Repulsion filled my veins at the thought of finding any pleasure in this, regardless of him not being as eager to hurt me as his friends. His eyes were blown wide now with lust, a grunt of pleasure rumbling through his chest.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered again, like merely saying the words would erase his part in it. “So, fucking sorry.” The slapping of his skin against mine echoed around us, embarrassment settling in my gut. There were so many eyes on us. These were people I went to school with—some of them I’d thought were decent people. Like Alex. I didn’t know him well, but I considered him a friend in the loosest of terms. That still counted, right? “Fuck,” he groaned out. “You do feel good, Everleigh.”
He drove into me again, a moan threatening to spill from my lips, but I quickly swallowed it down. I would not let them hear anything from me. They could use me like a warm hole all they wanted, but they would not claim my pleasure. I’d never been close with Colt, but he’s always been the friendliest with me. Sometimes, I couldn’t even remember his damn name. But he never forgot mine. He was always so warm and welcoming when he saw me, and now he was being forced to do something as twisted and evil as this. This wouldn’t only haunt me. If he truly despised what was going on here, it would haunt him too. A part of me wanted to make this easier for him, to let him know that I didn’t fault him. So, when he thrusted inside of me again, his head lowering with the movement, I allowed my lips to brush against his ear.
“You feel good too,” I whispered. “Only you. None of them.” I hoped he caught my double meaning.
His sharp intake of breath told me everything I needed to know. His posture relaxed some as the tension ebbed from his muscles. “Thank you,” he said softly, searching my gaze for a moment. And then he was driving into me again, faster this time, with determination. Probably trying to finish so this would end. I knew he could be a minute man if he wanted. The party proved that, but maybe Lucas had warned him against it.
My back scraped against the ground, and I knew it would probably be raw and torn to shreds by the time this ended. At least it would give me something else to focus on. Pleasure was steadily building in my core, sending sparks of electricity pulsing through me.
Oh fuck. No. No. God no.
“Colt,” I cried out, panic searing through my chest. He looked at me with concern, but didn’t slow his movements. It was on the tip of my tongue, to tell him to stop—to tell him to slow down because getting off on this would be the biggest bodily betrayal of all. But the words wouldn’t come. My pussy clamped down on him, sending shock waves through my system. A moan tore from my throat against my will and my body started shaking with sobs.
His lips parted, a groan rumbling out of him. “Fucking shit,” he hissed, slamming into me one last time before spilling inside of me. He didn’t linger, pulling himself out of me immediately, knowing exactly what I wanted, what I needed. He gathered his clothes and got dressed. A coldness swept over me, one that had nothing to do with the weather.
Derek was between my legs next, someone I’d only had a few encounters with in passing. Someone who I’d thought was normal. My pussy was raw and beaten. Every thrust had pain slicing through me. Then there was Nigel. He might have been the thickest of all, and it didn’t help that he decided to take me from behind, stretching me even more thoroughly than anyone else had. At some point, I drifted off into my mind. Losing track of all the people taking advantage of me. Dissociation.
By the time they were done, it felt like my cunt had been torn to shreds. I was sure I was bleeding down there. The only reprieve I had was that no one took my ass.
Lucas clapped his hands together, a manic gleam in his eyes. “Look at that.” He grinned. “Your body count went from…what was it?” He paused for mock effect. “Four to fourteen. No one will want you now. You’re used goods, bitch. And just in case you find a guy who doesn’t mind a high body count, I have something else up my sleeve.” He nodded to someone, but I was too out of it to notice who he was talking to. His words were distant and far away. I was on the brink of passing out, my body screaming in protest.
Elijah approached, grabbing me by my biceps and forcing me on shaky legs. “Hold her in place,” he told Lucas.
Lucas came up behind me, winding my arms behind my back while Elijah took the spot in front of me. My eyebrows dipped in confusion, wondering what else they could possibly do to me. My question was answered immediately though when Elijah reached between my legs, jamming two fingers inside of me to push all the cum back into my sore pussy. Before I could so much as hiss out a complaint, he cocked his arm back and punched me in the lip, splitting it instantly. Copper danced across my tongue and my head whipped to the side, agony searing through my mouth. He didn’t give me time to recover, hitting me in the eye next. A whimper fluttered past my lips, my body threatening to give out. The only thing keeping me upright was Lucas’s firm grip. I started losing count of how many times he hit me, or where those hits landed. It was a surprise to me that I hadn’t passed out yet.
My head lolled to the side, blood streaming down my nose and mouth. I could barely even see out of one of my eyes. Everything hurt. I just wanted it to end.
“Just kill me,” I slurred, spitting blood out as I spoke.
“That’s an idea,” Lucas whispered against my neck. “We just might.”
He let me fall to the ground with a thud. My hands and knees biting into the dirt. Just when I thought it was over, someone delivered a sharp kick to my ribs. And then another to my hip, my stomach, my side. I could tell different people were attacking me. The assaults were coming from various places, some at the same time. But it was the final kick that did me in. Someone landed a finishing blow to my face, black spots dancing around the edges of my vision. And then it all went black.