Chapter 58 #2
It was fulfilling, dealing with those creeps at the dive bar.
Especially rearranging the one guy’s face.
And then taking care of the stupid bitch that was sending messages on behalf of Ivy’s ex, as well as the ex himself.
For some, that would have been the grand finale—the piece de resistance.
I’ve certainly earned some brownie points from Ivy for that one.
The way she looked at me when I handed her the art piece crafted from his tattoo—it did things to me. Still does when I recall it.
But the darkness in me craves more.
I reach behind me and pull out two weapons—a rifle and a revolver. The shotgun is loaded with tranquilizers. I’m not a monster. I’m not in the Anything Goes to enact some lunatic murder spree—although I certainly wouldn’t be the first one.
This is about creating an experience for Ivy. The others are collateral—and they’re certainly not good people. But I’m hardly going to end their lives for a spot of entertainment. The revolver is just in case things get out of hand. I tuck it into my waistband.
She doesn’t stand a chance against the guys chasing her. Against me.
It helps that she hasn’t been here before. She has no idea about the tunnels that spider out across the Anything Goes. That would make things even more interesting.
But she’s on a course she can’t read, regardless.
I’m hoping she picks the woods, but there are several other places that she might end up running into—the amusement park, the gothic graveyard, the junkyard run by lunatics, the dilapidated corn maze—there’s even an abandoned shopping mall.
All of which I’d be more than happy to chase her through.
I head in the direction she ran. She has no idea what she’s getting into, and that’s part of what makes this all the more thrilling.
Running, in the dark, in a strange neighborhood that’s clearly full of danger.
Five of them are already on her.
They’re unkempt—their cadence off-kilter—adding to the terror of the chase. The ambiguity of what they’re trying to do.
If any of them reached her, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
And there are many more of them waiting for their shot.
They start to get closer than my liking. It’s my time to act.
Because, as much as this is adding to the excitement—a little uncertainty introduced by adding unpredictable third parties—I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to her, especially if it involves another man touching her.
If she hurts herself while running—sprains a joint or breaks a bone—I’ll be there to help her mend. I’ll patch her up and make her feel tenderness and love, like a malevolent knight in shining armor who is only soft for her. I won’t feel bad at all if she needs me like that.
But if someone else was to touch her? That would be no good. Even though I’ve put her in front of them like raw steak in front of a pack of starving hyenas.
Hopefully, I’ve made the right calculation here.
I start picking them off one by one, gunshots ringing out in the cool air of the Anything Goes.
The first man crumples to the ground. The others glance behind them, but it doesn’t deter them—only makes them run faster toward Ivy.
Not only do they want to ravage her body themselves, carrying out whatever grotesque fantasies they’ve conjured in their sick minds. They also know she’d sell for a good price—someone so gorgeous, so… marketable, in a place like this.
One gets close. She’s running so fast she doesn’t even notice his arm shoot out and come inches away from grabbing her.
Thank god, she doesn’t stop. Doesn’t hesitate, even as his gnarled fingers grope for her in the moonlit night.
I sprint now, reaching out and spinning the man around.
“What—” he cries out as I bring the barrel down hard against his forehead.
He lets out a strange noise, full of vowels, as his large body hurtles to the ground. He lands with a vicious thud, knee bending in a way that nobody’s ever should.
That leaves me and Ivy. And whatever—or whoever—is in the woods that sprawl out in front of her.
She continues running, straight ahead, never looking back.
And into the darkness beyond.
I smile to myself.
Good girl.
Let’s see how far my little poison makes it.
IVY
The sound of gunshots drives me forward.
I don’t have time to stop and see who’s causing them—of course, I hope it’s Soren taking down the guys who are chasing me.
But that seems surreal—like this entire situation.
When I told him I wanted to be chased, I had no idea he would take it to this level. I thought he might stalk me around the apartment, or maybe the nearby cemetery.
But to bring me to a neighborhood—the most dangerous one in this gritty city—and let me fend for myself while deranged men limped after me like something out of an explicit version of The Walking Dead? I didn’t see this coming.
The trees around me are mangled, sprawling, their dark roots twisting out of the ground like tripwires. It’s so dark, only illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Owls hoot from the shadows, and I can hear the distinctive rustle and barks of cicadas and other nocturnal insects angry at my disruption, warning their mates.
I crunch through the darkness. There’s no clear path here, no nice little hiking trail designed for families to feel like they’re being outdoorsy on the weekend. There’s no pattern to where I should go, no clues subconsciously edging me forward.
I shove through bushes and tree branches that jut out, trying to figure out the path of least resistance. My face and arms burn with scratches, but I ignore the tingling of my skin as I continue to force my way through.
A branch cracks behind me. I pause, just long enough to try to figure out if it’s human or animal. The distinctive crunch of a boot with twigs underfoot crunches, only feet away. There’s a soft growl.
Fuck. That’s not Soren.
And whoever or whatever it is, is closing in. Fast.
I push harder now, tangled vines closing around me, threatening to bind me in place for the predators to find me.
I’ve never felt this exposed.
I don’t have weapons. Or any fucking clue where I am.
But I’ve never felt more alive.
Adrenaline spikes in me, and I find a small clearing. It’s enough to give me some lead time, and I spring forward, my legs pumping like they never have before.
Another shot rings out behind me, followed by a groan.
“I’m coming for you, Ivy,” a voice booms.
Soren.
I breathe a sigh of relief, until my mind remembers that he’s fucking chasing me, too.
I run harder. I trip on a branch in the darkness, the moon obscured by the treetops, and I fall awkwardly on my side as footsteps continue toward me, rhythmically.
Fuck!
I struggle to my feet and continue to run, limping now as my ankle lets me know it’s not happy with my fall.
My steps slow before I mean for them to. Just for a second. Just enough. And that’s all it takes.
A strong hand closes around my waist—firm and unavoidable.
My breath tears out of me as my body jolts, the momentum cutting off instantly as he pulls me back into him.
Like he was always going to end up here.
Like I was always going to end up here.
Then another arm wraps around my neck, a large hand settling over my mouth.
Lips press to my ear. “You really thought you’d get away from me, little poison?”