14. Peyton
PEYTON
I’m running through the woods.
I’m lost. My gaze tears through the forest, but I have no idea where I am.
Danger surrounds me. I instinctively know it.
My heart pounds and my knees shake as I continue running, searching for an escape. A way out.
In the distance, I spot a glimpse of a roof.
Perfect. I’ll be safe there.
Despite the stitch in my side, I run faster, desperate for safety. For a sense of belonging. For home.
Right as I break through the tree line, I realize it’s the back of Daltyn’s cabin.
I nearly weep with relief.
And there he is, stepping through the back door.
I’m about to yell his name when there’s a snap from behind me.
I whirl around... and hit the ground so hard, my breath is knocked from my lungs.
A figure straddles me. Strong hands pin my wrists to the ground.
Oh, God. It’s Landon.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the bitch who abandoned me.”
“I never ? —”
His hand wraps around my throat, cutting off my words. And my air.
“No matter.” He glances up, watching as Daltyn walks through the door. “All that matters now is that I get to end you.” He looks down at me. “And then, him.”
No.
No, no, no.
I need to do something to warn him.
But I can’t move.
Can’t scream.
And when Landon tightens his grip even more, darkness edges at my vision.
I’m running out of air.
A tear slips free.
After he kills me, he’ll kill Daltyn.
And I won’t be able to stop it.
I jerk awake, my breath heaving from my lungs.
What the fuck?
I sit up, clenching the covers as I look around the room.
The familiar scent of Daltyn’s cabin fills my lungs.
I’m fine.
But I don’t feel fine.
I get up, my ankle protesting when I put weight on it. But I ignore it and keep going.
I don’t know where exactly. Maybe the living room.
But once I’m there, my eyes drift to the stairs that lead to his loft.
No. Don’t do it.
But I’m already moving to the stairs .
You can’t go up there.
But my foot is on the first step anyway.
I argue with myself the entire way, trying to talk myself out of this.
But it doesn’t work.
I freeze when I spot his bed. He’s not in it.
Terror fills me as my eyes dart around.
Oh my God. Where is he?
And then I hear the sound of running water.
Relief fills me. He’s in the shower.
I should go back downstairs.
But I stand there, unmoving.
Just move closer. Then you’ll calm down enough to go back downstairs.
It’s stupid that just being near him makes me feel safe.
But it’s all I can think of right now.
I stand outside the slightly cracked door, listening to the spray hit the tiles. The steam seeps out of the crack, swirling around me.
And then I hear it.
He moans my name, desire and need laced in the strangled sound.
Oh my God.
Did he just... masturbate to me?
I clamp a hand over my mouth, trying to hide my ragged breath. My lungs burn as I stand there.
Then the water shuts off, and I move, sneaking down the stairs as fast as I can, clinging to the railing so I don’t fall.
With every aching step back to my room, I beg my throbbing ankle to hold up until I make it to bed. Because collapsing in the hallway and having him discover me... yeah. Not a good look .
I climb into bed and pull the covers up to my chin like I just did something bad.
Which, I kind of did.
I invaded his privacy... and heard something I never expected.
I lie there, staring at the ceiling, the way he moaned my name echoing inside my head.
And then I hear it. The refrigerator door opens... and then closes.
My ears strain for the sound of his footsteps retreating.
Instead, they come closer.
My heart pounds faster.
Is he... coming back here?
A floorboard creaks right outside my room.
I squeeze my eyes closed, then relax my face so it looks like I’m sleeping.
Then I feel his presence in the room.
He stands there for a short time before moving closer.
I do my best to pretend I’m sleeping, my pulse pounding as I wait to see what he’ll do.
He stands there for several long moments before he finally retreats.
I don’t open my eyes until I hear his footsteps in the distance.
Why did he come into my room?
Did he know I was awake?
That I snuck upstairs to his loft?
I lie there for a while, wondering if he’ll come back.
But my eyes grow heavy.
I fall asleep before he returns.