38. Eden
Eden
That sound behind you?
Oh , yeah, you’re fucked.
Eighteen hours earlier
T he duffel over my shoulder is even heavier than the damn bazooka, but I managed to get most of what Dom asked for.
As I make my way back out of Lucky’s secret cave, I realize the sky is darkening now, banishing even the filtered light through the trees.
I wish I hadn’t dumped my pack with Dom .
My flashlight would be useful about now.
I’m not usually skittish in the forest, even at night, but there’s something about knowing there are men who are willing to murder me and everyone I care about that really changes the tone.
The shadows seem to shift unexpectedly and every tiny crack and rustle makes me flinch.
But I adjust the duffel and keep moving, swallowing down my nervousness.
I just need to get back to Dom .
I’ve hardly been moving for five minutes when a prickle lifts the hairs at the back of my neck. Glancing around casually, I don’t see anything, but that doesn’t mean much. My eyesight is shocking at the best of times, and between the sinking light and the hazy woods, I’m pathetically vulnerable.
I pick up the pace, hoping I’m imagining things, when a sharp crackle sounds to my right. That was too loud, and too close.
Nope . No , thank you.
I move to my right and stumble on a log I didn’t see. I bite my lip and step over it, looking around again. Damn it, why is everything so dark? After a tense moment, I start moving again, and as I do, a low, taunting laugh follows me.
Fear ices my veins, and I give up, jumping into a jog. My muscles protest, telling me we’ve done too much over the last few days, but there’s no way I’m slowing down.
I’m not alone.
I know I shouldn’t, but I can never help myself. I look over my shoulder, sure that there’s someone right behind me. But there’s... nothing.
The relief is only slight, and I whip my head back around in time to see a wide, stocky chest. I slam into the man, and his arms come around me with none of the kind firmness of my brutes.
These arms are familiar though.
Slick horror makes me slacken, though I can’t back up. I escaped before— I don’t think I’m lucky enough to do it again. I look up, knowing who I’m going to see.
“ Well , hello, sweetheart,” Sam croons. “ I think it’s about time you came with me.”