50. Summer
“Jibber babber!”Though I was screaming, my voice was being swallowed up by the ferocious storm. It had come on so quickly.
I was drenched from head to toe. My lungs burning. My feet kept getting stuck in the mud.
I could barely see, the rain was so thick.
Something had sparked when Kuru had kissed the poppet—a memory. And I finally understood.
The poem, jibber babber, wasn’t only a chant of protection.
It was a name she’d given Ollie. A name that he’d responded to when she’d called it.
This whole time, I’d believed the alligator had come with the sound of the crinkling bag.
In truth, she’d named him Protection, with the hope that one day he would protect me.
It had worked once before. Now, I could only hope that it would work one more time.
I could only hope my running would protect those behind me—that Saul would come after me.
“Jibber babber! Jibber babber!” My screams pierced through the raging storm. Through the howling winds and deafening thunder.
Then, the deafening roar of guns echoed through the forest. Oh god. I faltered, tripping. Face planting in the mud. Pain splintered through me.
Who was killing who?
The crashing sounds in the forest behind me drew closer.
Adrenaline surged and I jumped to my feet. I ran deeper into the marshes, yelling with all my might. My heart pounded so hard it might burst from my chest.
I stumbled again. This time managing to keep upright—I was at the bay.
“You heard those gunshots, little girl?” Saul yelled. “Your friends are all dead. Maybe they’ve saved Rook for the torture room.”
I didn’t stop. Deeper and deeper into the water. It went to my calves. The water quickly rising from the storm. To my waist.
The swamp could kill me. But at least I knew it. Maybe enough to survive.
I’d rather take my chances with it, than Rook living in servitude—if he was still alive.
Than to be under Saul’s control. Ending up like Grace.
I dove under water.
It was cold.
Pain shot up my leg from the scrape of oysters on my feet. The snake bite on my hand ached. The touch of something along my arm made me shudder. I couldn’t see—it was too dark.
I had only one hope—that the swamp would take Saul, too.
Blindly, I swam as far and as fast as possible. Until the pressure in my lungs was too much.
When I emerged, I heard Saul behind me. Water splashing.
Getting closer, closer.
He, too, was from here. Raised in the same murky swamps. Possibly had the skills to defeat me.
I pushed harder. Through the dark water, mud, and grasses of the marsh. My arms and legs grew tired. I kept an eye on the shoreline, not wanting to get swept away.
I swam until my arms couldn”t move a single bit more.
And then, a cold hand grasped around my ankle, yanking me.
His hold was a vice as he drug me towards the shore. ”You thought you could kill me?” he snarled. “Don”t you know it”s not your destiny?”
I grappled with Saul, punching and screaming.
I kicked free, leaping away. He grabbed my hair. Pain shooting through me as he yanked me towards him. Then, an arm around my throat, cutting off my air.
I fought him but he was too strong.
It felt like forever, until finally, it was shallow enough where he could stand.
It was still too deep for me, and he kept me upward with only his grip.
“You dared deny me, Melanie?” He roared. “We were destined to be together!”
What the hell was happening?
I struggled but his arm tightened around my neck, squeezing tight. “You know what I’m going to do after I kill you? I”m going to go after your sister.”
I couldn’t breathe. My lungs felt like they were going to pop.
He let me go. I lunged but he grabbed me by my hair. He jerked me forward, forcing me to look at him. “She”ll make nice pretty babies, don’t you think? Babies who look just like me and your mom.”
His eyes were manic. Moving back and forth quickly.
His grin, evil and snake-like.
The flower we’d given him. It had to be something that made him so out of it. He was hallucinating.
“Won”t that be something special?” He shook me so hard that my teeth chattered.
“No! I screamed, thrashing. He shoved my head into the swamp. I choked on the salt water. Trying to breathe. Clawing at his hands.
My head popped out of the water. He screamed in my ear.
“You will suffer for marrying that man, instead of me.” Drowning again. Shaking me so violently, I inhaled water. Then, air again. Coughing. Burning lungs. “You and I were destiny! But you couldn’t see it. You even loved Rook more than me!”
He shoved my head under water again. This time, not letting me up.
I punched, fighting him. Trying to stand on my feet. Trying to push away. I wasn”t strong enough.
I suddenly changed tactics—instead of trying to get away, I shoved into him with all my might.
He stumbled, losing his hold on me, and I broke the surface, sucking in a breath.
But he quickly recovered.
He grabbed the back of my hair before I had a chance to crawl away. He fisted it, growling out, his voice thick with rage. “Or I could just kill everyone who ever meant anything to you.”
”No!” I screamed.
Then tried one more time, belting out the words to the song I”d sung so many times as a kid. The name that had saved me once. Hopefully would save me once more. “Jibber babber! Jibb?—”
Then my head was underwater again, and this time, I knew he meant it.
I thrashed, clinging to his legs, trying to push him away. Doing everything in my power to escape.
I fought and fought. Until my arms slowed and my lungs burned and burned. All I could think of was Rook and Callie, Amara, and all the people I loved.
Remembering mom, and how she tried to protect me.
Sunny days in the kitchen, with chocolate chip cookies dad made for me and Callie.
Rook, on his knees, his anguished howl echoing through my mind.
Then suddenly, I was released.
After heaving a breath, I jerked backwards and away from Saul.
Sucking in deep and raspy breaths. My legs, throat and lungs, scorched.
I was grateful to be alive.
”No,” Saul was backing up, his eyes wide with fear. He was looking towards the water behind me.
I stumbled away from him, looking towards the same direction, when I saw a white form in the water. The unmistakable image of an alligator. No longer the scrawny teen of the swamp, he was now a king.
Monstrously huge.
”Jibber babber!!” I screamed, lungs and legs and throat still burning. Rushing as fast as possible away from the water. Hoping with all hope that Ollie would save me. “Jibber babber! Jibber babber!”
Then suddenly Rook appeared. Emerging from the swamp like a monster in his own right. A machete in his hands.
He was alive!
Saul was still so focused on Ollie, he didn’t notice Rook.
Rook ran at Saul. Mud and water splashing. His expression wild, his roar through the swamp like a wild savage.
At the last minute, Saul turned.
“Die, you scum!” Rook grabbed Saul”s arm, thrusting the machete into his stomach.
Saul”s eyes widened in shock. He gasped for air.
”You-you”re...” he stuttered, his voice trailing off.
“The day of your reckoning has come,” Rook growled, his expression wild with satisfaction. “I can still see the stain of nana’s blood on your hands. Smell the stench of her vomit on your breath. And now, you will pay for every drop, you sick bastard.” With a twist, Rook yanked out the machete. ”After all these years, I get to end you. And,” he added with gritted teeth, ”no one touches Summer and lives.”
He struck again. Saul cried out in agony. Weakly struggled against Rook”s grip. But it was pointless.
“Say hello to hell for me,” Rook sneered before striking once more. In the chest.
Saul looked down at it in disbelief. His eyes glazed over, “Another broken heart.” A smile crawled up his face. “Finally. I can feel again.”
The life drained from Saul”s eyes. A rattling sound as he sucked in a last breath.
“Die, you motherfucker!” Roaring once more, Rook swung the machete again. This time it stuck in Saul’s neck.
A few more tries, and Saul’s head flung through the air. Blood spraying.
Rook looked like a wild beast.
The head landed with a splash in the water.
Then suddenly, Ollie moved, and I yelled at Rook to get out of the way.
Rook jumped out of the way just in time as Ollie pounced towards the head.
His jaws wide, his sharp teeth punching through skin and bone.
I stared into black, dead eyes—Saul’s eyes—right before the jaw closed around it.
I shrieked as a hand clamped down on my arm, dragging me towards land. Rook”s panicked tone, “Summer! Get out of here!”
Rook pulled me up and out of the water. As soon as we were far enough away, I forced him to stop. “Wait! We have to make sure—I need to.”
Rook pulled me to him, my back to his chest, holding me tight. We watched in disgust as Ollie chomped down.
Rook’s lips pressed to the back of my head. “I thought you were dead.” Another kiss. I could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Could hear the agony in his voice.
“I’m okay,” I soothed, my hands wrapping backwards around his waist. “I’m okay. You saved me.”
We watched in morbid fascination—a mixture of horror and satisfaction.
Ollie had moved on to the body now. Jerking his neck, he slapped the big thing against the water. Over and over, his jaw clamped deep into Saul’s body, throwing Saul about like a rag doll. Teeth gnashing, little chunks of body parts flung across the water.
“Oh my God.” I was going to be sick.
Grabbing me tight, Rook yanked me away from the sight, pulling me into the forest. My chest was so tight, liquid lurched up my throat. Oh God, oh God.
I couldn’t get the image of Saul’s body parts out of my mind.
Rook swiveled me, slamming me against the tree. We were drenched and dirty. Our clothes clung to our bodies. My hand was throbbing. Throat burning.
“Look at me, Summer,” he demanded. “I’m here. And you’re safe. And that’s all that matters.”
“But I…” I clasped my hand to my mouth. “What if?—”
“No,” He gripped my neck, and I automatically calmed. This, I understood. This—he would calm me.
His gaze was fierce, his words just as savage. “Saul deserved it, and more.”
“I know,” I shook my head, “But what if… what about…” Panic clouded my mind, my words jumbled.
Jerking me forward by my neck, he suddenly kissed me.
I stilled in surprise and shock, but heat flared instantly. His hand on my throat tightened, barking out against my lips, “Open up for me baby.”
I instantly obeyed, and his tongue dived in.
Hips pressing, holding me against the tree, he yanked up my dress and ripped off my underwear. And then, I was just as desperate for him. I fumbled for his pants, yanking them open, I pulled out his thick, hard dick.
“God, but what if…” he groaned, panting, hesitating, “I swear I can be gentle. I know you’re not?—”
“Just fuck me,” I moaned, begging him. “Show me how.”
Hands gripping my ass, he pulled me up and, within a few movements, he impaled me on his cock. I gasped in pain, not used to the intrusion.
“So fucking tight.” Moaning, groaning, he thrust up inside me.
Deep. So deep.
And then he was fucking me. Harshly.
Stabs of pain ripped through me. He was tearing me apart, breaking me in two. And I loved it. The violent bounce against him, the wildness inside me breaking free. My body burned in its need for him.
“You. Are. Fucking. Mine.” He growled against my mouth, biting my lips. “A brand on your soul no one can remove. I will kill anyone who dares look at you. You understand, Summer?”
“Yes!” I screamed into the forest, forgetting everything but him. His dick filling me so full. My back, scraping against the tree. His hands, pulling the globes of my ass apart. My nails, scratching his skin.
He slammed into me, over and over, for so long I lost track of time. So fast I could barely breathe. The pain of it heightened everything inside me.
We were like animals, rutting against the tree. The darkness within each of us spilling out. Together, we were who we were meant to be: savage beasts.
I’d never felt so free in all my life.
This was who we were. Who I was.
And then, with a deep, guttural groan, he came, a slippery warmth running down my thighs. He pumped a few more times, heaving against me. After a long moment, his hand went between us.
He looked up, catching my eyes with his. I saw everything in that look. His love. His passion.
“I surrender to you, Summer Duvall.” He parted my lips with his thumb, tasting like salt and dirt. “You own me. My heart. My soul. I belong to you. You are the only one, will forever be the only one. With you, I am no longer afraid of the darkness inside me. I love you, Summer Duvall. I think I always have.” He kissed me again, his tongue tangling with mine. My pounding heart began to calm as he cradled my jaw more gently. “From the day you were born, you captured my heart and never let it go. Do you love me, too?” he asked. “I need to know.”
“Yes,” I nodded, my breath caught in my throat. “Always.” My fingers tangled with his, holding onto him as fiercely as he was holding on to me. “Always. I love you, Rook Craven.”
Then he kissed me again, this time soft and sweet, his fingers turning from possessive to soothing, gentle, caressing over my whole body. His kiss turned playful, biting and nipping, but softly, his lips tender. And then he pulled back, staring into my eyes. For so long, I could only breathe.
And in that moment, we shared something that words could not replace. A look of hope, of love, of…finally knowing where we belonged—with each other.