Chapter Fiftee #3
“I’m going to kill you!” Moth’s words echoed through the woods as he wretched open Brandon’s car door and dragged him out.
I shook as I stood behind my car, watching as Brandon, who had been dazed, suddenly gained energy.
Should I have tried to prevent the fight that was about to unfold? I knew how dangerous Brandon was, he wouldn’t back down. Except, Moth was strong and knew how to defeat his enemy too. I debated calling the police, but Moth’s desire to remain anonymous overrode my decision, as stupid as it was.
Moth shoved Brandon away before they went for one another, their fists flying and their bodies thumping together aggressively. The scuffle soon ended up on the ground and Moth gained the upper hand, straddling my ex-boyfriend.
The shame that engulfed me almost brought me to my knees, which were ready to give out under me. My judge of character was fucked up, and I regretted ever getting involved with Brandon. Not that Moth was much better but at least he protected me.
Brandon caught Moth under the chin with his palm, snapping his head back.
No, Brandon couldn’t get the upper hand, he wasn’t allowed. If Moth lost, I would have to run. Fast.
Moth came back with a punch to Brandon’s temple, knocking his head to the side. I stepped forward as Brandon stopped fighting, his body going limp. Moth kept going, hitting Brandon around the head until I reached him.
“Moth, stop! You can’t kill him here, not when there’s evidence everywhere.”
My voice reached him and his arm stilled as he turned to look at me. His eyes were dark, his face twisted into a demented scowl. It took a moment to clear before he jumped up and looked around.
“I’ve got a friend who can deal with this,” he said, gesturing to my car.
“We better go before he wakes up. Just…” He shook his head and turned to me, looking down into my eyes.
“The only reason I’m not killing him now, is because I don’t want you implicated.
You deserve to be free of him without being in jail. ”
“I will be free of him.” I decided, there and then, that I would do anything to rid myself of him for good. Anything.
“Come on.” Taking my hand, he dragged me through the dense shrubbery, glancing behind him to check that Brandon was still out cold.
“Thank goodness we’re safe,” I muttered as the trees swallowed us, hiding the view of my enemy.
Moth looked at me over his shoulder. I could barely see him in the dark that melted into bushes and trees.
“Don’t slow down.” He tugged on my hand. “He might wake up, and I won’t be able to control myself if he finds us again.”
“He won’t.”
The forest thickened, the trees drawing closer together. A gun shot sounded behind us, jolting me into a faster run. Shit, Moth had been right.
“ALIAAAAA!” Brandon’s shout echoed through the woods.
My whole body shuddered as I gripped Moth’s hand tighter.
He went to turn, a growl erupting from his chest. “That’s it, I have to kill him now.”
I grabbed him back, “No, you can’t, he has a gun. He’ll kill you before you even reach him, then god knows what he’ll do to me.”
Huffing, he looked between where we’d left Brandon and deeper into the woods. The sound of crashing footsteps triggered him into action. He turned and pulled me along, eventually putting an arm around my upper waist and propelling me.
I puffed and tripped, slowing him down. I wasn’t about to be heroic and tell him to leave me. The asshole needed to keep me safe, he’d promised.
“I’m only running because you asked me to,” Moth said, tersely, “otherwise, the motherfucker would be dead, gun or no gun.”
A loud sob tore from my throat as the adrenaline pumped through my veins. I was so ready to be free of the man who had tormented me for years. However, I wouldn’t risk both our lives out here. Brandon had the upper hand and it was fine to admit that.
“It’s okay.” Moth didn’t even emit a puff, apparently comfortable in his stride. “We’ll find somewhere to hide.”
My feet burned and my chest tightened. If we didn’t stop soon, I’d have a heart attack and die. And ironically, Brandon would’ve got away with killing me.
“Here.” Moth stopped me with a hand on my stomach. “This bush is thick. Let’s climb under.”
A hoot of an owl echoed above our heads. It was either a sign that it would be safe, or a calling to Brandon, letting him know where we were. Either way, I couldn’t run anymore.
“Okay, let’s go.” Indicating the bush Moth had pointed to, I waited for him to take control.
My eyes had adjusted to the dark and I could just about make out where things were. Although, the scratching and noises of the forest was something I couldn’t think about.
Moth lifted a canopy of foliage and indicated that I crawl under.
The sound of thrashing in the distance had me jumping under that bitch.
It was surprisingly roomy underneath, with the branches higher up and one or two main stems planted into the ground.
I lay flat, trying to keep my face off the dirt under me.
Moth crawled in beside me, hitting my ass with his bulk. Okay, it had been roomy until that big hulk of a man squirmed up right next to me. He muttered under his breath, lying on his side so he could curl his legs into the safety of the bush.
“We're going to die tonight,” I murmured, my teeth suddenly chattering.
“No, we won’t. Stop talking like that.”
“If he doesn’t kill us,” I hissed, “the bugs will.”
His chuckle was low, lasting only a second before it cut off. “I’m a bug and I swore to protect you. Now, shut the fuck up, woman.”
It went quiet, the distant leaf crunching no longer audible. I tried to control my trembling as I listened for any sign of life. Maybe Brandon had given up on his pursuit. It wasn’t smart to chase two people into the dark woods, not when one was built like a tower. Except, Brandon had a gun.
“Aliaaaaa!” His haunting call echoed, freezing my skin to the bone.
My stalker was coming in our direction. How had he known which way to go, it was pitch black?
Moth’s fingers slipped into mine and squeezed. I shook so violently, my limbs did a little dance as the sound of footsteps drew nearer and nearer.
“I know you’re out here somewhere,” Brandon shouted in the opposite direction, “and if I find you, I’ll kill you both. I’ve got my gun so your boyfriend can’t get me first this time.”
Brandon laughed manically, the familiar sound triggering a gasp. Moth’s hand flew up and covered my mouth. I held his arm for reassurance, pressing his palm further into my face so I couldn’t make a sound.
Footsteps echoed closer. I breathed low and slow, keeping as still as I possibly could. Brandon’s taunting stopped as he listened, his feet crunching the leaves nearby. How the fuck had he followed us to the exact spot we’d hidden? He wasn’t a skilled hunter, I knew that.
The blood rushed in my ears as he passed us, his boots just a few feet away from where we hid under the bushes. All he had to do was point his gun in and shoot. He would’ve probably hit one of us.
I jumped at the sound of Brandon’s boot hitting something.
“Ouch, fuck!” he exclaimed. “Fucking A Hole.”
His footsteps retreated, going back the way they had come. Brandon was either giving up or ready to search in the other direction. Either way, we were stuck here for a moment.
When the sounds of him thrashing through the woods faded, Moth released my face, cupping my cheek briefly.
“We should call the police,” I muttered as low as I could.
I was sobering up now and logic was taking over.
“No.” Moth put an arm around me, maneuvering me so I was on my side with him spooning my back. “We need to go ahead with our plan. This isn’t enough. He’ll disappear as soon as he hears sirens. We just need to wait it out.”
Pressing further back into him to get off the damp leaves, I sighed. “All night? What if something comes to eat me?”
He chuckled as he held me tight against him. I relaxed, my shivering muscles slowly starting to ease.
“We’ll give it a while, and if there’s no sign of him coming back, we’ll wait outside the bush.” He spluttered, pushing my hair away from what I could only assume was his mouth.
“I can’t believe he came back to the bar,” I said, “I haven’t been there since you rescued me. I assumed he wouldn’t bother with it again.”
Moth’s arm tightened around me, digging into my waist painfully.
“You shouldn’t have gone back there. He’s obviously a psychopath who follows you everywhere.”
“No,” I replied, “Not everywhere. He doesn’t know where I live.”
He snorted and I tried to turn to see his face. It was useless, we were too tightly entwined and trapped within the foliage.
“You don’t think he knows where I live, do you?” I whispered. “He’s never attacked me there.”
“Probably not, then. He would’ve been there by now if he did,” he muttered. “Best not to worry about it.”
I went quiet, hugging into myself at the thought of Brandon coming for me at home.
I’d never taken my car to the places he knew I frequented, usually sticking to public transport, just in case.
I hadn’t been thinking straight tonight, clearly.
Tonight had been stupid. I’d forgotten myself… I hadn’t even thought about my actions.
“Why are you shaking so hard?” I asked, suddenly becoming aware of Moth’s body.
I'd been shivering myself, too engrossed in my thoughts to notice that he was too. It wasn't like him to show any sign of weakness.
“I'm fighting every nerve in my body not to go after him. I want to beat him so hard, he begs for death.”
A warmth spread through me, calming me from the inside. His knight in shining leathers act did something to me, something I couldn’t explain.
“What's stopping you?”
I was curious. I had asked him not to kill Brandon, however, he didn't strike me as someone who held back. The physical reaction to his fury was a turn on, I had to admit. I wanted to reach around and touch him, to soothe him.
“You,” he rasped, near my ear. “You want to hurt him another way and I’ll honor that.”