“It is.”
“Why? This is…creepy.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s the point. Scary movie, scary place.”
“You brought me all the way out here to watch a scary movie in a place where scary movies take place? And you somehow thought I would stay?”
“Where would you go, Rebel? You’re here all alone without a ride home. You are stuck, miles from another house, and miles from anyone who could help you.”
“Stop it,” she said, backing up and putting her hands on her hips, but I could hear the small shiver of fear in her tone.
I swung off, setting my helmet down. “They say a deranged doctor lived up here and did experiments on humans. That there is even one of them still living up here today. Do you think he’s in the house? Or maybe the woods?”
“Okay, what if I’m too freaked out for this?”
“I thought I was the monster? Who else would come grab you besides me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe the half-human monster thing. At least you are all human.”
“Then you better let me be the one to catch you. Run, run, Rebel.”
I stalked towards her as her eyes went wide. I knew she wasn’t that scared of me anymore. She wouldn’t have gotten on the bike if she had been, but I still liked the way she took a deep breath, the way her nostrils flared and chest heaved. Her hand pushed at her hair, tucking it behind her ears.
“Rook,” she breathed, taking a step back towards the woods. The clear line of trees surrounded the house and as soon as she disappeared into it, I could run after her.
A gust of wind came. The old door on the front of the house opened and slammed back shut, echoing around us.
She jumped and took off, disappearing into the woods.
My stomach flipped, my heart already racing. The thrill of catching her pulsed through me, but I tried to tamp it down just long enough to let her get a head start.
She was mine, and there was no chance I wouldn’t catch her.
I would always catch her.
Twenty-Four
Regan
Imumbled a string of curse words as I ran into the woods. I wasn’t going far, just enough to circle around the house and come back out on the other side. There was no way I was going to risk getting myself lost in these woods, but I was still going to play along. I wanted to play. I wanted to feel how bad he wanted to catch me.
I didn’t hear him behind me, but really, anything past the rush of my heart was gone.
I made it around the back of the house to find an old dresser sat near one wall, the long drawers and tall mirror giving me a perfect place to hide. I slipped behind it and crouched down. My breaths came in shallow gasps, my heart pounding like a drum. I strained to hear any hint of Rook approaching, but the silence wrapped around me. The anticipation of him catching me coiled in my stomach, mixing with the fear and exhilaration.
A twig snapped, catching my attention as I held my breath. I could hear his footsteps now, the slow calculated movements making me a little more scared. He wasn’t mindlessly running after me. He was taking careful steps as I stumbled around the forest. Rook was a predator, and I would always be the prey.
It should disgust me, but there was no denying how excited I got every time he wanted to catch me. He would always come after me.
I peeked out from behind the dresser just in time to see him round the corner and scan the area with narrowed eyes. Our gazes locked, and he smiled.
“Hi, Rebel.”
Without hesitation, I jumped from my hiding spot and bolted past Rook, his hand outstretched just enough to grab me. One hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me to him and spinning me until my back slammed against his chest. The other hand wrapped around my neck.
“Rook!” I yelled, but he held me close. My body pressed hard against him, and I leaned into it.
“Got you,” he whispered, his lips already dragging down my neck. He bit down, making me arch into him. Heat flooded me, my thighs pressing hard together as he squeezed my neck a little more. “I’ll always get you. How scared are you, exactly?”
