Page 12 of Hunted By Them

Standing, I went to the window and caught my reflection in the glass. I had mud streaked down my cheek, rain had plastered my hair to my temples, and my eyes were wide and wild.

God, I look like prey.

In an attempt to keep myself busy, I pulled the cot away from the wall and sat down. It wasn’t winning any awards for comfort, but it wasn’t as bad as it looked. My knee bounced, and I realized sitting was pointless.

Every creak of the wood made my nerves spike. I pressed a fist to my chest, trying to breathe.

“Just one more night,” I whispered to no one. “One more, and I’ll go in the morning.”

The storm outside worsened, calling me a liar. It was quickly building again, thunder shook the old wooden structure, while the wind rattled the door. My skin prickled. The air shifted, feeling much heavier…waiting.

And then I heard it.

“Sage…”

My name was drawn out, the voice thick with amusement. I turned in a circle, the sound as clear as if the voice was part of the smoke from the fire.

I froze, my heart in my throat.

Footsteps echoed outside on the little porch. My head whipped in the direction of the door, eyes darting between it and the window that revealed a darkening sky.

Thump, thump, thump.

I wasn’t sure if the steady sound was them or my heart in my chest. I backed away from the door and pressed against the furthest wall. It sounded like they were circling the cabin. There was definitely more than a single person.

The tread of boots stopped right outside the door, but I couldn’t see any shadows moving. I swallowed hard. The knock that followed was soft like a warning disguised as a promise.

“You came back to us, Sweet Daisy,” he said, gravelly and certain.

I knew it was the leader of the three without looking. It was as if his voice was already layered under my skin.

“Didn’t last a single day.”

“Who are you?” I called out again. It seemed like the stupidest question. The chuckle that answered confirmed as much.

“You keep asking the wrong questions.”

My knees were locked, holding me in place, and my breath shivered out of me.

Another voice came from the side of the cabin. It was taunting, like his voice was wrapped in a grin I couldn’t see. “You couldn’t stay away. We felt it.”

My heart sped up a little more.

What have I done by coming back here?

I should’ve gotten the hell out of here when I had the chance. What if they were cannibals and all they wanted to do was eat me?

The third voice came from right behind me, and I jumped away from the wall. There was a narrow gap in the slatted wood. His voice was smooth and slid in like a knife, finding the space between my ribs.

“Open the door, Sweet Daisy. The storm’s only the beginning,” he whispered, and goosebumps rose all over my skin.

I licked my lips and then clapped a hand over my mouth. It didn’t stop the broken gasp that tore from me. Heat coiled low in my gut, and I rubbed my thighs together. This was completely humiliating.

I had no idea who or what these men were and yet…I was ready to run outside and find out. There was no way they were…creatures…lore…something unexplainable. I refused to believe that. They couldn’t be things…they were either real or a figment of my imagination.

Suddenly, something struck the wall again, and I jumped, letting out a little scream that I knew they would hear.

“Run if you want us to chase you,” the leader’s growl reverberated through the wood.