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My words awaken something inside him,“Well, I’ll have to do something to rectify that, won’t I?’
He yanks my head back with a violent motion, then slams it against the wall. White-hot agony radiates through me, and everything fades to black for a moment.
I wokeThe Beast.
He doesn’t like my show of bravery, so he retaliates by dragging his blade across my side, and I watch in horror as my blood splashes onto the floor.
I press my hand to my side and cling to the table with my other one, fighting to remain upright, gripping it with white knuckles as a scream of pain rips from my lips. I gasp in pain as he savors the moment, running his tongue slowly up the blade, tasting my blood.
Colin’s truck keys lay on the table inches from my fingertips. Without hesitation, I seize them, letting the biggest one settle between my pointer and middle finger like a claw.
I plunge it into his neck, and he lets out an agonizing roar. While he is momentarily stunned, I grab a vase and use all my strength to slam it down on his head.
His body immediately slumps to the floor, but not before the knife clatters away from him, far enough that he will have to travel away from me to reclaim it.
Leaping over his fallen body, my hands find the lock and miraculously twist it open. My hands twist open the lock, and I launch myself through the doorway, running faster than I ever had before - running for freedom once again.
TWENTY-TWO
JAMES
Isped through the winding roads, heading towards Colin’s residence. Everett was on the phone coordinating assistance with the local authorities.
I admire his calmness because, at this moment, I was not calm. A slick sheen of sweat had broken out on my forehead as fear for Ava began to claw at my chest.
The police chief had tried calling Colin on his cell phone and his police radio he took everywhere with him, and there was no answer.
All I thought about was something happening to Ava, and I didn’t get the chance to apologize to her for my cruelty.
I didn’t mean what I had said. I panicked when she made me feel things I never felt about anyone.
I am a fucking idiot, and I might not get to tell her that.
Sarah had managed to locate his address by looking through a dozen potential Colins in the area - only one of them a Sheriff's Deputy with ties to Ava, which I had missed when snooping through her records.
If this psychopath were tracking Ava like he seemed to be doing all these weeks, then he would've seen her leave with Colin without us. Without me there to protect her.
My blood ran cold as I prayed Colin could keep Ava safe until I arrived, but no one could get ahold of him, and an icy fear crept into my bones at the possibility that something horrific might have already happened.
TWENTY-THREE
AVA
The frigid night air enveloped me, the icy rain pelted my skin like tiny needles, and I exhaled a cloud of fog as I raced down the stairs and across the lawn. My bare feet pounded against the wet ground, propelled by fear.
Rage coursed through my veins as I remembered leaving my purse behind and thinking nothing of it. At that moment, I only wanted to feel something — anything —like I mattered to someone. Now, I could die because of my foolishness.
Either way, I refused to die without a fight.
Damn it, my side hurt.
I knew he cut deep, but I would run until I died on my terms.
Not his.
I kept my hand pressed firmly against my wounded side, and if he finds me, I’ll laugh in his face as he realizes he won’t get to torture me again.
I’ll never have to endure being raped and defiled repeatedly.
