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Lexie
I woke with a start in the middle of the night, the darkness of the cabin pressing in on me like a heavy shroud.
The faint rustling sound outside the window had pierced the veil of my dreams, dragging me back to consciousness. Panic, like icy tendrils, crept up my spine as my heart raced in my chest. Was it Aric? Or was it Kane, finally coming back from his confrontation with the skillful hunter?
I hoped it was the latter.
I strained my ears, trying to discern the source of the sound, but the silence of the forest seemed to mock my fear. The cabin, once a sanctuary, now felt like a flimsy refuge. The walls, made of weathered wood, seemed too thin, too fragile to protect me from whatever lurked outside.
Carefully, I pushed myself up onto my elbows and scanned the dimly lit room. Moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting eerie shadows across the rustic furniture. The thought of hiding crossed my mind, but the cabin held no secrets. There was nowhere to conceal myself.
My eyes darted to the handgun that Kane had shown me how to use. It lay on the nightstand, glinting slightly in the pale light. My trembling fingers reached for it, and I grasped it tightly, my knuckles white. I knew I had to be ready to protect myself if it came to that.
Every creak of the cabin’s old wooden boards magnified my fear, and I held my breath, straining to hear any movement outside. The forest seemed to be holding its breath with me, as if the very trees were watching and waiting for me outside.
The minutes dragged on, stretching into an agonizing eternity. I couldn’t stay hidden in the bedroom forever, and the decision weighed heavily on me. Should I venture outside and risk the unknown, or should I wait, hoping for the sound to reveal itself?
Summoning every ounce of courage, I carefully swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The wooden floor felt cold beneath my bare feet. My trembling fingers fumbled with the weapon, and I brought it close to my chest.
With my heart pounding in my ears, I checked the handgun to see if it was loaded. The slide was back, indicating a chambered round. I let out a shaky breath, grateful that Kane had taught me well. I at least had a means to defend myself.
Gritting my teeth, I moved towards the window, my steps slow and deliberate. Moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow that hauntingly illuminated the room. I peered outside, my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.
The forest beyond was a labyrinth of twisted branches and swaying leaves. Each rustle of the wind sounded like a sinister whisper, and every snapped twig seemed to echo through the stillness of the night. I tensed, listening intently for any clue about what might be lurking out there.
A flicker of movement caught my attention, and I tightened my grip on the gun. My breath caught in my throat as I watched a shadowy figure move through the trees. Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay still, to wait and watch.
The figure drew closer, and my heart raced even faster. I couldn’t make out any details in the darkness, but the sense of dread intensified.
Who was it?
The uncertainty was maddening. With a hard swallow, I moved away from the window, a bad feeling swirling in the pit of my belly.
As my fear intensified, I frantically scanned the dimly lit cabin for a place to hide. The options were limited, and each one seemed less promising than the last. The corners of the room held only shadows, not safety. The furniture was too bulky to conceal me effectively. Desperation clawed at my chest as I contemplated the options laying in front of me.
Then my gaze landed on the closet, its slightly ajar door beckoning me like a lifeline in the storm. With no other choice, I tiptoed towards it and opened the door.
It was a small, cramped space, filled with old coats and forgotten belongings, but in that moment, it was all I had. I eased myself inside, heart pounding, and gently pushed the door closed just enough to leave a crack for observation. It wasn’t much, but it was the closest thing to safety I could find.
I huddled in the closet, clutching the gun tightly as I strained to hear any sound beyond its narrow confines. Fear coiled within me like a viper, its venomous fangs ready to strike. The minutes stretched into an eternity as I listened to the night’s eerie symphony, every rustle and creak amplifying my anxiety.
I knew at once that this wasn’t Kane. He would have announced himself by now, which left only one other possibility.
Aric.
Suddenly, the door to the cabin creaked open with agonizing slowness. I clenched the gun, my knuckles white with tension as I strained to hear any movement. The floorboards groaned softly underfoot, and I imagined Aric prowling through the cabin, a predator seeking its prey.
The footsteps drew nearer, and my pulse quickened. I couldn’t see anything in the closet’s darkness, but I sensed his presence, an oppressive force that seemed to smother the air. My fingers trembled around the gun’s grip as I waited, praying that he wouldn’t discover my hiding place.
Then the floorboards creaked just in front of the closet door, and terror clenched my heart in a vice-like grip. My breath caught in my throat as I held perfectly still, the seconds ticking away like an eternity. I hid the gun behind my back, stuffing it in the waistband of my jeans.
I hadn’t slept in my pajamas. I’d chosen a stretchy pair of jeans and a long sleeve black shirt, just in case I needed to stumble around in the dead of night just like this.
My breath caught in my chest as the closet door creaked open. As soon as it swung all the way, I got my first look at the man that had caused so much upheaval in my life.
Aric’s long, dirty blonde hair hung loosely around his shoulders, tousled and unkempt, lending him a wild and dangerous air. The dark blonde five o’clock shadow on his chiseled jaw accentuated the rugged contours of his face, while a cruel scar slashed across one eye, giving him a sinister edge. His massive form, rivaling even Kane’s in sheer size and power, filled the doorway with an imposing presence.
In that chilling moment, his eyes, a stormy gray, met mine, and I saw a malevolent gleam within them that sent shivers down my spine.
