“Go kick arse and if you need something to focus on, I’ll be right at the front,” he says before giving me one last kiss and leaving me a hot, needy mess.
It works though, I’m standing on the stage strumming my heart out as Roxie’s beautiful voice melds perfectly with the instrumentals. I can see my guys standing front and centre and I can also see Harrison. I didn’t expect to see him tonight, and I have to look away and fight the sudden urge to smile.
No, I will not like him. He’s PastFinder for Pete’s sake, plus I already have three guys, I do not need a fourth.
The last day of school before Christmas break is tomorrow and I’m now sporting a broken wrist, and I’m terrified to tell anyone how it happened. I guess it’s a good thing it happened after the concert, otherwise I would never have been able to play. Amias, well all the guys are angry that I haven’t told them what happened, and I want to but not yet. They would call the police but what am I supposed to tell them? I don’t even know who this guy is and I don’t exactly have any proof.
Tomorrow will be the last day I will tutor Harrison, if he caused this then I’ll no longer have an understanding side for him. He can go and rot for all I care, right now though, I’m going to go sleep and pray that nothing else will happen before I leave this place.
“Hello pretty girl, that was quite the performance you put on last night. You clearly have many talents,” his voice has my hand flying straight to my hip, and it’s impossible to miss the smile it causes on his face.
Again, his eyes do not change. How can they be so hollow? It’s like he’s a robot or something.
“I never saw you,” I say, my mouth is dry I swear my tongue is going to stick to the roof of my mouth.
“Of course not, I didn’t want you to. But tonight is different, maybe it will make you rethink your nighttime runs. As for now, we’re going to play a little game.”
His voice is cold and monotonous, my flesh is covered in goosebumps and it isn’t caused by the cold temperature. This is pure, unadulterated fear. I don’t think I’m going to like this game.
“I’m going to count to ten and then I’m going to come for you, make it back to your room and you’ll be safe. If you should fail however and I catch you, well then, I’ll get my prize. I’m going to make you cry pretty girl.”
I’m frozen on the spot and I can’t make myself move until he gets to three, I can’t just stand here I need to run. My feet hit the ground harder and faster than they ever have before, I don’t look back I just keep on going. I’m close to our building, and I can’t hear him. I’m going to be okay, I’m going to be…
No, there’s someone blocking the way into the building. They have a balaclava over their face and I can tell it isn’t Mr. Terrifying, I don’t know what to do!
My window is boarded up thanks to Leah and the Shepherds, but maybe I can make it to the back entrance. I’ve got to try, I’m not just going to stop and wait for him to do whatever he has planned.
Big mistake, no wonder I never heard him chasing me. He’s been waiting here all along.
“The funny thing pretty girl, if you had pushed your way past him. Well, he wouldn’t have stopped you and now you get to deal with me,” he says as he grabs hold of my right wrist and rests it behind my back.
“What are you going to do to me?” I ask, there’s no point in me trying to keep the fear from my voice, I’m shaking like a leaf.
“Don’t worry, just another little gift to remember me by,” he says and then all I know is pain.
He pins my wrist to my back and yanks my shoulder in the opposite direction until my wrist gives in and breaks under the pressure. I’m crying and although I’m trying to keep quiet, it hurts too much.
“Hush now pretty girl, don’t worry, it's just the wrist this time. Who knows what I’ll do next time, are you going to thank me for your gift?”
“You’re insane,” I choke out as he slams me face first into the wall and twists my wrist, making me scream.
“Choose your words carefully in the future, oh and if you tell any of your friends about this, I’ll just have to come back and give you a matching set. See you soon pretty girl, say hi to Harrison for me.”
“Who the hell are you,” I shout at his receding form, he hesitates for a second before a cold laugh filters through the air.
I shoot up out of the bed, my hair sticking it the sweat coating my body. A scream is tearing its way through my throat and I can’t stop, there’s a pounding on my door but all I can do is hug my knees close to my chest and cry my heart out.
My door is kicked in and Roxie and Declan rush in followed by my guys, I love them but all I can see is Mr. Terrifying.
“Back off guys, you’re making her worse,” Roxie says as she sits beside me and rubs her hand up and down my back.
“Why would we make it worse?” Amias asks, his tone filled with its usual darkness.
“I don’t know, so get out and I’ll try and figure it out,” she says, and they do as she says and even prop my door up as they leave.
“Baby girl, what happened?” she asks and I cry harder.
“Hey, come on now. It’s okay, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere sweets, I promise.”