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na
ded wildly in my ribcage, beating a frantic drumbeat in the suffocating darkness. I gasped for ai
snappe
raise my hand to touch my throbbing head, but something rough and tight bound my wrist
I looked down, tracing the outline of my body. A simple dress, torn at
s al
e a physical blow. I had b
ping a dry branch. My entire body went rigid. Every muscle tig
ile of moldy burlap sacks, and then, in the corner, a gloulders screamed in protest, but I ignored them. I stretched my fingers, tensed them, until mywas kicked open
e exit. The stench hit me first-a nauseating mixture of ro
gaze swept over me, a cruel, yellow-t
is voice was low and raspy, like r
lacing it with a mask of pure terror. I made
oser," I stammered, my voice
toward me, each step thundering through the
t, creating a perfect blind spot, my hands behind my back moved frantically. The shad snapped. My
e skin of my collarbone, the fear in my eyes vanis
don't to
oft abdomen. The force propelled me backward across
"You goddamn bitch-" and lunged, his massive
an instant before. In the same fluid motion, I swung the rustyfor his fe
d, a piercing shriek of agony. "Ah-! My leg! My-!
rom my messy bun. With the precision honed from a lifetime of fighting
shock, a gurgling sound com
from the wound. Then his massive body cra
ed out the hairpin, wiped the blood on his
s pockets. A folding knife. Car keys. M
n," I wh
came from the wood
ces. I had t
pidated window. I shoved it open, ignoring the splinte
through my thin shoes, but I didn't stop. I ran for my life
owing the path ahead. Branches whipped across my face and
ser. "She ran! After her!
a toxic cocktail in my veins,
ed tree root snaking a
n tore from my throat as I lost my balan
r the impact with
th something solid and
me with startling ease. An aura of immense power, the pres
ng in my chest. My terrified gaze met
ered half his face, gleaming coldly in the frag
voice caught
it slightly, as if examining
ed with a lazy amusement. "But that's
g wild and dangerous-flooded my senses. My hand instinctively tig
ced myself to ask, m
his arm and lifted me off the grou
hoed through the forest
ace of tension in his voice. "You kille
rom me?" I asked th
er fox mask curled upward
said. "But it's

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