Inferno Part 2

~58~ The Hunt

Ellie's POV

After another couple of weeks, I'm completely and utterly on edge. The way he looks at me is making me want to cry. He still hasn't done anything incriminating. Not a single thing.

I'm in my office working on paperwork when I hear a knock on my door. It's Lance.

I'm shocked he's here. We've basically been avoiding each other for a month.

"I'm hosting a cookout tonight. I've invited the whole faculty. I hope you will come," he says sincerely.

I give him a small smile and shake my head. "Thanks for the invite, but no," I say as I go back to work.

"Why?"

"Because I won't be around Ben."

"Ellie, this has to stop. I mean it."

"Is that all you needed, boss?"

He sighs and nods silently, leaving without another word.

After school is out, I run to the store. I'm there for quite a while. Feeding as many people as I do, grocery trips are a big ordeal.

As I'm checking the zucchini, I sense someone behind me. I quickly turn around, and it's Ben.

He gives me a dark, evil chuckle.

"You should be more careful, Ellie. I've been watching you for the last twenty minutes and you had no idea. You're lucky it was me, and not a psycho. There's a lot of freaks out there."

"Don't I know it" I say, glaring at him as I put my produce in the cart.

He bites his lip and then traces his tongue around his lips slowly. "You have a good day now," he says as he turns around and leaves.

I wait until I see him drive away. Then I leave my cart, with all of my groceries, and run to my car. Before I realize what I'm doing, I've driven to Jake's gym.

When I get in, he's working with someone. I go up to him, and interrupt their kickboxing session.

"I need you," I say quickly.

He stops punching and looks at me, completely shocked. I never interrupt him when he's doing a private lesson.

"Um, ok. Give me twenty minutes."

"No, Jake. Right now."

His eyes widen in surprise as he nods.

"Hey Mikey. Fill in, will ya?" He asks over his shoulder to one of his employees.

He immediately gets off the ring and grabs my shoulders. "What's wrong?"

"Can we go to your office?"

He nods as he leads me by the arm quickly.

When we get in, he shuts the door and looks at me hard. "What's wrong, Ellie?"

I take a deep breath. "I need you to attack me."

He is completely stunned.

"What?"

"I'm serious. Attack me. Right now."

"Eleanor, what the hell are you talking about?"

I sigh and shake my head. "Taylor told you about that guy at my work?"

He just nods.

"I'm pretty sure he's been stalking me. I'm not a complete fool. I know how to fight, yes. But I know I'm not as strong as a man. I need you to attack me, to see if I even have a chance."