Within the Demon's Grip: Part One

Chapter 13

Insanity flickered in the women's eyes. No, Natalia thought. Insanity was an understatement. These women looked hideous, terrifying. Their eyes were wide and unblinking, the darker shades nearly glowing against their blanched complexions, the paler shades somehow melding with them. Each pair of lips were upturned to the point of exhaustion. Natalia found their expressions reminiscent of department store mannequins'.

She drew in a wavering breath, and looked at Robin who's expression mirrored the same crippling anxiety that she felt. Thankfully, the front door was just behind them. "Let's get the fuck out of here," Natalia whispered, voice unsteady. "Now."

"Bring Natalia to me!" Nosfroth's demand reverberated off dusky, old walls ... soon drowned out by the thunder of many footsteps.

Natalia and Robin threw themselves at the door, a tangle of arms reaching for the knob, somehow managing to push into the outside world. Natalia would have sighed in relief if she hadn't been struggling to keep up with Robin's long strides. "M-My c-car," Natalia gasped, clinging to Robin's arm. "I-It's o-over--"

"That's too far," Robin interrupted, jerking her in a clumsy arc toward his car.

Footsteps picked up behind them, and Natalia risked a glance back, seeing many reaching hands, and fluttering, limp hair. Moonlight guided their way, but it also brought out many shadows that disguised the world around them. Natalia found the scenery horribly foreboding.

A disembodied voice rebounded around them, the words incoherent, and Natalia saw every woman collapse in mid-stride. Some of the women appeared unconscious, Natalia noted, but others watched them through unresponsive eyes, blinking idly. Robin tugged Natalia, urging her to keep up with him.

Then, it was as if something entered Natalia's brain, like a sudden click of a switch, and she no longer had control. Natalia's muscles reacted as if individually attached to puppet strings. Her legs braced against the ground, and her torso snapped back by its own accord. Robin lost his grip on Natalia's arm, and whirled around, surprised.

"Natalia!" he cried, but she jerked around, hair whipping behind, and ran toward the manor at full speed. "Natalia!" Robin's voice chased her back to the front door.

Natalia wanted to stop, to turn back, but her mind held no control over her body. Freedom had been so close, but now it was slipping away. Natalia's eyes filled with tears.

Nosfroth was toying with her. He'd had this power, this ability, the whole time, but he wanted to make her suffer. He wanted her to feel close to freedom, only to snatch it away at the very last moment.

"Fight the high," she remembered him saying to her before he pinched her cheek. Before he kissed her with his warm, bloody lips. "Your fear and pain only makes your blood sweeter."

Yes. This was obviously fun for him. The sick fucker. Hadn't he even admitted to it when she was all helpless and shackled? That he found the idea of chasing her thrilling?

Well, here he was, the sick son of a bitch, indulging in his thrill. Then he'd indulge in her once she was back in that cold, stone room, cuffed to that fucking slab.

The tears were pouring down her cheeks now. How she wanted to escape! Dammit, she'd been so close!

Everything had been so close....

Natalia's fingers found the doorknob just as Robin's hand closed around her arm. "What the hell are you doing?" he cried, somehow, prying her away from the door.

Natalia's body fought against him, kicking and flailing, but inside her mind, Natalia was shrieking with delight! Robin was strong. He took the continued punishment of her feet and fists like a champ, throwing her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing at all.