Petals Fall Once, Never Twice | ONC24

9. Predator.

Tara revisited the neighborhood several times after that initial encounter, lingering until she had familiarized herself with her prey's routine, committing every detail to memory. She also conducted extensive online research on the family, learning their names and the places they frequented.

But what mattered most was that his name was Ethan, and he was her first target.

Today, Tara was going to strike. So, she took her time getting ready. She selected the same outfit she wore on the evening of her abduction, relieved that she hadn't disposed of it.

Beige cargo pants, an oversized university hoodie, Converse sneakers, and her tote bag.

She asked for it. Look at what she was wearing. She deserved it. Most assault victims suffered through such insensitive comments. Yet, as Tara stared at herself in the mirror, she didn't know how this shabby attire qualified her as a rape candidate.

A strange numbness overtook her limbs before she headed out. The fog over her mind only lifted when she stopped outside the Barlowes' mansion. One of the guards approached her.

"Can I help you miss?"

She swallowed, then smiled. "Yes, please. I need to talk to Ethan. Tell him his fiancée is looking for him."

The old man frowned but refrained from questioning her further. He seemed used to Ethan's rodeos.

One, two, three...forty heartbeats passed before he appeared.

Ethan's gaze darted around frantically, searching for the source of the absurd claim. Then, they widened when it settled on her standing by the entrance. In a flash, he was in front of her, his body hunched over and face pallid.

A colorful tray of insults flashed through Tara's mind as she stuck her chin out, defiance burning in her eyes. She crossed her arms, in an attempt to hide her trembling hands, and squared her shoulders.

Ethan quickly dismissed the guard before forcefully grabbing her elbow. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Tara nearly emptied what little she had for breakfast when he touched her. She jerked her arm away, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Why? I'm here to meet your parents, of course." Her voice rose slightly at the end, and she observed his expression pale as he glanced behind him.

Ethan leaned in closer, and she resisted the urge to recoil. Tara refused to display any hint of weakness.

"C'mon, uh," he faltered, unsure how to address her. How do you, after all, address someone you raped?

"So, Ethan, are you going to stand there gaping like a fish out of water or are you going to lead the way?"

Tara was teasing him, flaunting the knowledge she possessed that he was ignorant of. He was uneasy, and most definitely wondering how much she knew about him, if she confided in anyone else, if she was acting alone, or if she'd contacted the authorities.

"Look," he growled, trying to appear threatening. "I don't know what game you're playing, but you need to leave. Now."

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere until I meet your lovely folks. It's about time we had a heart-to-heart, don't you think?"

"They're not here." They were. She ensured they were present at the house in case this didn't go as planned. "Just go back to whatever hole you crawled out of."

"Funny, that's what I used to think about you." Tara shrugged, unable to fathom where her boldness was coming from, but she wasn't about to let it falter. "But here we are, face to face."

"Let's meet some other time."

"I'm only free now."

"I'm not."