Twisted Fate || Loki Odinson

30.

Eric lunges towards me, his hand wrapping around my throat as his lips crash into mine. The sudden aggression takes my breath away and fear surges through my veins.

His grip tightens around my throat, but adrenaline kicks in, sobering me enough to react. I twist my body sharply, bringing my knee up to strike him hard in the stomach. He grunts, the air rushing out of him as he loosens his hold. I use the moment to shove him away with all my strength, the sound of his head hitting the window satisfying sickeningly.

I fumble for the door handle as my hands tremble. The door swings open and I tumble out, the cold night air biting my exposed skin. The rough concrete scrapes against my palms as I hit the ground but I can't stop. I scramble to my feet and make a run for the trees.

Behind me, I hear Eric cursing, the sound of his truck door slamming shut. "Cassie, get back here!" he shouts, his voice furious.

Ignoring him, I push forward, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The woods are dark, shadows stretching like sinister figures in the moonlight. Every tree looks the same, and my drunken haze makes it hard to keep my bearings. Branches scratch at my skin and the cold seeps through my clothes, but I keep moving, driven by fear and desperation.

I glance over my shoulder, seeing Eric's silhouette looming closer, his steps heavy and determined. My heart pounds in my ears, the rush of blood drowning out everything else. I stumble over a fallen branch, catching myself just in time. 

Come on, Cassie, think!

The ground beneath my feet is uneven and covered in a thick layer of snow that hides treacherous roots and rocks. I push through, my movements clumsy and uncoordinated. I can hear Eric crashing through the underbrush, his breath labored and his pace relentless.

My foot catches on something hard, sending me sprawling forward. I hit the ground hard, rolling down a small hill. Pain explodes in my ankle as I land awkwardly, a sharp cry escaping my lips. I clutch my leg, the pain blinding for a moment. "Dammit," I hiss, fighting to stay conscious as my vision swims.

I can hear Eric's footsteps getting closer, the sound of him muttering curses under his breath. Panic surges through me, and I force myself to move despite the agony in my ankle. Crawling on my hands and knees, I try to put as much distance between us as possible.

The woods seem endless, every direction looking the same. My breath comes in shallow gasps, the cold air burning my lungs. I glance back, seeing Eric's shadowy form moving closer. 

I can't outrun him forever. 

Desperation fuels me, and I push forward, ignoring the pain. 

Just a little further. 

Finally, I see a faint light through the trees, a flicker of hope in the darkness. Summoning every ounce of strength, I drag myself towards it, praying it's not a hallucination. My vision blurs and my body screams for rest, but I keep moving, driven by the need to survive.

The light grows brighter, and I recognize the outline of my cabin through the haze. Relief floods through me, but it's short-lived as I hear Eric closing in, his footsteps crunching through the snow. "Cassie!" he calls his voice filled with anger.

I reach the edge of the clearing, my hand grasping at the rough bark of a tree to pull myself up. The cabin is so close, but every step is a struggle. 

With a final burst of energy, I stumble towards the door, my fingers fumbling with the handle.

The door swings open and I slam it shut behind me, locking it with trembling hands, my heart racing. Eric pounds on the door, shouting my name, but I back away, sinking to the floor in exhaustion.

A familiar figure steps into the dim light and relief washes over me. Loki, his face a mask of fury and concern, takes in my disheveled state.

"What happened?" he demands, his tone low.

Before I can answer, Eric's pounding grows more insistent. "Cassie, open up!" he yells, his voice frantic.

His eyes narrow, a cold anger replacing his concern. "Stay here," he orders, striding towards the door with deadly purpose. He flings it open, revealing Eric, his face flushed with desperation.

"You think you can just run away?" Eric spits, eyes darting past Loki to find me cowering in the shadows.

Loki's expression darkens, and he steps forward. "You need to leave. Now." His voice is calm, yet it carries an edge that makes the air feel electric.

He sneers, anger boiling over. "You don't own her! She's mine, and I'm not done with her yet."

The atmosphere in the cabin thickens with tension, a storm brewing between them. "You have no claim over her," Loki retorts, his tone cold as ice, eyes narrowing dangerously. "You need to walk away, or things will get unpleasant for you."

Eric steps back, momentarily taken aback, but his bravado returns. "I'm not afraid of you."

His expression shifts in a way that sends a chill down my spine. "You should be," he warns his voice a low growl that resonates with power.

Eric hesitates as he glances back toward me, fear creeping into his eyes. "Cassie, you can't just hide behind him!"

I shake my head, my breath hitching in my throat. "Just leave me alone!" I plead, my voice strained. 

Loki steps closer to Eric, towering over him. With one last glare from Loki, Eric seems to reconsider, taking a step back, though he remains just outside the threshold. "You think you're safe? You're wrong, Cassie. I'll find you again," he growls, the threat hanging heavy in the air.

Loki doesn't budge, his posture tense, but I can see the fire in his eyes-- the protective instinct burning fiercely within him. "I will not let you lay a hand on her again," he says, his tone steady.

His eyes flicker between us before he takes a step back, retreating into the shadows. The crunch of his footsteps fades into the distance, leaving only the echo of tension in the air.

As the door swings shut, Loki turns back to me, his expression softening. "Are you all right?" he asks, his voice filled with concern as he kneels beside me, his hands gentle as he examines my injuries.

I nod, tears of relief and pain mingling on my cheeks. "I am now," I whisper, the fear finally subsiding as I lean into his comforting presence.

His arms encircle me, holding me close. "You're safe," he murmurs, his voice a soothing comfort to my frayed nerves. "You're safe now."