Twisted Devotion

Chapter Eighteen

Ava and Jess staggered toward the cabin, if you could call it that, it was more like a large abandoned shed, their steps uneven and labored, but the sight of the old structure brought them a brief, fleeting sense of hope. The small wooden building was barely visible beneath the overgrown vines and moss that had claimed it, and its roof sagged in places as though the forest itself was slowly swallowing it whole. But it was shelter, a place to hide, if only for a moment.

Ava reached the door first, her fingers fumbling over the rusted handle. It creaked as she pushed it open, and the sound seemed deafening in the stillness of the forest. She glanced around, her heart hammering in her chest, waiting for Dominic to appear out of the trees. He wasn't there—yet.

"Come on," Ava urged, pulling Jess inside. They stumbled into the dim interior, the smell of damp wood and rot filling their noses. It was small, just a single room with a few scattered remnants of furniture—a broken chair in one corner, a rotting table covered in dust. The windows were cracked, but it felt like safety for the moment. Ava shoved the door closed behind them, pressing her back against it as she tried to catch her breath.

Jess collapsed against the wall, sliding down to the floor, her chest heaving with exhaustion. Her face was pale, and her body trembled, but she was still with Ava, still fighting.

"We have to rest," Jess whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't... I can't keep going."

Ava knelt beside her, placing a hand on her friend's arm. "I know, I know," she murmured, her own voice shaking. "Just... just for a minute, okay? We'll figure something out."

The shed was silent except for their labored breathing. Ava's mind raced as she scanned the room, trying to think of a plan. The shed was hidden, but it wouldn't stay that way for long. Dominic knew these woods. He would find them eventually. They couldn't stay here.

Her hand tightened around Jess's arm. "We'll rest for a little while," Ava said quietly. "But then we have to keep moving. He's going to find us."

Jess nodded weakly, but she was barely conscious, her body slumping against the wall. Ava felt a wave of panic rise in her chest. They were running out of time, out of options. They needed help, but there was no one. They were alone.

Ava stood up, her legs shaking beneath her as she moved to the window. She peered through the cracked glass, her eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of movement. The forest was dark, shadows shifting between the trees, but there was no sign of Dominic.

Yet she knew he was out there.

Dominic had always been relentless, patient in his obsession. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke her name—it was as if he truly believed they were destined to be together. And that terrified her more than anything. He wasn't driven by rage or revenge. He was driven by love—twisted, dangerous love.

Her hands gripped the windowsill, her knuckles white as she tried to steady her breathing. There had to be something she could do, some way to escape him. But every time she thought of a plan, it seemed impossible. They were too deep in the woods. Even if they started running again, he would find them.

Ava's eyes drifted to the edge of the clearing. There was a brief flicker of movement, and her breath caught in her throat. Her body went cold as she realized what she was seeing.

Dominic.

He stood at the edge of the trees, just barely visible in the growing darkness. He wasn't moving, just watching the cabin, waiting. Ava could feel the weight of his gaze even from this distance, could sense the intensity of his need to close the gap between them.

She stepped back from the window, her heart pounding in her ears. He had found them. It was only a matter of time before he made his move.

"Jess," Ava whispered urgently, rushing back to her friend's side. "He's here. He's outside."

Jess blinked slowly, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. "What are we going to do?" she asked, her voice weak.

Ava shook her head, panic surging through her. "I don't know. We can't stay here, but... we can't outrun him either."

Her mind raced, searching for any idea, any solution. The shed offered no real protection—it was falling apart, with cracked windows and a door that could easily be forced open. But maybe there was a way to hold Dominic off, to give them more time.

Ava scanned the room, her eyes landing on the remnants of an old bookshelf against the far wall. It was mostly empty, but the heavy wooden frame looked sturdy. Maybe she could block the door, at least for a little while.

She moved quickly, grabbing the edge of the bookshelf and dragging it across the room, positioning it against the door. The weight of it felt like a weak barrier, but it was all they had. She braced herself against it, listening for any sound outside.

Seconds passed, and then—

A loud bang against the door.

Ava's breath caught in her throat as the door rattled under the force of Dominic's first attempt to break in. He wasn't shouting, wasn't angry. The silence made it worse—he was calm, methodical, as always. Another loud thud reverberated through the cabin, shaking the old wood.

"*Ava*," Dominic's voice came from the other side of the door, muffled but clear. "Let me in."

Ava pressed her back harder against the bookshelf, her hands trembling as she tried to hold it in place. Jess stirred beside her, her eyes wide with fear.

"Ava, please," Dominic's voice was soft, coaxing. "You don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. I love you."

The words made Ava's skin crawl. He truly believed it—believed that he loved her, that this was somehow right. She felt sick to her stomach.

The door rattled again, harder this time, and the bookshelf shifted slightly under the pressure.

"I can't lose you again," Dominic's voice took on a pleading tone. "You don't understand. I've waited so long for this. For you."

Ava's pulse quickened. She wasn't going to let him in. She couldn't.

Another bang. The door groaned under the force, the bookshelf slipping further.

Panic surged through Ava as she looked around the cabin, searching for anything else to reinforce the door. But there was nothing. Her mind spun wildly, fear clawing at her chest. They were running out of time.

"Ava," Dominic's voice came again, soft and insistent. "I love you."

The door creaked one last time.

And then the wood splintered.

Ava screamed, stumbling back as the bookshelf toppled to the floor. The door burst open, and Dominic stepped inside, his eyes locking on her immediately.

His expression was calm, almost tender, as if nothing had been out of place, as if this was how it was always meant to be.

"I've found you," he whispered, taking a step toward her.

Ava backed away, her heart hammering in her chest. "Stay away from me," she said, her voice shaking.

But Dominic didn't stop. He moved closer, his eyes filled with a twisted love that will forever haunt her.

"Ava," he whispered, reaching out to her. "It's okay. You're safe now."

And with nowhere left to run, Ava could only stare at him in horror as he closed the distance between them.