Mine

Chapter 25

Just when I was about to lose all hope of ever escaping this maze-like forest, a pair of headlights pierced through the darkness—a beacon at the end of the tunnel, the salvation I desperately needed.

I bolted toward the light like a mad woman, arms flailing frantically, praying they would see me.

Would they even stop? I was stark naked, probably looking unhinged, and we were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but endless trees.

Please, let it be a woman, someone kind enough to stop for a half-crazed, terrified stranger who looked like she'd just crawled out of hell.

I glanced over my shoulder, dread curling around my spine. Xavier. Was he behind me? Was he gaining on me?

But instead of chasing me, he was running back toward his mansion.

What?

Did he give up?

Was he finally letting me go?

There was no time to question it. My only focus was reaching the car.

The vehicle screeched to a halt just as I reached the driver's side. I pounded on the window, desperation pouring from me in ragged breaths.

The window rolled down, revealing  a man, his face etched with confusion and concern.

"Hey, is everything o—"

"Please, help me!" My voice cracked. "P-Please! There's a man—he's trying to keep me captive in his mansion! He—he raped me, over and over—"

His expression darkened with horror.

"Get in. Let's get you out of here."

Relief flooded me so fast it nearly knocked me off my feet. I scrambled toward to the passenger door, ready to dive in—

Then I saw them.

Another set of headlights, barreling toward us.

Oh, God.

My stomach twisted. He hadn't given up. He'd gone back for his car.

How could I have been so stupid? Even for a second, I thought—hoped—he had realized how utterly insane this was, that he had better things to do than whatever twisted game he was playing with my life.

But no. Xavier was coming for me.

A scream tore from my throat as I threw myself into the backseat.

"T-That's him! He's coming after me! We need to leave NOW!"

The driver slammed the car into reverse, but Xavier was close—too close.

My pulse thundered, my chest heaving. My heart wasn't just pounding. It was trying to claw its way out, desperate to escape, just like me.

"Hold on," the driver barked, gripping the wheel with white-knuckled intensity. He slammed his foot on the gas, and the tires screeched against the pavement before launching us forward. My body was thrown back against the seat, my pulse hammering so fast it made me dizzy.

I turned to look out the rear window. He was still there. Xavier's sleek black car was gaining on us, his headlights cutting through the night like two burning eyes locked onto me. My stomach twisted into a tight knot.

"He won't stop," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.

The driver's jaw clenched. "Let's see about that."

He yanked the wheel hard to the right, sending us careening onto a narrow dirt road that cut through the forest. The car jolted violently, the uneven terrain making it nearly impossible to stay upright. My fingers dug into the seat, knuckles aching from how hard I was gripping.