Fatal Attractions

Chapter Twenty-Eight

     "It's alright, Lena. I'm here," he whispered. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me, gentle at first then more aggressive. 

     "I'll never let anyone hurt you." I looked up at Alex as he wrapped his arms around me. We both stood naked in the woods. No birds, no squirrels, just silence.

     "I love you, Lena," he whispered, kissing the skin below my ear. I tried to say a response, but no words came out. He looked at me hesitantly.

     "I love you," he repeated, watching me. Again, I tried to respond, but no words came out.

     "Why aren't you saying it back?" he became more frantic, and I watched as his face slowly contorted and looked more monstrous.

     "I-I," I struggled, but it was all I could get out.

     "I knew you were worthless!" he roared, his sharp fangs gleaming in the moonlight as he pulled my head back by my hair and ripped my throat out with his teeth.

     I screamed, jolting forward, the sensation of goosebumps flaring across my body. My hair stuck to the sweat on my forehead in clumps, and I desperately tried to wipe it away, but my hands remained behind my back.

     "Shit," I breathed, remembering where I was. It was a nightmare. It was only a nightmare.

     Too bad I was already living in one.

     "Whoa now, princess, don't give yourself a heart attack." I turned and saw Jack sitting on top of the hay bale. It was daylight. I wasn't sure what time, but I was sure everyone else was still asleep, or else it would be Summer up here with me.

     "Nightmare," I breathed, and turned away from him. I could almost hear his lips pull into a smile.

     "What was it about?" he asked. 

     "As if I would tell you," I responded. I heard him stand and walk over to me.

     "Certainly, it wasn't about me?" he questioned, smiling down at me, arms crossed over his chest.

     I shook my head. "Hell no. I'm not scared of you." He raised his eyebrows, pure surprise on his face.

     "Oh really?" he asked. I nodded my head. 

     Faster than I could blink, his hand smacked hard against my cheek, throwing me back. I landed hard, my head smacking off the wood of the loft. Everything went black for a moment, and I could taste blood. My hands weren't tied in the best position, because the chair crushed them beneath my weight, and I felt every bone as it broke. 

     I'd never screamed so loud in my life. The pain was excruciating, and I felt like I was going to pass out any second. I was hoping for it.

     "Jack!" someone yelled, barely audible through my cries of pain.

     "She's fine!" he yelled back.

     "What?" the other person asked, confused. At this point, I could tell it was Kyle. "No, they're hot on our trails. We gotta' get out of here, now!" he yelled, and I heard him run out of the barn.

     "Shit," Jack barked, and I was suddenly being lifted up. He untied me hastily and pulled me up out of the chair by my arm. I made sounds of protest, but it was worthless. As he carried me down the ladder to the bottom floor, I tried my best to wiggle all my fingers. My right hand was in pain, but at least three of the fingers on my left hand were definitely broken. They were already becoming swollen.