Dynasty Boys

Chapter 41

Elle

My head was spinning, and a sickening wave of nausea washed over me as I tried to open my eyes. They felt so heavy, like lead, and when I finally blinked away the tears, I realized I was tied to an old, creaky chair. My pulse quickened as panic started to set in. My mind scrambled, trying to piece together the events of the last night...

We needed drinks. A car was following us. Nicole...

A soft whimper escaped my lips as I scanned the dim room, trying to find my bearings. I was in the middle of a small, shabby bedroom, the only light filtering in through an open window. A cold breeze brushed my skin. A small, unmade bed sat in the corner, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Nicole!" I tried to shout, but my voice barely came out, just a broken whisper. My throat was raw, begging for relief. Panic surged again, and I frantically searched the room for any sign of my friend.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a force that made me flinch, and I froze. Cold chills ran down my spine as my heart skipped a beat.

"Elle Taylors... We finally meet." I heard. The voice was low and menacing. I looked up, eyes wide with terror, and saw the masked man standing in the doorway. A tall figure wearing combat boots and black clothes. A knife danced between his slender, its blade catching the faint light as he slowly advanced toward me.

My breath hitched in my chest, and I couldn't stop the tremor that ran through me. My mind raced with fear, but all I could manage was a breathless whisper.

"W-where is Nicole?" I managed to blurt.

He chuckled, the sound dark and amused, before reaching up to lift his mask. The motion sent a chill down my spine, and as his face came into view, I recoiled slightly. A long, jagged scar ran horizontally across his right cheek, his eyes and hair painted black. By the looks of him, he couldn't have been much older than me.

"Who... who are you?" I swallowed thickly, confusion and fear flooding my throat. I blinked a few times, trying to process everything, but my mind felt sluggish, as if it couldn't catch up with reality. He knelt in front of me, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an unsettling intensity. His fingers traced the edge of my neck with disturbing gentleness.

"Didn't he talk about me?" His voice was cold, monotone, as though he were speaking to a stranger. "I shouldn't be surprised..." He exhaled slowly, as if savoring his words. "I'm Hunter King."

My heart stopped. The name hit me like a punch to the gut. Hunter King... Carter's cousin? The world spun around me, and I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all.

"That's... that's not possible," I whispered hoarsely, my mind reeling with disbelief. "He... he died... You can't be—"

Hunter leaned closer, his eyes never leaving mine. He was so close now, his breath warm against my face. "That's what they all think. But I'm standing right here to prove you wrong."

The darkness in his gaze seemed to penetrate deep into my soul, like he could see all my fears and confusion. My mind screamed in protest, but the words died on my lips.

How could this be happening? How was he still alive?

"Why? Why me? We don't even know each other...d-did you kill my parents?." My eyes started watering and he stood up and crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving mine more than a second.

"Well...I didn't kill them. Believe it or not. " Hunter Knight voiced. Hunter's words hung in the air, and I frowned. He had no valid reason to kill them; after all, he only started harassing me when I arrived in Haverhill. But despite that, a small, unsettling part of me couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, it was all connected.