Torn

Chapter 1✓

Carter

My heart beats wildly in my chest as my feet pound against the forest floor. Pine needles fly around behind me as I kick them up in the dust. Faster Carter! They are gaining on you! I pump my arms harder and skillfully maneuver myself around the trunks of the old trees.

I feel like I am flying through the dense forest as I push myself to the limit. I wonder how far I am ahead of them; I only managed to gain maybe a three minute head start. I strain to listen; it takes a moment before I can pick up the sounds of the two men running behind me, but I know it won't be long until they're right on my heels.

I take a sharp right turn, before quickly changing directions once more in hopes of throwing them off my trail. You know, run, dodge, and turn like a bunny running from their predator. That's sound logic, right? I shake myself from my ridiculous train of thought and tell myself to focus. I need to lose these bastards. I slide to a stop and duck behind one of the larger trees around me. My back slams against the trunk and I cover my mouth with my hand to try and mask the sounds of my ragged breathing.

My lungs burn as I try to calm my racing heartbeat. The pounding echo of their footsteps come up fast behind me. Shit! How in the hell did they find me so fast? I look around desperately trying to figure out an escape plan. I know this forest like the back of my hand, taking a quick look around it becomes clear that if I run now and go up a few hundred feet and duck right, it's a straight shot to grandpa's cabin-

Leaves crunch behind me as the thunderous footsteps come to a dead stop on the other side of the tree I stupidly had chosen, and I stop breathing completely. My heart beats painfully fast in my chest and I want to smack myself upside the head for not making a run for it when I had the chance.

"I know you're there. I can hear the pitter patter of your heart, my little prey," a deep voice rumbles and the hair on the back of my neck prickles.

"I can smell your fear, little one. Come on out, there's no point in hiding now. I promise, we'll go easy on you," the other male growls and I can just picture the feral smile on his lips.

Shivers run down my spine as I rack my brain on how the hell I'm going to get myself out of this mess. A branch snaps to my right at the same time the leaves ruffle to my left. The sneaky bastards are coming around each side of me.

I watch as the man on my right comes around the tree, dark black hair and brilliant blue eyes staring right at me. Triumph shining bright on his face. He lunges for me and before I can second guess myself, I duck under his outstretched arms and run for my life.

"What the hell, Quinn? We almost had her!" I hear him grumble as they both take off after me. I laugh loudly before swallowing it down, hoping I'm not celebrating too early.

Ducking under a low-hanging branch I take another sharp turn. Their footsteps are loud and close on my heels. How do I always get myself into these situations and what are they going to do with me once they catch me? I smile at the thought, anticipation coursing through me like wildfire.

One moment I am staring at a tree that I had pinpointed as my turn and the next the world was turning on me. A blur of leaves and colors are all I can see. Those bastards had lunged at me!

Our bodies begin flipping over each other with little to no control and my elbow hits one of them in the face, but I wasn't sure who. Though the hiss that I hear come from their mouth as I tumble across the forest floor is quite satisfying.

The momentum comes to a sudden halt with my body on top of a tall and lanky, brown-haired male with piercing grey eyes and a sneaky smile. The black-haired bad boy, Quinn, lands on top of both of us. Shit. It's a Carter sandwich.