Stroke Of Fear

   “No,” I beg, then turn to Jake. “Please, just go!”

   Tanner drops his grip on me, and I grab for his arms. Jake doesn’t waste any time, pushing Tanner’s chest. Tanner’s jaw clenches, and he throws the first punch. It’s loud. A crack echoes from Jake’s jaw. Then Jake throws himself at Tanner. They roll on the ground and throw a few punches each other’s way.

   I hadn’t even realized that I’m screaming until Cassie’s hand wraps around my mouth. “Shh, it’s fine.”  Eric comes out of nowhere and pulls Tanner off Jake.

   “Get the fuck up. The campers are watching. Fucking calm down, Tanner,” Eric says, grabbing his arms and pinning them behind his back.

   His face is sweaty, dirt smeared against his cheek. If it were any other situation I’d be completely turned on. His chest rises in powerful gasp as he tries to pull away from Eric. His eyes are dark; he’s ready to fight— ready to protect me.

   Heath has Jake in a deadlock, pulling him the opposite direction. Eric doesn’t let go of Tanner until Jake is clear out of sight. He snatches away, his finger running through his messy hair.

   “What the fuck was that about?” Eric asks.

   “He pushed me,” Tanner says.

   Eric raises an eyebrow and purses his lips. I just now notice that they’re still in their swimming suits. “Really? That’s it? He just pushed you?” He glances back and forth between the two of us. “Where were you two today?”

   Tanner swallows and glances over at me. A small drop of blood falls from his lip, and he spits a mouthful onto the ground. “That fuckin’ bastard got my lip.”

   Eric snorts. “Well, you got his entire face. So, I think you’re good. Can we please go to our cabins now? Before some campers go to get Mrs. Jones.”

   I nod frantically. Cassie pats my back and drags Eric the opposite direction. Tanner sighs and shoots his gaze to me. “Sorry. I don’t take too kindly to being pushed.”

   I lift an eyebrow and hold back a laugh. “Really? You can’t tell at all.”

* * *

   Tanner helps me inside and excuses himself after apologizing a thousand times. I lock the door behind him and press my back against the wall. He fought without an inch of hesitation. He seemed so powerful and strong.

   God, I’m head over heels for a guy that won’t even fucking kiss me. Just my luck.

I crawl to my bed. It’s never looked so comfortable before. Just as I grab my covers, a movement from the window across from me catches my eye.

   I’m suddenly paralyzed—struck with a feeling of the purest terror. I can’t move. Breathe. Act. I’m just stuck in the moment—stuck staring. He was there; I saw him. The brim of his white polo almost covered his blue eyes, but I’d know those eyes anywhere. They haunt my dreams every night.

   Dreaming. That’s exactly what I’m doing. No, I’m hallucinating like I did before the doctor prescribed me the crazy pills. I blink several times. When I look back he’s gone, leaving no indication he was ever there. My eyes shoot toward the door, and it’s both deadbolts are locked. I slide onto my bed, clenching my covers.

He can’t come back. He’s in prison—a facility meant to keep him in. I’m dreaming. Dreaming my bad past into reality.

   Slowly, I get up and close the blinds. I won’t see him again. It was only my imagination.

* * *

   I was running. Fast. Thick branches slapped against my face, but I didn’t stop. I could feel the blood dripping down my forehead, but something was behind me. I don’t remember, but I know I was running from it. It was getting closer. I was pushing through the burn in my throat, pushing through the ache in my body.

   Water crashed against the rocks below and stopped me in my tracks. I was at the cliff, just like last time. But I wasn’t being thrown over…not yet at least. Frantically, I searched my surroundings. There wasn’t anywhere to go. I led myself there. To the one place I dreaded the most. The one place that haunted me.

   Thunder roared across the sky overhead. He was coming. Tugging my hands through my hair, I peeked over the cliff. The water was racing quickly from the wind carrying it. It looked so terrifying, so consuming. I screwed my eyes shut and prayed I was dreaming, that the horror in front of me was just a dream passing through.

   I felt him. His stare. His presence. I’ll never forget his face, the calm look that was plastered there. I turned and saw him. From a distance he looked normal. Like a normal guy walking through the woods. But, I knew better. I knew what lies beneath that white polo hat was a monster dug from the depths of Hell and placed in front of me.

   His fingers twitched. He wanted to touch me. Choke me. Watch the life leave my body. Not. This. Time. Turning around, I raised my arms above my head. A scream ripped through the air, and it took me a minute to realize it was my own. I plunged forward, the wind whipping my hair around my head. The dark water consumed me, pulling me under so far I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get up.

   My sheets are sweaty when I sit up in bed. Cassie’s alarm clock reads 3:34am. Shit. Cassie is tangled up in her covers when I glance over. All the blinds are closed and the door tightly locked.

   Settling my head back into the pillow, I fall into a deep, dark sleep.

Chapter Eight

Tanner

My fucking hand is throbbing. A light blackish bruise is horizontal across my knuckles. I hadn’t realized I’d hit him so hard. Good, he fucking needed it. He came at me like he knew he was going to kick my ass. That’s what made me so angry. He has no idea what I grew up around. Country boys don’t use guns to fight, they use their fists. They’re not afraid to get dirty.

   Eric waves his hand in front of my face. “Come on, Tanner. Where is your head today? Wait—don’t answer that—you’re dreaming about Aubrey and her tight little ass.”

   Narrowing my eyes, I push his hand away from my face. “I’m gettin’ up.”

Eric laughs and tugs on a jacket. “Have you seen Jake since the fight?”

   “No.”

   “His eyes are swollen. You really gave it to him. What happened anyway?”

   I roll my eyes. “I told you, he pushed me. I was helping Aubrey after she had a panic attack. He came at me, so I fought him.”

   Eric’s eyebrow rises, but I can tell he isn’t going to ask anymore. “All right, whatever, bro. Ready to go?”

   We walk toward the auditorium, which is about a half mile from our cabins. We’re having a movie night tonight for all of the kids. Thank God Aubrey and Cassie are hosting it. If I have to cater to my little brother anymore, I’d probably kill him.

   Everyone is already in their seats once we get there. The huge screen is almost as big as an actual theater’s screen. The smell of popcorn is heavy in the air. The counselors are sitting in a group of chairs to the left. We make our way down there and grab drinks and popcorn on the way.

   Eric starts throwing popcorn at Cassie from a few seats away, and she turns around and flips him off with