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Gavin releases me and steps back so I can throw the knife. I feel cool air take his place on my back, but I take a deep breath in and then out at the same time that I fling the knife forward.
It whistles through the air and hits the target right below the man's neck, making a loud thunk.
I spin around with a huge smile on my face. "I did it!" I shout, feeling happier than I've felt all week as a girly squeal escapes me.
Gavin sweeps me up in his arms, laughing along with me and spins me around. "Yes, you did! Thrane better watch out," he says, still holding me against him in a tight embrace.
My laughter slowly dies down, but my pulse continues to pick up its pace. Gavin is still smiling as he sets me on my feet, but he doesn't take his arms away from my waist. I am holding onto his hard shoulders, feeling like I might fall down if I let go. With the way he is watching me, I don’t want to let go.
"Thank you, Gavin," I say breathless. "I couldn't have done that without you."
His smile softens and the gold in his eyes darkens to a smoldering flame. "Yes, you could have. You can do anything."
I lick my lips and watch as his eyes flick down to my mouth. His chest is rapidly rising and falling, and I realize that he is about to kiss me. He lowers his head to mine slowly and I close my eyes in anticipation. One of his strong hands releases my waist and slides up to the back of my neck, holding my head in place. His nose brushes up against my cheek softly, sending small currents of electricity into me. Gavin's warm lips barely brush against my waiting ones, not yet really kissing me, but just feeling them there before he pulls away from me slightly.
My lips feel cold from the loss of his warm ones.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he whispers, his breath fanning my cheek.
I open my eyes, confused, and see pain in his. My heart shatters at his words and the regret I see on his face, making quick tears start to sting my eyes. I gently push away from him, feeling completely rejected.
Gavin takes a step back from me and opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but I stand tall and hold up my hand, halting his words that will only make me feel worse.
"Don't, Gavin. It's fine." I lie and walk toward the door, needing to get as far away from him as possible.
Gavin calls after me but I ignore him and continue my pitiful escape. I burst through the gym door and run into the forest, taking the route that Alexa and I run most mornings. I run faster than I ever have, speeding by the beautiful evergreens and wildflowers. I don't even care that I am still in my tank top and the evening air is cold against my skin. I just push through it, 53
needing a release. Before I even realize it, I am further than I have ever been, and I don't know exactly how I got there. I spin in circles, trying to figure out which way to go back to the house.
"Aww, did you lose your way, little one?" I hear a familiar voice pierce my ears, causing all of the blood to leave my body and turn my skin to ice.
I turn around slowly and see Thrane leaning against a tree only a few feet from me, which is way too close for my comfort.
"What do you want, Thrane?" I ask, hoping he'll tell me he just wants to talk or see a movie and become friends. He doesn't.
He laughs a deep sinister laugh. "You know what I want, darling. I want you to want me," he says with his perfect white teeth glistening in the setting sun light. His handsome features don't match the terrifying and grotesque demon that I know is hiding somewhere inside.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want you, and I never will. I'm not one for staying in an abusive relationship if I can help it," I say with more bravado than I'm feeling.
Thrane slowly creeps toward me and watches my body, like a snake assessing his victim.
When he is only a foot away, he reaches his long slender fingers up to my chin and grips it tightly. "Well, let's see about that. I'm going to make you want me, don't you worry."
A small whimper escapes my throat from his tight grip, but I stand my ground, not wanting to be the easy prey. "You're pathetic." I spit out through gritted teeth.
Thrane's cold hand winds back and smacks my cheek hard, causing me to land on the forest floor. Before I can recover from the shock of being slapped for the first time in my life, he grabs my arm and pulls me up against him. He sniffs the air around us like a hound and growls.
"Why don't we go somewhere a bit more private," he whispers to me. Then shoves something small in my mouth and forces me to swallow.
I struggle against him but quickly become tired and groggy. I slouch and Thrane lifts me up in his arms. I hear him laugh again but it sounds far away and distorted. "Good girl," he says, looking like a dark blur now. "Why don't you go to sleep. We will be
