I jumped over a long, thick branch that had fallen during a storm when I was a twelve. I’d been so afraid during the storm that I’d crawled into bed with my mom.
There was a hole just underneath I had dug when I’d tried to build myself a hideaway cave. I’d wanted a place that I could hide from the clutter in the house.
Elijah wouldn’t know it was there. If I was really lucky, he’d break his ankle.
It was only a few seconds later I heard a thud followed by a stream of curses. I forced my feet to move faster.
Three feet from the door, I pulled out my keys. My hands were shaking, but I managed to expertly put the key into the lock and open the door.
I stepped into the house and slammed the door only seconds before Elijah’s body crashed into the wood.
The wall shook from the force. He pounded his fists over and over again.
“Open the fucking door, Melaney!” Elijah shouted.
I backed away, keeping my eyes on the shaking door. Then… it went quiet. The only sound was the racing beating of my heart.
I looked around, trying to find something I could use to protect myself. There wasn’t anything that would stop a bullet from the shotgun.
But he hadn’t pulled the trigger. He could have tried to shoot me, but he hadn’t.
Elijah didn’t want me dead. Of course, if it came down to it, there was no doubt in my mind he’d kill me, but he was trying to avoid that.
Before I could get to the kitchen, Elijah kicked the door open. The door boomed against the wall and vibrated in unison with Elijah’s laughter.
“Stupid girl,” Elijah said.
I darted into the kitchen. Instead of grabbing a knife, I yanked open the basement door and pinned myself between the wall and the door.
Something my mom had stored on the basement stairs shifted and bounced down the stairs. It sounded as if I’d run down them.
Elijah laughed. “What were you thinking?”
The floor creaked with each step he took closer to the basement. I knew exactly where he was. Each squeak and creak made a familiar sound.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Elijah sang. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Daylight was vanishing quickly. There was little light left, and Elijah’s steps slowed. He was hesitant to go into the basement, but I needed him to take two more steps.
Whatever had rolled down the stairs had stopped making sounds. Elijah took one more step.
We were too close. The only thing that separated us was the thin basement door.
My heart was so loud I was almost sure he could hear it beating. His weight shifted, and I knew he’d taken a step back.
Lightning flashed in the window, lighting the entire kitchen. Thunder rolled, and Elijah laughed.
“Aw,” he said, taking two steps closer. He reached over and curled his fingers on the side of the door. “All alone during a thunderstorm in that big, scary basement? You’re not going to like that, are you?”
He started to close the door. Lightning flashed again, brightening the room. I stepped out from behind the door, and with all my strength, I pushed him.
32
I couldn’t see him falling down the stairs into the dark basement, but I could hear it. The bangs and booms were like thunder, but the crack wasn’t like lightning. I cringed at what sounded like a bone snapping in two.
“Yeah,” I said, slamming the door closed. “I’d hate that.”
“Melaney!” Elijah howled. “Help me! I think my arm’s broken.”
“Bummer!” I shouted through the door.
It took me by surprise when I heard his foot against the bottom step. He cried out in pain as he took another step.
“Dammit, Mel!” he bellowed.
Why hadn’t he broken a leg? I bolted to the dining room and grabbed a chair, banging it against the cabinets as I brought it to the door, wedging it under the doorknob.
I didn’t wait to see if the chair would stay in place. I took off.
I wasn’t even at the end of the driveway when I heard the shotgun. The sound was muffled by the house, but that didn’t stop me from ducking behind a tree.
I sucked in two quick breaths before moving my feet. Even though it would have been faster, I stayed off the main road.
I couldn’t let him catch me again. It was a miracle that panic hadn’t taken over me and that somehow, I’d gotten away.
If he caught me again, I wouldn’t have it in me to fight anymore. Surely my luck of evading Elijah was running out.
I was out of breath by the time I saw Erik’s house. The shadows had hidden the house, but a crack of lightning piercing the sky above me illuminated the building.
Rain poured out of the sky, cooling me and creating a cacophony of sounds. It was like being followed by a group of drummers, all pounding their own beat.
My legs were numb and my vision grainy as I walked up to the front door. I was afraid to make any noise, but if Elijah was after me, he already knew where I’d go.
“Hey!” I shouted as I knocked on the door. “It’s me! Please let me in!”
The door opened, and Erik pulled me inside. He stood in front of me and stared at the door with his gun drawn.
“What happened?” Erik asked, his stance wide.
I took in two deep breaths and opened my mouth. There was so much to tell them, but nothing came out.
Dorian was staring at me. Sam
