part0026

A shiver takes hold, and I almost sneeze as I walk down a leaf sprinkled sidewalk. The smell of wind mixed with bark has me feeling all sorts of lonesome. Although the sun is shining, it frequently goes in and out of hiding behind strands of murky rain clouds.

I can’t bring myself to go back to the dormitory just yet, even though I could probably do with some sleep. The weather is too nice today, albeit a bit chilly. Fall has just started, and I’m pretty sure it’s every woman’s favorite season.

Taking a walk through town seemed like the perfect thing to do, so here I am, walking down First Street. There are a fair number of people out and about, walking like me or getting groceries. Some are even movie-going, despite all the tragedy.

I’m momentarily distracted from the current situation until a news van pulls up across the street, right next to Red Velvet Bakery. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past month, it’s that the media are a different breed of people.

“Excuse me, young lady!”

Oh, shit, and they’ve spotted their next victim. Not today.

“Miss, can we talk to you for just a moment?” A well-dressed woman asks, checking her microphone for sound. “I’m sure you’re aware of the recent murder at Great Basin College, are you a student there?”

I just keep walking, but the persistent lady keeps stride with me even after I turn onto the next street. To make matters even stranger, a raven appears on the sidewalk, keeping pace with her for a few moments before flying off again.

Her voice is shrill, and she won’t stop firing off questions, most of which I can’t answer.

Suddenly she stops. “Aren’t you concerned about your safety?” she asks, her tone deceptively sweet. “Miss, please, answer the question…”

Taking in her perfectly done makeup and pink dress suit, I smile coldly. “Yes, I am. Now can you please leave me alone?” I snap, not caring for her pushiness.

“And there you have it, folks,” she says, whipping face-front to the camera. “The college students of Great Basin are literally in fear for their lives.” She pauses, making a dramatic face. “Mary Ward here, reporting live from Elko, Nevada.”

“Do you enjoy making a profit off other people’s pain?” I ask, angry that I’ve fell into her trap.

“Pain?” she parrots, cocking her hip to the side. “Oh, you young people are so dramatic!”

She stares me down while her crewman begins to walk away, but the camera is suddenly ripped from his hands.

“Oh, my God,” I whisper, covering my mouth with my hands as I realize who just threw the camera.

Ethan stands next to the shocked reporter, his striking face half-masked. “You people disgust me,” he says furiously, stalking towards me and seizing me by the arm. “Let’s go.” His eyes are electric blue.

“You think you’re some type of bigshot in this town?” Mary, the reporter yells, angry and panting. “That camera will be paid for, Ethan!”

Seems they know each other but I say nothing, allowing Ethan to drag me away from the bizarre scene.

“Get in,” he orders, practically shoving me inside his parked car. “Now!” he yells when I attempt to pull away.

A few people pause to stare, and the last thing I want is another scene, so against my better judgment, I get in. “What the hell is your problem?” I ask as he gets in and slams the door. “I didn’t need your help back there.”

He grins ferociously. “Oh, trust me, I know you don’t need my help,” he says angrily. “You’re the only woman in town who doesn’t want a piece of me, the freak of Elko .”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, confused by his aggressive behavior.

“Every walking body with a pussy wants to fuck me, be with me,” he reveals sharply, leaning forward in his seat. “But not you…you’re too good for that, aren’t you?” He touches my face gently. “You’re not like the others.”

Is he serious right now, or is this some kind of prank?

I mean obviously he’s hot even with the mask and whatever he’s hiding underneath.

“I think you’re very attractive,” I whisper stupidly, clutching my purse in vain. “I’m just-

“Shhhh,” he soothes, placing his thumb over my lips to silence me. “You’re as untried as a virgin sacrifice, aren’t you?”

“A virgin sacrifice?” I sputter, taken aback. “What the hell…” I reach for the door handle and yank with shaking, sweaty fingers.

Instead of trying to stop me, he laughs manically. “That’s it, run, Hannah, run.”

No one notices as I run past them, or if they do, I can’t tell. My vision is only in front of me, my heart close to exploding. The slightly cold air puffs up and blankets my face in clouds of fear. I don’t know if he’s behind me, but somehow, I think so. And the farther away I run, it’s like he’s already won.

Finally, as I expect, he catches me, tackling me to the dirt with bone crushing force.

He’s breathing heavily on top of me, and I take the opportunity to crane my neck up and glance around. Although winded, I can see the back of a Grocery Store. Sam’s Grocery, the one that’s been abandoned for years, according to Stacey.

I know there have to be people not too far away, so I scream. “Help me, somebody, anybody, please help me!” The words just barely escape, my lungs on fire with fear.

“No one is coming to save you, Hannah,” he taunts, lapping the side of my neck like an animal. “You’re helpless, completely at my mercy.”

The sky mocks me as the sun fades away behind traitorous clouds. And the cold ground beneath me only makes this harder, more fucking sad. Just when I think I’ll cry, I don’t. I fight back with a renewed surge of strength.

“Get off me,” I grunt, shoving at his sinewy, muscular chest. “You fucking pervert, get off!”

“I’ve never taken a woman against her will,” he reveals, his leather mask brushing up against my face lovingly. “Until you, Hannah, you’ll be my first and my last.”