by J. N. Baker
“True. At least she’s had more experience than the redhead. That girl will be dead before she even knows what hit her. William should just get it over with now, save her from what’s to come. It’d be a mercy killing.” Jade snuck a sip of Alec’s wine while the restaurant manager wasn’t looking.
“You haven’t met the redhead yet,” Alec reminded her. “She might surprise you.”
“Doubtful,” she snorted. “She isn’t even a yearling. She’d probably bleed out from a papercut before it ever had time to heal.” Jade’s eyes burned into me once more. “Six years isn’t much better. I don’t hold out much hope for this one. I can see it in her eyes. She’s weak like Elizabeth was. I give her two hours in battle before someone cuts off her pretty little head.”
“Enough,” Alec growled. “Have a little respect, Jade. Elizabeth was one of us. Don’t you ever forget that. What happened to her was of no fault of her own. She couldn’t control it.”
“No,” Jade said coolly. “She was weak, Alec. A coward. She sealed her own fate. Elizabeth wasn’t strong enough, and she had a hundred years on this one. This girl isn’t ready. She doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!” My fist collided with the edge of the table, catapulting silverware to the floor. The room grew silent, twenty pairs of beady eyes taking note of my outburst. Slowly, people went about their own business.
“Zoe, please lower your voice.” Alec put down his fork and frowned at me as if I was nothing more than a disobedient child.
“Alec, it’s time to leave.” My words wouldn’t be mistaken for anything but a command. “And, Jade, was it?” I said, turning my attention to the tall woman looming over me. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big girl. I assure you, I can take care of myself. If you don’t believe me, I’d be more than happy to demonstrate it for you.” My dagger tapped against her thigh, dancing along the femoral artery.
You could cut the tension with a knife. “I’ll get you a box, miss,” she muttered, excusing herself with our unfinished food as the restaurant manager made his rounds.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Zoe,” Alec told me, tracing his fingers over the dimples along the small of my back. I hated how much it calmed me. “I just thought you’d want to finally meet others of our kind. I know Jade isn’t the friendliest. The years have made her hard.” Alec stood, offering a hand to help me out of my chair. I didn’t take it.
Jade returned with our boxes and shoved them in Alec’s hands before storming off to the back of the restaurant without giving me a second look.
“Her, unfriendly? Never. I think we’re going to become the best of friends. And I’m sure we’ll have all of eternity to spend doing each other’s hair and sharing our deepest, darkest secrets.”
Or trying to kill one another.
“Don’t worry, she’ll grow on you.”
“Like a fungus.”
“Oh, how I’ve missed your sarcasm,” he chuckled, directing me out of the building.
As we approached the motorcycle, Alec grabbed my wrist, pulling me back to face him, careful to leave two feet of space between us. “Are you mad at me?”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “No,” I finally said. “No, I’m not mad at you. But I need to know, did you mean what you said? Do you really think I’m ready?”
Alec closed the space between us, grasping my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Of course, I meant it. I would never lie about something like that, Zoe.”
“Yeah…” I breathed. I slipped out of his arms and continued toward the motorcycle. “We need to go,” I said over my shoulder, pulling the helmet onto my head.
“What did you see, anyway?” he asked, strapping on his own helmet and shoving our food boxes into one of the saddlebags.
“Earthquake,” I replied.
“Where?”
“Here.”
Alec released a weighted breath, straddling the bike. “Let’s go.”
I savored the sensation as my body slipped against his as I mounted the back of the motorcycle. He fired up the engine, the vibrations licking at my inner thighs. I clung to his shirt as thunder exploded around us. The sky opened and rain poured down. In an instant, we were soaked to the bone. Alec spun the back wheel getting us onto the road, muddy water splashing onto my calves.
We zipped down the street, the rain stinging my face like a swarm of angry bees. As Alec cut the corner to my apartment, we fishtailed. “Hold on!” he shouted back at me. Suddenly, the asphalt cracked beneath us and Alec cursed, doing his best to straighten out the motorcycle.
Two bright lights shimmered through the rain as a truck barreled toward us, its loud horn sounding as it skidded through the red light.
The impact collapsed my ribcage, forcing the air from my lungs. The lower half of my body crunched under the weight of the bike as I slid across the wet asphalt, the rough surface scraping my skin clean off. Blood pooled around me as I struggled to free myself, screaming as the shattered bones in both my legs shredded through torn muscles.
“Alec,” I breathed. My eyelids became heavy as the darkness consumed me.
SIX YEARS PRIOR
“The movie wasn’t half bad, but I don’t think there was nearly enough action. I mean, seriously, why does a movie about a bank robbery need a romance story anyway?” Noah continued his cinematic critique as we poured out of the small theater into the cool evening air.
“How else would they make any money? They know the only way to get a woman to sit through one of those blood and gore movies is to throw in a steamy romance,” Lindsay said. “A few sex scenes and shootouts for the guys and an ‘I love you’ or two for the girls. Everyone’s happy.”
“We really need to get you a man, Linds,” Cody joked.
“Please and thank you.” She grinned playfully, but I noted the sudden flush in her cheeks. I’d have to ask her what that was about later.
“Well, I don’t think it was worth fifteen bucks.” Cassie shook her head, wrinkling her nose at her empty wallet.
Seth wrapped an arm around her. “Don’t worry, babe. I got the next one.”
“Zo, you sure you don’t want me to walk you to your car?” Luke asked for the tenth time. Movie nights were a regular thing for our group, and usually Josh and I drove together. It was the first movie night he’d missed in months. That’s what happened when you put off writing a paper until two days before it was due. At least, that was the excuse he gave everyone else. But I knew the real reason: me.
I didn’t have it in me to tell our friends that Josh had asked me to go to the movies with him.
When he first asked me, I didn’t even realize what it was he was asking. I thought he meant drive together. No, Zoe…I mean, do you want to go with me. Like a—like a date. Those words, the bashful look on his usually confident face, it was all imprinted in my brain. And, I’d turned him down. Even now the guilt burned through me. It wasn’t that I didn’t find Josh attractive. The man was hotter than sin. But we were best friends—we’d always only ever been just friends.
How could he suggest ruining that after all these years? And yet, I’d tossed and turned all night thinking about his words, the look in his ice-blue eyes as he looked at me for the first time, not as a friend, but as something more. At three o’clock in the morning, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I called him. Let’s do it, I’d told him.
He said he had to finish his paper and wouldn’t be able to make it. I knew the truth—he was backing out. There was a large part of me that was angry with him for putting such thoughts in my head.
“Are you kidding, dude?” Cody said, dragging me out of my thoughts. “No one would screw with Zoe. She’s a savage. Why do you think I always call her Fido?” He winked at me as he jabbed an elbow into Luke’s ribcage.
“Because you’re obsessed with dogs?” Luke suggested, elbowing him right back.
“Hey, dude,” Cody started, shovi
ng a playful finger in Luke’s chest. “I love all animals. Zoe just reminds me of a tough little bulldog.”
“Gee, thanks,” I grumbled. “Look, I’m a big girl, guys. I can handle myself. I’ll be fine.” I couldn’t help but laugh. It was cute when they tried to protect me, but I didn’t need it. With the disaster of a family I had back at home, I had to be able to take care of myself. Walking to my car in the dark was a walk in the park in comparison.
“Good, because I don’t want to give the history presentation by myself tomorrow,” Lindsay said. “So, yeah, don’t die. I hate public speaking.” She shuddered.
“And I don’t?” I asked. “Plus, you wouldn’t have to give it alone. Zane will be there.” I flashed her an evil grin.
“Ew,” she gagged. “Never mind. I’d rather give it alone.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow, girl.” I wrapped my arms around her before she disappeared into the night with Seth and Cassie.
“Yeah,” Noah said with a yawn, “I better head out too. I’ve got to get Kat home before our parents call out the cavalry.”
Katherine peeked around her older brother’s shoulder. “Seriously. I prefer not being grounded for all of eternity. Freaking curfew. I can’t wait until I’m eighteen,” she groaned and rolled her eyes as she headed toward Noah’s old Jeep.
“And you’re sure you don’t want Cody or me to walk you to your car? We can,” Luke said. He was relentless. “It’s not like it’s that far.”
“Don’t worry so much, Lukey-boy.” Cody shook his head and shoved Luke away from me. “See you tomorrow, Zo!”
“Yeah, yeah. Bye, boys,” I called as I turned toward the parking garage. It was late—almost early. The movie ran longer than I’d expected. My car would probably be one of the few remaining vehicles in the garage.
I followed the stairs down to the bottom level, snuggling into my sweater, my breath visible in the moist evening air. Each smack of my heels echoed against concrete walls. It was an eerie sound. I shivered as I stepped off the last stair, trying to remember where I’d parked my car. It was around the corner, I was sure of it.
The sound of heavy footsteps traveled down the stairway behind me, but I didn’t pay it much attention. I wasn’t the only person leaving the movie theater. A chill raced down my spine as the footsteps grew closer, closing the gap between us. Without being too obvious, I pulled the keys out of my purse. I just needed to get into the car and lock the doors. Just a little farther and I’d be home free.
I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of the man following me. He was maybe ten feet back, something shiny gripped in his gloved hand. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me. Maybe not. Suddenly, I wished I’d let Luke walk me to my car. Why did I always have to be so damn independent?
My phone. No one attacks someone when they’re on their phone, right? It’s like having a witness right there. I yanked it from my pocket and hit speed dial.
“Hello?” a groggy male voice answered. “Zoe?”
And then it happened. A flash of movement.
I ran as fast as my legs could move me. My car was in the distance, just a few more yards. I threw my purse to the ground, praying the man would settle for whatever money it contained. The cell phone slipped out of my hands as I fumbled with the car keys, trying to find the unlock button. For a split second, as I reached for the door handle, I saw hope.
As my fingertips grazed the cold steel, rough hands collided with my shoulder blades, hurling my body into the car door. My left arm crashed through the window. I felt the bones in my forearm snap as they made contact with the steering wheel. I fell back, an imprint of my mangled body remaining on the side of my car door. I howled in pain, gasping for air as my blood stained the pavement.
The man let out a sadistic laugh. He grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked me up off the ground, slamming the side of my head into the side mirror. I yelped, fighting back the temptation to slip into unconsciousness.
Surrendering was not an option.
“You’re a pretty one,” he mumbled as he pulled my face to his. He ran his tongue along my bloody jawline and smirked. “Very pretty indeed.”
“Please don’t hurt me,” I whimpered, tears streaming down my cheeks. It was like pleading with the Devil. “There’s money in my purse—you can have it. Take my car, take whatever you want.”
He spun me around and pressed his body against the back of mine, breathing into my hair. I felt something sharp against the small of my back. It twisted, piercing through my clothing and digging a shallow hole in my skin. His large hand stroked my body, running over my chest and around my neck before covering my mouth, preventing my screams from attracting unwanted attention.
“That is exactly what I plan to do. You are mine,” he hissed, squeezing my face so tightly that I thought my jaw might snap.
He turned me so that I faced him once more, pressing his cold, hard lips against my neck. I could feel him trembling against me, his heavy breaths on my skin. He pinned my body against the side of the car, glass from the broken window slicing through me like tissue paper. He groaned as his free hand ran wild, groping and grabbing as he pleased.
I pushed with all my might, scratching and kicking at him frantically, but my desperate attempts went completely unnoticed. With one clean swipe, he ripped my sweater off. He feasted his eyes on my bare skin, releasing a moan. His attention quickly turned to my jeans, fumbling with the top button.
My attacker tore me away from the car and threw me to the ground, my right cheekbone scraping against rough asphalt. I could hear him wrestling with his belt. It was my last chance. With my good arm, I tried to drag myself away. I gained two inches before the knife came down. I screamed, grabbing my shoulder.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That was a very bad idea.” A steel-toed boot plowed into my ribcage, rolling me onto my back. I gasped for air, coughing up my own blood. He dropped down on top of me, tugging at my jeans until they snapped free of my ankles. The man licked his lips and ran a gloved hand up my inner thigh, running a finger along the elastic band of my underwear before tearing them away.
He sprawled out, hovering over me for a moment. The heat from his body burned through me. It was the first time I’d really seen his face. Those eyes, as dark as night—I’d never forget them.
“P-please,” I sobbed, knowing my cries would go unheard.
With one quick movement, he took what was rightfully mine, stealing what I’d kept safe for so many years. It wasn’t supposed to be that way, not like that. For a moment, I thought I could actually feel my heart shattering within my chest. I begged God, I pleaded for Him to let me die, to take the pain away. But He didn’t come. He didn’t save me. My body began to shut down. I dropped my head to the side and closed my eyes, willing myself to die.
“No!” the man raged.
I howled in pain, my hands firmly gripping the sharp knife embedded in my flesh.
“You will look at me!” he snarled, baring his teeth. “I want to see those pretty eyes of yours.” He ripped the knife from my stomach and went about his business. I was of only one use to him. I had only one thing he wanted—hungered for.
After he took it, he would dispose of me like a piece of trash. I counted the seconds until he’d be done, until my life would finally end. Only one person was going to walk out of that parking garage, and I had no doubt in my mind that it wasn’t going to be me.
A flash of light caught my eye. The bloodstained knife sat a few inches away, calling to me. I strained my arm, feeling blood seep through the open wound on my shoulder. The man was too preoccupied with my body to notice anything else. My hand trembled, grasping the object that would inevitably be the death of me. I wondered if I could be as vicious as my attacker, if I could drop to that level of evil.
He moaned with pleasure.
The knife plunged into his side three times before he managed to pull away from me. He roared and lunged toward me, punching me in the face. I reached up, s
licing at his gut relentlessly. Blood splattered across my face as I stabbed at his body over and over again until he collapsed to the ground beside me, convulsing in a pool of blood, his dark, hollow eyes forever staring at me. I watched the rise and fall of his chest until it rose no more. Only then did I feel safe. Only then did I know it was over.
The knife clattered against the ground as it slipped from my hand. My body felt cold and oddly lifeless. I’d convinced myself that only one person would walk out of that parking garage. I was wrong. No one would.
Death was different than I’d imagined it would be. No life flashing before my eyes, no warm memories or bright lights. There was only darkness. I closed my eyes as my vision faded, too weak to cry out. It was over. I needed it to be over.
Like a dream, I heard voices in the distance. Something or someone moved beside me and a warm hand wrapped around my throat.
“Bring the stretcher, she’s still breathing!”
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Everything hurt and I was dying.
There was no other explanation for the searing pain radiating from every inch of my body.
My eyelids were heavy and, for a second, I thought someone had glued them shut in some sort of cruel practical joke. Did they beat the shit out of me in the process?
With great difficulty, I finally managed to get my eyes open a crack and instantly regretted it. The room was blindingly white. White walls, white curtains, white machines, white sheets—white everything. And that damned incessant beeping.
I groaned and even that hurt.
“Zoe?”
The voice sounded like it was a million miles away—and under water.
Where the hell am I? I tried to get my mouth to form the words but no sound came out. I wasn’t sure my lips even moved.
