Page 35 of Unmasked
I’m following a safe distance behind her. When she steps beneath the shadows of the tree, I grin.Now’s my chance.
Ducking behind a row of thick bushes, I grab a stone and toss it over her head. She whirls around, eyes wide with fear, searching the darkness. “Hello?”
Her fear makes her even more beautiful.
She whirls around, walking faster, darting occasional looks over her shoulder.
“Mallory,” I whisper loudly.
She whips around, eyes searching the darkness. “Who’s there?”
I remain hidden, not saying anything, watching her fear ratchet up higher.
“I’m getting the fuck outta here.” She whips around, hurrying toward her apartment building.
Now’s my chance.
I sneak up behind her, waiting until the perfect moment. I step on a stick lying on the ground, the crack sounding like a shot in the night.
Mallory whips around, coming face-to-face with me.
“Hello, my little prey.” My eyes glitter behind the mask.
She backs up a couple of steps. Her baby blues, which had been devoid of emotion since Steve assaulted her, now sparkle with life.
“Run.”
Strawberry-blonde hair flies behind her as she spins, sprinting toward the woods.
My smile is wide beneath my mask. “Exactly where I want you.”
I let her get a head start before chasing her. She shrieks as she runs deeper into the dark woods, the light of the full moon guiding her.
She’s running downhill when I come up behind her. I grab her and toss her over my shoulder. She kicks her feet, her hands beating against my back.
Lowering her to her feet, I push her back against the bark of a tree. I grab her wrists, my body flush against hers. “You’re mine now.”
She stares at me, defiance in her eyes.
My hand moves to her throat, my grip tight but not cutting off her air.
Not yet, anyway.
She shivers as I make a tsking noise. “Did you think I’d let you get away?” I throw my head back, laughing. “Nuh-uh, little prey. You’re fucking mine.”
“W-Why do you w-want me so b-bad. Y-You don’t k-know me.” Her lips and chin quiver so much she barely gets the words out.
“You’re wrong, Mallory Nicole Chapman.” Her pulse beats faster against my hand.
“You were born in New York City but were only there for six months before being whisked to Los Angeles, California. You don’t have any siblings. You’ve bounced back and forth between New York and LA for most of your life until you came to Stone Ridge University. You’re twenty years old and a first-time, first-generation college student. You were born on October 31, which makes you a Scorpio.”
Her mouth drops open.
“Want me to keep going, little prey?”
She slowly shakes her head. “B-But why me? I’m not anything s-special.”
I cock my head, hating that she lacks confidence. “You’re everythingto me.”