Page 160 of Hunt for You

If that’s true, God, I just want you to remember: I did the right thing. I kept Sam out of this.

Around seven, as the sun began to dip and the shadows lengthened outside, my nerves came back a little. I walked back to my bedroom and pulled out the black athletic clothes Cain had told me to get for a hunt. I slipped my phone in the pocket on the side of the leggings, zipped the stretchy shirt all the way up to my chin, slipped on the black shoes with good, wide soles for traction and better ankle support.

I didn’t take any weapons.

Most women never understood that when you were fighting a stronger foe, more often than not, they’d just take any weapon from you and use it against you.

I wasn’t ignorant. It wouldn’t happen to me.

I also didn’t take food.

Or water.

What was the point?

As twilight descended, I got in the car and drove right to the park.

It was going to close at full dark.

I purposefully left my car in a very obvious spot, so no one could miss it. I ignored the shifting shadows under the trees that hid Cain’s eyes. I was almost certain of it.

Or was that just my hope talking?

As I got out, the sky was turning bright orange and purple overhead. It gilded the trees in gold, and turned the grass lavender.

I sighed.

Was this the last sunset I’d ever see? If so, it was a pretty one.

Before I took the first step away from the car, I hesitated.

For a long breath, I seriously considered calling the whole thing off.

But no matter what angle I looked at this from, the end result was the same.

That’s the thing with monsters… the only way to beat them is with a bigger monster. A truth my mother discovered to her own detriment.

I had always vowed I wasn’t going to go out wailing in a puddle of my own blood and piss the way she had.

I shuddered and pushed the images from my mind.

Then I started down the trail into the forest.

And I never looked back. Because I had hope.

Either this was going my way, and I’d see Cain again. Or it wasn’t, and it would all be over anyway…

50. Black as Night

SOUNDTRACK:Riseby Tommee Profitt

~ CAIN / SAM ~

I watched Bridget get out of the car and stop, staring up at the sky and my chest squeezed.

Her dark hair, black as night, gleamed and shot sparks of gold in the dying light. Her face was pale, but her cheeks were flushed and her lips pink.

I was staring—gaping, if I was honest with myself—my heart pumping and palms sweaty because we werehere.In hours, possibly minutes, I’d finally show her my face and then it would be over.