Averie
As I stared at the spot that was once occupied by Grizzly, I mentally ran through the men I spoke to earlier, pulling Kodiak into my mind. He was the tallest of the bunch, hitting around six-four to six-five, Vice President of the Grizzly Skulls, considered to be the closest friend to Grizzly, forty-seven—making him twenty years older than me—with long black and gray hair, and he was overly willing to give me any information I desired. The only one more willing was Honey.
I held back tears that wanted to fill my eyes. They all knew what they were doing as they pulled me into this trap. In their eyes, I unknowingly signed a contract with my first question. Even asking their names had constituted some form of payment. No book was worth this.
I pulled my knees up and hugged them to my chest as I waited for Kodiak to enter the cabin. My mind tried drifting over the possible outcomes, but I shook my head and decided if I was already this deep into whatever Hell they had prepared for me, I might as well get some more questions in.
From behind my knees, I questioned Grizzly. “How often does this happen?”
I refused to look up. The floor held my gaze, and I forced my true self to hide away before it was too late.
I heard Grizzly adjust his position in the chair before he spoke. “More questions? Haven’t you learned our lesson yet?” He let out a dark chuckle as I shrugged in response. “You’re right, there isn’t much more we can force from you at this point. Sometimes, there’s no more than a month in between. Other times, there are many months. That’s not the real question, is it?”
My eyes darted up to his then back down at the ground before I shook my head. It wasn’t the question I wanted answered, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the real answer.
“You want to know how many were like you.” I nodded and squeezed my eyes shut.
How many had there been that asked too many questions and somehow garnered the attention of five Grizzly Skulls members? How many had this forced upon them?
“There’s no point in lying to you. You’re the first.” My head shot up, giving Grizzly a confused look, and swinging my arms widely, signaling the room. “Let me finish,” he growled out. Clearing his throat, he continued. “You’re the first we are… forcing into this. Every other woman who came in here seeking answers was well aware of our rules. They came in on purpose, specifically chose a member, and asked enough questions to get the ride they desired. As you know, we are well-known throughout our community, and that is why.
“It’s too bad you didn’t do enough research elsewhere to prepare you for what is to come. You’ve managed to catch the eye of the four least sought after members. No one knows how this night will end.” His voice and eyes held curiosity. He was here for a show that he knew would be spectacular. Well, spectacular if it was going to be fun for everyone. “We will see if you catch mine as well.”
I closed my eyes, taking in the information he gave me and his partial confession. It was a very real possibility that I would be used by five men tonight in horrific ways. I enjoyed sex and experimentation as much as anyone, but this… I shivered at the thought and dropped my legs off the edge of the table to stand, waiting for the door to swing open.
Footsteps made their way up the stairs I didn’t know existed, then the door opened, revealing Kodiak. His face was filled with not quite lust but need and excitement. His leather biker vest and boots were nowhere in sight. Instead, he wore a plain black tee that stretched across his broad chest and highlighted the graying of his long hair, paired with dark jeans and what looked like hiking boots.
Confusion overtook my features as I took him in. I was not sure what I expected, but he seemed more clothed than he should be.
Closing the door, Kodiak made his way through the room, giving Grizzly a nod.
“You know the rules, Kodiak. I only let you carry out your plans how you see fit because I trust you to control yourself.” A pleased, egotistical grin crossed Kodiak’s lips as he popped open a chest near the back of the room.
I refused to turn around and watch him. I would know his plans soon enough.
After some digging around, I heard metal clinks, a few beeps, and footsteps headed my way, then Kodiak was beside me. “Lift your hair.” My body tensed at his command, but I decided to go along with their plans as best as I could until my mind broke and nothing was left. I wondered if they would view me as a docile creature when in fact, I was biding my time and knew fighting at this moment would be futile. I needed to be realistic about my situation and stay clear minded. Panicking would not help me now, so calm and collected it was despite what it would be interpreted as.
My hands shook as I raised them and lifted my hair for Kodiak. Stepping in front of me, Kodiak held out what looked like a GPS collar used for hunting dogs, but there were some clear modifications. Instead of a simple strap that could easily be undone, a locking piece was embedded and around the box, where you would normally find the power button, was a thick plastic cage with a lock as well.
Refusing to look up at the man that was collaring me, I closed my eyes. The cold bands slipped around my throat and were threaded together and locked in place behind my neck. Kodiak left them loose enough that I could breathe normally, but not enough for the collar to be shoved over my head. The box sat uncomfortably on my chest as I dropped my hair and waited for whatever instructions Kodiak had for this sick game of his.
Kodiak ran his fingers down my cheek and under my chin. It would have been pleasant if it weren’t the lead up to a horrible event.
“I won’t be using this to track you. Grizzly will hold onto the tracker and he’ll monitor you from his cell phone. Averie, look at me,” he said as he leaned forward and placed a hand on the table beside each one of my hips.
When I met his eyes, I found a predatory gaze. “You are my prey tonight. I will hunt you down and take what is rightfully mine.” My heart rate picked up as my eyes grew wide.
The first round gave me hope of escape. I would not let my naïvete cloud my judgment now. I could not escape, but I would damn well try. If that’s all I managed for tonight, I had to take it.
“You will have a head start to run wherever you please. Hide if you want to, the choice is yours once you leave the cabin. Then, when your time is up, I will find you. Do you understand?” I nodded my head in response. It must have pleased him because he stood back and grabbed a key that Grizzly was holding out for him. My shackle was unlocked and fell with a hard clunk to the floor.
“I’m not completely evil, so here.” He moved to a small trunk near the door and pulled out a pair of sneakers before tossing them to the ground beneath my feet. It looked like they had a variety of sizes stuffed in there. “Put them on.” I wasn’t going to argue, quickly sliding from the table to adorn my feet with the small gift I was given. They must have gotten my size from the shoes they stole from me while I was passed out.
With my shoes now on, Kodiak opened the door and signaled to Grizzly to start the timer. “Run,” Kodiak commanded me.
I took off, bursting out the door and quickly taking in my surroundings. It was dark and cold. Visibility was almost nonexistent as the thick forest encapsulated most of the landscape. At this point, it didn’t matter. I didn’t know how long I had before Kodiak came for me. I needed to pick a direction and stick to it. Off to the right was a secondary cabin only vaguely made out because the porch light was on which easily cut through the darkness.
Although the light would help me, it would far better aid Kodiak as well. I took off directly behind the cabin, refusing to slow my pace as branches scratched my skin and attempted to trip me in the dark. Luckily, it was autumn so the leaves were sparse. The light from the quarter moon helped guide my steps.
I fumbled here and there as I took my eyes off the ground in pursuit of a hiding place. I found nothing, time and time again. I had been running for a few minutes now. I doubted I had much time before Kodiak began his chase.
I ran as fast and as far as I could. My lungs heaved, and my legs ached, but I wouldn’t let them give out, not yet.
My collar beeped, and a voice rang out from a speaker within it. “He’s coming for you, Little One.”
I let out a shriek as I almost fell into the creek I was crossing. I muffled the tail end of it, but with the silence of the night, there was no doubt Kodiak would have heard. I reined in the panic that wanted to take hold. I repeated, panicking won’t help, panicking won’t help, over and over in my mind. The mantra only helped slightly as I took off again.
I ran, using the sound of running water to mask my movements. It would buy me some time, but not as much as I needed. Along the side of the river, ten feet back from the water’s edge, was a rockwall. Small crevices revealed themselves in the moonlight, sparking a small sense of relief. If I could wedge myself into one, I knew Kodiak would not be able to reach me given his large size. None of the guys would be small enough, even if he called in reinforcements.
I ran along the wall, weighing my options. One would easily fit my size but was wider at the opening and I didn’t want to risk someone being able to grab me from my hiding hole. I blew air out of my nose in a huff as I stepped before the slightly smaller opening. It would be a squeeze, and I would gain many scrapes and bruises as I wiggled my way in, but there was no doubt the others couldn’t fit.
Nodding my head, I started to push my right side into the crevice, hissing and groaning as I went as the rough rock cut my skin. Even so, hope ran through my body. There was a chance I could hide away just long enough for Kodiak to go deeper into the woods and lose my tracks. Grizzly would be able to find me with the GPS but that was a problem for later me.
All I had to do was slide in and stay quiet. I was mere seconds from shimmying my body completely into the hole when I heard him.
“You made it far too easy, Averie,” Kodiak said from behind me.
I gasped and tried to throw the rest of my body into my hiding place, but Kodiak was too fast and too strong. His hand clasped around my left wrist and yanked me out into the open, causing more cuts to appear on my already battered skin. I hadn’t thought this through. The water not only masked my movements, but his as well, so I hadn’t heard any movement as I tried to hide.
Kodiak threw me to the wet ground, and I caught myself, barely preventing my face from smashing into the dirt. Sticks and leaves clung to my wet skin thanks to my earlier tumble. Small rocks dug at my skin, but I was becoming numb to the sting they caused.
I flipped over so my assailant was not at my back. I wanted to face him head on and show him that I wasn’t done fighting, not yet. I could still get away and save myself from the torture he wanted to inflict. As long as he hadn’t forced his dick inside me, there was a chance.
Kodiak simply watched me on the ground as I glared up at him. “It’s not like I was overly prepared for a midnight trail run, Kodiak,” I said as I pushed myself to a standing position. I swayed back and forth, preparing to run again. I would have to be smart about this and time it right. He had long legs and knew the area. If I didn’t get out of reach in time… well, it wouldn’t end well for me.
His grin widened in the dark. “Where was that attitude earlier? You looked far too docile in your floral dress.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s amazing what happens to your attitude when a psycho is hunting you.”
He seemed to be enjoying this too much. I took small steps backwards, but he matched them, stepping forward. My anxiety was growing again and the small amount of hope that had built up vanished.
My body was filled with adrenaline and vibrated with a dark excitement. Who knew something so terrifying could also be exhilarating. I felt alive but knew my world and the hormones would come crashing down any moment.
“I enjoy it more than I imagined. Please, continue.” He crossed his arms and moved his hips slightly, bringing my eyes down to the bulge pressing against the zipper of his jeans. Kodiak was ready to take me, but I was not ready to submit.
“Uh, fuck you?” He doubled over with laughter. What a douche.
“That’s the best you got? Come on, Averie. Imagine how many times we have been told to fuck off. You’re a writer. Where’s the creativity, huh?” Kodiak straightened his body and brushed his fingers back through his hair. He might be an ass, but he had a great head of hair. The gray streaks didn’t detract from it either.
This only made me want to shave it off as a punishment for putting me through Hell. It sounded suitable to me.
“I wish your dick gets eaten off by piranhas as a horse fucks you in the ass.” I cocked my head and gave a smirk. “Better?”
Kodiak grimaced but it quickly turned to pride. “Much.”
I rolled my eyes, and the second I took my eyes off of him, Kodiak pounced, tackling me to the ground. An oomph left my lips and morphed into a scream. A scream no one would hear, and even if they did, no one would care enough to help me.
“Scream as much as you like, Averie. It is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.”