The wind pulls me toward the edge, with each inch the air turning colder and colder. It's freezing by the time my toes curl around the edge. My heart races. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I don't fight it. I let the sand wrap around me, creating a thin coating across my skin. It pulls me, bowing my body. My toes press into the rocks, just as I had years ago in ballet. My spine arches, my form bent so perfectly, but it's not enough.
All it takes is one small gust, and it happens. I fall over the edge. I keep my toes pointed, and my eyes closed. And I let the world swallow me whole.
I wake up, sweat dripping down my temples as a shiver racks my body. It feels so real. Every single time, it feels like I'm there. I can still feel the sand against my feet. I can still feel the chill of the air against my skin. Why didn't I try to get away this time? Why did I let the wind take me? It’s almost like I wanted it to.
Not only that, but this time I was still in my dream when I fell. Usually, the moment I fall over the cliff, I wake up. Not this time. I could feel the wind blast my face as I descended toward the ocean below me.
Tap, tap, tap.
The tapping on my door makes me freeze in place. My breathing stops, and I can barely blink as I listen.
What was that?
"Luna? You in there?" Dread pools into my stomach at the sound of Willie's voice. I hold my breath, hoping he thinks he has the wrong place and walks away. But I can feel him out there, his intoxicated heavy breaths. The sand underneath his shoes crunching and swishing along the ground outside as he steps from foot to foot.
I get out of bed, tiptoeing to where the small bathroom is. If I can get out of here without him noticing me, I can run to the owner’s house and let them know he's been following me. They don't like crime and they don't appreciate shit happening on their island. He'll be on the next plane out.
That's if I get out of here first.
The wood creaks beneath my feet, and I wince, pulling my mouth into an O as I let out little bits of air. After a second, I move, rushing off to the bathroom. I slide open the window, the wood creaking against its hinge as it’s pushed up. The front door opens just as the window fully opens. I can hear him in the front of my cabin, his shoes creaking on the wood. A gust of wind slaps me in the face, and I take in a shaky breath, fear pounding in my ears.
"Luna, what're you doing?" Willie's voice is slurred, hurried.
I jump through the window, literally diving through headfirst. The edge of the window scrapes my hip, and I whimper when I feel it cut through my skin.
"Come here!" I glance up, seeing Willie sticking his hand out the window to grab me. It waves back and forth, looking for a connection to my skin. When he can't reach me, his arm slinks back inside, and I can hear his feet as they pound across my house. That gets me moving. I put my hands on the grass, pushing myself up to run. I move as fast as I can, my bare feet pumping against the cold grass. I hear my door slam open, the knob knocking against a wall. As I look over my shoulder, I see Willie sprinting toward me.
He's bigger. Faster. Stronger. A whimper leaves my throat as I run as fast as I possibly can toward the house.
Willie cuts me off.
My feet cut left, toward the beach. He’s stunted by my change, my quickness. He follows me, though, right on my heels. My feet punch the sand, instantly slowing me down with the density. I kick sand behind me, trying to get as much distance as I can. But it's useless.
He's here.
I feel my dress being pulled back, tight around my stomach. Then I'm halted, and I trip, falling against the ground. Sand shoots in the air, slapping against my skin and into my face. Willie falls on top of me, pinning my hands above my head.
"Why are you doing this?" I cry, my tears mixing in with the sand. The tide is higher, so close to my hands at this point. If I reached out another few inches, I'd touch the wet, cold sand.
"Why do you have to run? Why are you always running from me, Luna, huh? What did I ever do to you? Why can't you just be with me?"
"Please.Please." I try to get up, but it's useless. My face falls to the sand, the grains hitting my lips. I bite down, the crunchiness of the sand getting between my teeth. "Please let me go. Please, Willie, I beg you," I sob, feeling useless.Helpless.
"How can I let you go, Luna?I love you," he croons against me, his body lowering over mine. The weight of his body pinning me against the ground makes it hard to breathe. I gasp in air, wishing someone would see me. Wishing someone could help me.
"Please, Willie," I cry, "Please, oh my God. Help me. Someone, help me." My cries are whispers, my voice choked from his weight. His breath is heavy against the back of my neck, blowing my hair into the sand, across my face. It only makes it harder to breathe.
"Why can't you love me? I just want you to love me. Don't you think it's fate? Me coming here and the first thing I see is you? There has to be a reason for it." His hand yanks on my dress, pulling it up around my calves. His hand falls to my skin, the heat of him making nausea build in my stomach. He trails his hand up, sliding it on the inside of my thigh. Between my legs.
"I'm sorry. Please don't.Please, please, please, Willie. I won't tell anyone. Just let me go. Please.I don't want this."
His fingers press against my heat, grasping my panty-covered sex, squeezing tight. "You don't want this? After all our years together? What was I? Just someone to pass the time? This has been mine for years." He squeezes again, and I swallow down a gag.
No, it hasn't. It's never been yours. It willneverbe yours.
He starts pulling on my panties, yanking them down my thighs. I pin my legs together, but it’s no use. He's much bigger than me, much stronger. I can feel the cool air between my legs, my dress bunched around my waist.
In the middle of the night. In the middle of the dark. In paradise. And he will take me. Even if I don't want it.