Fear has a taste. Acidic, burnt metal. It numbs my tongue. Not just my tongue, but my entire being.
I’m so, so scared.
But yet, so… consumed by him.
I keep my head straight but don’t let him out of my line of sight. He leans into me, pressing his weight against me. I combat his strength. Rather than being pushed away from him, I’m being absorbed by him. Hot breath warms my skin as his lips trace the outer edge of my ear. Another shiver wracks my spine.
“I want to devour you,” he whispers.
My lip trembles. I suck the traitorous lip between my teeth, if only it stops showing my weakness. When I risk a glance at him, his eyes have zeroed in on my lips.
“Are you here to kill me?” I ask lowly, trying my best to mask the tremors wracking through my body.
I’m failing.
Slowly, he shakes his head. “Why would I do that?” I’m not sure how to answer that. He continues, “I wouldn’t kill you, little mouse. I want to keep you.”
“What if I don’t want you to?”
He smiles. “You will.”
I open my mouth, ready to tell him about himself and his momma, but the words die on my tongue when he reaches up a hand and swipes his thumb roughly across my bottom lip.
“Mm,” he growls
in delight. “Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to allow you the opportunity to run and hide. If I find you, then I will deliver your punishment. If I don’t, you go unpunished and I will leave.”
I pinch my eyes shut, a small single strand of hope threading throughout the hysteria. I know this house like the back of my hand. I know where the good hiding spots are.
There are two bedrooms down there in the hallway on the bottom floor. The first bedroom has a tiny little nook in the back of the closet. Just barely able to fit my body in, but I used to hide there all the time when Nana and I would play hide-and-seek.
“Fine,” I whisper. “How long will you search for me before I win?”
He smiles. “I’ll give you five minutes before your ass is bent over my knee.”
I huff, jerking my face away from his hand. He lets me go, but the smile on his face grows.
“Your time starts now, Adeline. Better run.”
I don’t hesitate any longer. Turning, I bolt out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I don’t miss the amusement on his face when he watches me do so, but I don’t give myself time to care.
I head straight for the stairs, keeping my steps light as my little legs carry me down the steps at an alarming speed. Halfway down, I nearly pitch forward and face plant, barely catching myself on the railing and keeping the loud squeak from escaping.
I feel like throwing up, the adrenaline and fear intense and biting at my nerves.
Making a left turn, I aim for the hallway and slip into the first bedroom just as I hear heavy footsteps from above.
My heart races impossibly faster, and my hands tremble fiercely as I slide open the closet door. The metal rattles from my sloppiness. A slight, insignificant sound that feels like thunder rolling throughout the bones of the house.
Heaving in a deep breath, I force my body to slow as I glide the closet door closed and hurry into the nook.
I’m panicking.
My chest is tight, and I have the strangest urge to cough. Could be because my throat is dry and steadily closing. I want to claw at my neck, force the muscle to open back up, and let in the oxygen I so desperately need.
It’s all in your head. Breathe, Addie, breathe. He’s not going to find you in here. Nana never could.
His footsteps have disappeared from above me, meaning that he’s made his way downstairs most likely. I bite my lip hard, tangy copper filling my mouth. And still, I keep biting down.