Chapter 3

Before I could even cry out, a brutal force yanked me out.

"Ah—!"

A hand clamped down hard over my mouth, smothering my scream, and I slammed into a solid chest.

My vision went black, and I tasted the heavy tang of blood.

He gripped the back of my neck and dragged me to the edge of the pool like a rag doll, then hurled me down.

I crashed onto the cold marble floor. It felt like every bone in my body had come apart.

Jameson bent over me and slowly drew the knife.

The tip of the blade glinted coldly under the harsh white light.

The gentle mask he'd been wearing was torn away completely, revealing a vicious, thrilled grin underneath.

"Keep running. Why'd you stop?"

He slid the back of the blade lightly across my cheek, speaking like a man showing off his most prized collection.

"Wh-why..."

My voice came out in broken pieces.

He grinned. "Don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being named Avery."

I remembered that when we'd first connected online, before I even had the chance to say anything, he'd been the one to ask my name.

So he'd been confirming his prey's name all along.

"My ex—that bitch named Avery! If she hadn't betrayed me, I wouldn't be like this! After that, I swore I'd kill every woman named Avery in the world!"

His eyes turned savage.

A wave of deep despair crashed over me. Of all the men online, I'd fallen for a psychopath?!

I went cold all over, so full of regret I couldn't say a word.

The next second, he grabbed my head and shoved it into the pool.

"Mmph—"

The icy water swallowed me instantly.

I struggled desperately under the surface. Everything blurred, and the air was squeezed from my lungs bit by bit until nothing was left but endless suffocation.

Just as I was about to black out, he yanked me back up and flung me onto the edge of the pool.

I coughed violently, gulping down air.

"How's that?"

He crouched beside me, taking his time to enjoy the sight of me in such a sorry state. "This is only the beginning."

He grabbed my head again and forced it back under.

Again and again.

Every time, he pulled me up right at the edge of death.

The splashing water, the thunder, and his twisted laughter all blended together.

The fortune-teller's prophecy echoed in my ears over and over.

Was I really going to die here tonight?

No!

I lay sprawled at the edge of the pool, panting hard, but out of the corner of my eye, I kept him locked in my sights.

He'd turned his back to me and was ranting away, spit flying, as he bragged about his past "trophies."

Now!

I swung my foot up and hooked it hard around his ankle.

Splash—!

He lost his balance and toppled headfirst into the pool, sending up a huge spray of water.

Caught off guard, Jameson choked on several mouthfuls of water and clawed clumsily at the edge, trying to climb out.

I pushed myself up on trembling legs and grabbed the porcelain vase from the corner.

Just as Jameson hauled himself up to the edge and started to raise his head, I swung.

Crash!!

The sound of shattering porcelain exploded through the empty lobby.

He went limp and slumped forward, his body sinking back into the water.

I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, shaking all over.

The lobby was deathly silent, except for the rain pounding outside.

Right then, a clap of thunder exploded almost directly over the roof.

A blinding flash of lightning lit up the entire lobby.

I jolted and snapped my head up, so startled I nearly leaped to my feet.

Outside the front door, a face was pressed against the glass, peering in.

Lit stark white by the lightning, its features were squashed nearly flat against the glass, its eyes fixed on me without moving.