03

I shouldn't have ran, I know I shouldn't have, but I did. I didn't want to stick around and face my possible killer. I couldn't find it in me to try and copy any of those female book characters, who were curious enough to look and interact with a stranger, in the dark.

In a blink of an eye , a tall figure comes into view.

I'm too stunned by how fast he appears in front of me , to really take him in.

" Oh, not even staying for a chat? Ooh, so disappointing." I don't even get a chance to digest his words when suddenly, I'm picked up by my neck and slammed hard against the wall.

I gasp in shock, my air supply being cut short, with the tightening of his hand around my neck. Dark hair, hazel cold eyes and a deep scar on the side of his face, with a sickening smirk, this is who this stranger is. A crazed look comes across his face, convincing me to give in and let him finish me off, no doubt he's intending to.

Suddenly he's shoved away from me, where I land on the ground. A touch around my neck, I start to massage it, gasping for air.

Scar guy now joins me on the ground, the sound of his body hitting the ground much clear to my ears.

"Isn't it too early for another mess?" A different, much more deep kind of voice says, earning both scar guy and I's attention.

Coming into view is a tall, dirty blond haired, lean yet muscular man. The power radiating off him is so overwhelming and demands submission.

"I was just dealing with a little problem," scar guy answers, shifting his glare towards me, where I cower back into the wall.

By a little problem, does he mean me?"

I feel another set of eyes on me, burning and intense that I can't find it in me , to look up. "Ah yes, trouble you say." The man responds and his words don't ease my concerns at all.

Finally having the courage to look at him, I'm taken aback by the intensity in his eyes, eyes similar to mine yet cold, but seem to suck you in, holding you captive.

"Get up!" He demands , voice low.

Swallowing hard, I rise to my feet, balancing with the wall as I try my best to not fall over , due to the sudden dizziness that's upon me. Looking into his eyes, my heart quickens when his, harden.

"Leave !" He demands yet again.

With my heart slamming against my chest, I move away from the wall, standing up straight and facing this stranger, who seems to put me in some kind of trance, that I follow whatever he says.

As I hurry off , I'm spun around by arm and I meet his eyes again. His face is so emotionless, his eyes hard though deep within, I notice a flash of curiosity.

Curiosity about what?

I don't know.

I watch his eyes scan my whole face, then my whole body until they land somewhere on my body. I try to follow where he is looking but can't get a clear view, as it is still quite dark to make note of small details. My heart slams against my chest when I get the sense that he might be trying to touch my body, but there is relief later, when he doesn't proceed with his plans. My cell phone ringing, becomes the reason for this.

I hear him release a breathe, though it sounds too low for anyone else to really hear.

The moment spent of us staring at each other, is the time wasted for my cell to switch off. This makes my heart drop to my feet, knowing that the phone call was the only thing to save me. Now I'm face to face with my possible killer because with no doubt, this man in front of me could kill me.

" So you're just going to let her go? She might know, " I hear scar guy say from behind this stranger.

"If I were you, I wouldn't be speaking right now." This is the stranger's response, his voice sounding low yet loud enough for both scar guy and I to hear.

With a look over his shoulder, a few seconds pass with the man giving attention to scar guy, before he turns back to me. My phone chooses this time to ring again, relieving me for some reason. I believe the man realises this when his grip tightens around my arm.

I wince at the amount of pain provided from his grip. " Little one, I do believe this will be the last time we see each other," he says to me.

Right after, he releases my now numb arm, earning a sigh of relief from me.

"We never met." He adds, quirking his brow.

I nod, taking careful steps back until he is swallowed up by the darkness.

Being in the clear, I stop all movement when I hear something loudly snap, my eyes widen in shock, already , my mind making its own conclusion of what that snap meant. I start running, and running like never before, into the light , more like street lights, I notice Ethan and the girls, who are busy, no doubt looking for me.

They must have been searching non stop, well, I know Ethan has. As if he can sense me from behind him, Ethan turns around and once he notices me, his eyes widen in surprise.

"Casey!" That's all I need to hear for me to rush towards him, not even looking back, just wanting to feel safe right now.

At the feeling of his arms around me, this is when I release a sigh of relief, my body relaxing into him. " Ethan," I breathe out, my neck tightening and body instantly feeling heavy.

"Ethan." I try calling him but the tightening of his arms, prevents me from moving back. "Ethan?! " I try again, more desperate now.

My almost plea works, when Ethan loosens his arms from around me. In the midst of finally seeing his face, everything suddenly goes black, where I drown into nothingness.

*********

"Mmm." A moan escapes out of me as I open my eyes, immediately being welcomed by the brightness of the room.

Gosh , is it morning already?

Surveying my surroundings, I realise that I'm in my room, and in my PJs. I find it most difficult when I have to sit up, because of my head that starts spinning. I have to close my eyes and take a long and deep breath before calmly trying again, until I'm seated leaned against the headboard.

I notice a glass of water and unknown green pills on my nightstand. Without question, I take those and once done, I decide to get out of bed for my morning routine. I see no use in staying in bed any longer, especially feeling better moments later after taking those pills.

They sure must be some magic pills, for them to work so fast.

Looking into the mirror while brushing my teeth, I stop all movement for a minute when I notice a red mark on my neck. There is no doubt that this is from a hard grip because of the fading pain, including the one from my arm. The reddening on my arm is much more darker to an almost purplish colour. Quickly finishing up so I can inspect both marks, once I trace my fingers along my arm, everything comes back to me.

In a flash, I see scar guy intending on killing me, only to be shoved off of me. Freedom didn't seem to come any sooner, when I ended up being face to face with the most intimidating, powerful no doubt good looking man, whose eyes were so cold, one would think he was the definition of emotionless, if it weren't for the mere curiosity I happened to notice. Him inflicting his own set of pain on my arm, is proof that he is not one to be messed with.

Remembering the sound of that loud snap from last night, wakes me up from whatever trance I seem to have fallen under.

Oh no, the snap. Does this mean that man killed scar guy?

'No,' I shake my head slightly, not wanting to think of that, or I'll else I'll freak out.

I wince a little due to my little tracing of my finger, along my neck, where the mark is. I am trying to make sense of last night yet can't seem to. Everything happened so fast and scarily so. Gosh, I just had to lose myself in my thoughts, where this time, I almost lost my life. This would be the second time I have escaped death. This must be proof that trouble follows me wherever I go.

'No, I can't relive those times of fear in another place again, I can't.'

'No, this is another town and things will be different this time, where I will only encounter normal things. I can't let myself fall again, I need to let a part of myself go or else I might not survive.'

' I just hope to never see that man again. His words held so much meaning and just like me, I am pretty sure he wishes to never see me again or else, the next time, I might not be so lucky.'

I shudder in thought of my death caused by him, no doubt it would mean nothing to him because I sense the very worst of danger in him.

"What happened ?" Those words stop my movements and earn my eyes, from the view of the mirror.

Ethan stands against the door, his expression serious.

Oh what do I tell him, because if I do tell him the truth, he'll freak out and might drag this to the police station and all.

Gripping the sink with my eyes drooped low, I take an easy breath before meeting his gaze again. " I ran into some trouble." That is all I say.

"What trouble?" He questions, brows furrowing.

" The drunk kind. I was too in my head to notice being lost, I ran into this drunk guy and he tried getting money from me, but thankfully a stranger who witnessed the whole scene helped me." Okay, so I'm not telling the whole truth but I'd rather stick with that, than go with last night's event.

"Are you okay?" Ethan says , sounding near, his voice breaking into my thoughts.

His arms wrap around me and my body freezes for a second before it relaxes again, welcoming the embrace. Leaning into his chest, I nod my head, closing my eyes for a moment, displaying how much I like this calmness that Ethan seems to provide.

"I was so worried. I thought I had lost you, like that man found in the woods," he murmurs against my neck.

I frown in question. "So did he really die from an animal attack ?"

" No one is really sure, only the police have that information and the old man , that found the body"

" Hmm." His eyes meet mine. " Don't let your little head go deep into this, all you need to do for the rest of today, is relax and let me take care of you, after the horrible night you had."

" Don't worry , I'm fine." I try to say but he's already shaking his head in disagreement .

" Humour me," I sigh in defeat, turning into his arms to look at him.

I give him a lingering kiss before moving away from his arms.

" Do you remember that guy who attacked you, cause I'll need his description and all, so ---------"

" No, it was dark, besides, I want to move on from this and pretend like it never happened. "

I see him about to protest and immediately jump in. " I'm fine. Just- just don't, okay?" I plead, wanting to really forget about this.

He slumps in defeat too, nodding in agreement when we both know he's not. I'm enveloped into a bear hug and I immediately welcome it.

"Okay," he plants a lingering kiss on my temple.

Moving back and taking my hand in his, I offer a small smile. " Come with me," he says.

'Little one, we never met. ' The man's voice and words ring in mind.

Oh no, it might take longer than expected for the man's voice to vanish, or thoughts of last night.