A Demon Made Me Do It(48)

“Please hurry,” I say, the desperation apparent in my voice, despite my attempt to stay cool.

Once we start heading down the hill, he gives me a concerned glance. “You’re really worried about being late, aren’t you?” he asks, casually resting his hand on my knee.

“Yes.”

This really, really, really sucks. What was I thinking staying out here so late? We should’ve left an hour ago.

Breathe, Liora…just relax. Don’t freak out until you have a reason to…

Kieron speeds the truck down the mountainside nearly twice as fast as he drove up. Normally I would’ve been concerned, but it’s all I can do to stop myself from whispering, “Faster, please,” every few minutes.

Despite Kieron’s best efforts, the full weight of my cruel reality comes crashing down on me when, halfway down the mountain, the truck inexplicably sputters to a stop.

“What’s happening? Why are we slowing down?” My voice borders on hysteria.

Kieron just shakes his head and taps the dashboard a few times. “It looks like we’re out of gas. I’m so sorry…I didn’t realize…”

I look at him with horror, feeling the blood drain from my face. “No, this can’t be happening.” I gasp. We’re still a good thirty miles from town. In the middle of nowhere.

I don’t know what I’m going to do, but there’s no way I can stay here with him much longer. No way. Even if Lucky somehow manages to behave herself, which is highly unlikely, if she starts saying weird things and introducing herself as ‘Lucky’, Kieron will think I’m completely insane. And what if she does something awful to him? She’s very unpredictable when it comes to people. I don’t think she’ll necessarily hurt him, but using him as a toy for her sadistic amusement isn’t much better…

Okay, I can freak out now. Where’s a good trash dumpster when you need one?

I spot a farmhouse across the fields and get an idea. Not a great one, but so far it’s my only hope.

“All right, you stay here and guard the truck. I’ll run to that house for help and see if I can use their phone.” I jump out of the cab. But Kieron is out in a flash and grabs my arm before I’ve taken five steps.

“Yeah, like that’s really going to happen. There’s no way I’m letting you run off to some stranger’s house…”

“Sorry, but you don’t have a choice. You stay here. I will go.” I struggle to pull my arm free. He releases his grip and gives me a smirk.

“I have a cell phone,” he says, reaching into his back pocket. “And triple-A. Can’t say for sure they want to trek out here, but you can call your grandma and tell her you’re going to be late if you like.”

His words momentarily throw me. “No, I don’t like, because I won’t be late,” I say, my voice cold. Now what? Stop and think… Don’t panic. “Are you sure you even get reception way out here?”

He grins. “Full bars. So don’t worry. I’ll call the towing company, you call your grandma, and everything will be fine.”

I pace in a circle, my body trembling and my mind spinning. This is the worst thing that can happen right now. My fantasy is so quickly morphing into a nightmare. But what did I expect?

Kieron watches me intently as I try to clear my mind and think. “Okay,” I finally say, “why don’t you go ahead and call them; I really need to go to the bathroom. I’m just going to go behind those trees for a few minutes.”

His expression is a mixture of suspicion and amusement, but he nods silently. I flash him a weak smile to show I’m fine, and then head toward the cluster of trees. I’ll worry about giving him an excuse later, but right now my number one priority is to get away. In a million years, I have no idea how I’ll explain my crazy behavior to him, but better he think of me as a lunatic than a monster.

Kieron eyes me suspiciously as I duck behind the thicket. My attention focuses on the farmhouse in the distance. And where there’s a house, there must be a vehicle of some sort. At least I have an excuse to tell Kieron later, as insane and lame as it is.

The second Kieron’s head turns away, I sprint as fast as my legs will carry me, praying the trees are blocking his view of my mad escape. But a few minutes later, I hear him calling me.

“Liora! Wait!”

I put my head down and continue running as hard as I can, my breath coming fast and hollow. Determined, I press on as my legs turn to rubber.

“Go back!” I yell. My voice is weak, but I’m pretty sure he hears me. I keep going, ignoring the stabbing in my chest and the fire in my legs, focusing only on getting to the house. I don’t know why I think that will save me, especially with Kieron following. Maybe I can hide somewhere. Maybe Kieron will leave me alone for a while and Lucky can get away. Maybe…