42. Max

T he sting of the twigs scratching my ankles as I run as fast as I can through the overgrown brush. The pounding of my heart against my chest and the aching burn that is strangling my calves and thighs are nothing compared to the panic that's settled in my throat.

Keep going!

Keep running!

Don't stop.

Even for a second!

The pounding of their paws against the dirt behind me and their intermittent barking screams in my ears. I need to block it out, I just need to keep running. Running until I get to the halfway point. Fuck, I don't even know if I'm aiming myself in the right direction. He said when I hit the halfway there will be a claxon to stop them.

Where the fuck is it!?

Every part of my body is riddled with fear, pushing myself harder and harder, grunting through the dull ache of my fucked-up ankle. My chest continues to burn as I desperately try to suck fresh oxygen into my lungs, begging for some kind of release.

That's when I see it, directly in front of me. The ground falls away just enough that I need to take a running jump. What the fuck is this shit? The Hunger Games!? Groaning, I push the balls of my feet into the soft dirt and push myself harder, angling my waist slightly and using my arms to drive myself into a faster sprint.

"Come on!" I howl through the pain. "You can do it!"

Faster Max!

Push, push harder!

The closer the drop comes, my nerves fly into my chest and as my right foot hits the edge, I swing my arms and legs for momentum. A sound leaving my chest I've never heard before, as I aim for the other side of the small ravine.

The second my chest collides with the opposite side, I grunt. Digging and clawing my fingers into the dirt, dragging at it to try and hoist myself up. I seem to have misjudged the width and only the top half of my body has made it over. Failing is not an option, so I fight. I know the dogs are close, their snarling and barking becoming even louder as the seconds pass me.

"Come on!" I cry through gritted teeth, digging my feet into the wall of roots and dirt. Climbing like my life depended on it. "Help me goddamn it!" I scream again. Tears flowing from my eyes freely this time.

My fingers connect with the roots in the ground, and I manage to finally drag myself over the edge. I take a second to breathe and that's when I see it. That's what made me scream. "Fuck!" Wrapping my hand around the tree branch that sits imbedded in my stomach, just to the left of my navel, I cry out, ripping it from the muscle.

Immediately the barking stops. I look up from my position on the ground and that's when I see them. All four dogs standing at the opposite side, in pure silence, watching me. Their heads tilted to the side and their eyes blacker than the night sky.

I laugh. "Fuck you guys!" I flip them off. "I won!" I laugh as they begin to run back. "Try to get over that ravine you fuckers!" I laugh again, pressing my hand to the wound on my stomach. I take a few deep breathes and that's when I hear it.

The pounding against the dirt.

When I look up, all of them are bounding toward me, foaming at the mouth. I throw the branch and immediately turn over, scrambling on the floor for grip to push myself up.

Pushing my legs out, I manage to regain my position and break out into another sprint, briefly looking over my shoulder as the dogs clear the ravine and chase me. I mimic them, lowering my body like theirs and pushing myself further and further.

I hear a brief snap of jaws by my feet, but I keep going. I can't stop. Growling and barking fills the space between us and that's when the ground is snatched from under me, and I trip, collapsing into the dirt. The wound in my stomach screaming in agony as I roll over, facing the four dogs slowly stalking toward me. Looking at me like they're about to tear me to pieces.

Foam and drool dripping from the sides of their gums. Their lips curled over their canines. I slowly begin inching myself back on the dirt, using my ankles to push and one hand to follow .

The other I have raised in front of me. There's no way I'm making it out of this. They all stand within a semi-circle, heads down low as they gaze on me in sheer rage. Eyes blood red and the heckles on their back raised.

"Easy guys," I breathe. Pushing myself back inch my inch.

There's no way I can fight off four dogs. One maybe but, I think, this is where I'm going to die. I try my hardest to stay calm, my eyes darting between each of them, their eyes following every single move I make. Pushing my body back inch by inch, but the distance is never enough. The one right at the front opens its jaws wider, snarling, ready to jump. I raise my arm in front of my face and wince.

"Halfway point reached!" The alarm sounds. "Halfway point reached!" It repeats.

The moment I uncover my eyes, I notice all dogs sitting perfectly still as though there was no way any of them could hurt a person. That's when I notice the red beam over my chest. Not taking any chances, I scramble back as fast as I can. Getting my entire body over the line.

Pushing myself to my feet. I press my hand over the gaping wound in my stomach and check my watch.

Just after 11:30.

Perfect. I have enough time to take a small breather and find the exit. I can make the final run to the exit. I just need to breathe for a second.

I took a five-minute break to steady my breathing and make sure I wasn't bleeding out and now I'm back to running. This time at a more leisurely pace. Keeping my eyes open for the person who joined me in the maze. There's no way they have found the exit yet or I'd be dead.

I've been running for what I feel like is ages. Could they be waiting for me at the exit, to watch my face as they walk through. Showing me what I lost. The idea isn't lost on me at all but the moment I see the illuminated light in front of me I grin.

It's just past the hedgerow in front of me. Walking along, I see the perfect gap for me to squeeze through.

Grinding my teeth through the pain, I bend down and crawl through the small gap and the moment I come out the other side, the exit sign glows so close I can smell the burn from the lights. I stand up and an almighty pain ripples through my cheek.

Black spots dance in my eyes as I hit the solid yet damp ground of the forest floor.

What the fuck was that?

Coughing briefly, I roll onto my side. Something hits my shoulder and I'm pushed onto my back again. The moment the spots clear from my face, I realize who is standing over me. The second runner in the maze.

"Ben?" I question. "What—"

My words instantly fail as he grabs me by the throat and grips my upper arm with his other hand. Yanking me to a standing position directly in front of him.

"Y'know, I didn't expect it to be you," he huffs. "But I'm glad it is." Squeezing my throat tighter I fight for air. "Look at you. What a fucking mess Max."

I struggle to find the words. "B-Ben how did you—"

"How did I get here?" Laughing, he throws me to the ground. "I had some help." The forest floor smacking against my bad shoulder. The pain radiating over the entirety of my body.

"I should've known you weren't smart enough to get here yourself." I bark out a laugh just before his foot connects with my stomach. Due to my hands covering my wound they take most of the impact. I curl myself into the fetal position, taking a few deep breaths.

"I made a deal with the guy from maze four." My eyes spring open. "I knew Sasha was right behind me and I offered him a deal. Her, in exchange for me."

"You fucking sick bastard," I bite. "Do you know what he did to her in there?!" I scream, with everything I have. Kicking out my leg to his shin but I miss.

"You were too busy paying attention to that fucking giant to notice me. Too busy to bother with me in school too, it's like I didn't even exist."

"Jesus fucking Christ," I push to stand, stumbling slightly. "You did all that because I wasn't interested in you?" I burst out laughing. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Shut up Max!" Swinging his arm out, the back of his hand connects with my cheek, and I go back down to the ground.

Another kick to my chest and this time it connects harder than before, roaring spasms bound through my entire body, and I begin to cough. The taste of metal filling my mouth.

"I would've given you everything!" He screams from above me. Giving me another swift kick. "Fucking look at you. Weak now and worth nothing. Tainted with that fuckers cum."

"Eat shit." I manage to breathe out through the pain in my stomach from his onslaught. "Can't handle rejection well, huh?" I laugh again. "What a fucking bitch!" I roll onto my back and begin laughing even harder. "I knew there was a reason I wouldn't date you." Lifting my head I look directly at him. "It would be like dating a woman."

"Shut up, Max." He stands over me.

I need to get him into a position where I can take him out. "You... f-fucking... idiot," I tease. "I never wanted you."

"So, you let someone you don't even know fuck you!"

"Yes!" I shout, eyes widened as I look up at him with a smile on my face like a child on Christmas morning. "I let him fuck me... in the fucking ass! And guess what?" I scream the final words. "I fucking loved it!" I roar with laughter and the moment he steps closer to me; I swing my leg out and sweep his leg from under him.

He hits the ground with a groan, the back of his head bouncing against the forest floor, so I bring my knee back and kick out. The sole of my sneaker connecting with his face with a pop and Ben rolls around in agony.

I take that as my chance to get myself up and run. The minute I'm upright, about to make a sprint for the exit, I feel his hand tug my ankle and I lose my footing. Yelping, I hit the dirt with a thud, briefly winding myself in the process. That's when I feel him crawl over my back.

"I wonder how it feels to fuck you, Max." His words giving me pause for a brief second before he wraps his hand around my stomach, rolling me onto my back. I begin to struggle underneath him, pushing and scrambling away from him and his closeness. Reaching out the best I can to scratch him.

But as I try to push him off, he manages to drag me back. He grabs both of my wrists, pinning them above my head aggressively.

"I always wondered what they must've felt, fucking you in the ass that first time." Moving in closer to my face he grins. "I was just too chicken shit to join them..." I freeze. My eyes slowly raising to meet his as the realization hits me of what he just said. "Watching them fuck you was enough for me. I wished for the last seven years that I hadn't passed up that opportunity."

"No," I breathe. "There's no—"

"Yes, Max. I was there, I watched them fuck you six ways from Sunday, and I loved it." He leans in closer, "Watching them break you after you turned me down for the third time at that frat party... it was golden." Sliding his hand down my waist, he presses it between my legs and I clamp my legs closed. "I never touched you then, but I'll fuck you right now before I leave you here to die!"

"No!" The scream surges from my throat as I jerk my head forward and headbutt him, but it does nothing because I miss entirely. Straddling me, my wrists still pressed above my head. He leans his free hand back and punches me in the face.

The connection immediate, exploding over with a crack. Stars dance in my eyes; I'm disorientated, and heart broken.

"I was right here all along, Max. Watching you, making sure you didn't step out of line and break the NDA." Releasing my hands momentarily to flip me over onto my front. My voice hoarse from screaming. "Making sure that you stayed on track. Then over time, I wanted you, but you were always a stubborn woman. So, I thought here would be a perfect place to take what was mine ."

"B-Ben," I cry, "please don't!"

Not again. I can't do this again.

The fabric from my leggings is dragged down over my ass and even though I know what's happening, I have no strength to stop it.

"I thought I could convince you that I was right for you, that you could love me!" he shouts over me, and I flinch. My body shuts down and I lose all motor function.

Please God, not again.

"But you chose that weird motherfucker. I saw him fuck you in the forest. You fucking whore!" The sharp smack on my ass jolts me and I begin scrambling.

"Stop! Ben!" The only words I can muster through my sobbing as he pulls my hands behind my back, pushing my face into the dirt and moss; the sound of his zipper dragging down. I feel his fingers graze my entrance and he growls.

"Where's your fucking new boyfriend now, Max?"

His sinister laugher bellowing into the air and all I can think of is the fact that this will be the second time nobody is here to save me.

"Draven!!!" I scream with the final ounce of any energy and oxygen I have in my chest. "Draven, please!!!" I'm sobbing through the words, my throat burning with the sheer volume of my voice. I cry for him, scream for the man I've fallen for, beg for him to save me.

"Draven!!" I cry out again, sobs filling my throat as Ben pulls me back toward his groin, pressing his knee between my squeezed legs to widen them.

"Draven!!" He mimics me sarcastically. "Draven! Draven!!" He barks out a laugh, howling his name into the night, mocking me. "He's not here!" he shouts again.

"Ben please!!"

"Open up Max, there's a good girl."