6. Daniella

CHAPTER 6

Daniella

B onfires at the field involve a little off roading since there is no direct path to the spot we're heading to. The ride is bumpy and I realize that the lacy bralette I wore was not a good idea. It's like having water bags on your chest that are just being thrown around. Goddamn. I try holding them in place by crossing my arms over my chest tightly. Thankfully, it's only a few minutes before we get there. The sun is just setting and the stars are starting to come out. Nighttime is my absolute favorite. Especially out here where you can fully see the night sky.

Carter already has the fire going and there's probably ten to fifteen people here. The overachievers got here early. Getting out of the truck, I meet Braxton halfway and he throws his arm over my shoulder as we walk towards everyone. Leighton's face instantly brightens when she sees us. She runs to me and hugs me tight.

"I just saw you a few hours ago, why are you so excited?" As soon as the words leave my mouth, I smell the vodka on her breath.

"I just love you so much and I'm happy you're here. Carter keeps trying to jump over the fire like an idiot." I'm not even slightly surprised by that statement. If there is one thing that I've learned about Carter, it's that he's obsessed with fun and he'll try anything at least once. He's goofy but he sure is entertaining.

Lei drags us over to the cooler where all the beer and liquor is.

"Shot?" I'm surprised to turn and see that it's Braxton who is offering. I smile and take the cup and lime he's holding out to me. I take a quick whiff and can tell right away that it's tequila. Saying a quick prayer I don't gag, I tilt the cup back and swallow the liquid, feeling the burn down my throat and into my stomach. I quickly shove the lime in my mouth, squeezing the juice to cover the taste of the tequila. A shiver wracks my body but against my better judgment, I pour myself another then add some to Braxton's cup.

"OOOHH! Dani wants to have some fun tonight!" Leighton is hopping up and down clapping her hands and smiling. Looking at Braxton, we both down our shots and laugh.

Suddenly there's cheering behind us and I turn around to see what it's about. That dipshit Carter, is sprinting towards the fire at full speed before he jumps and lands on the other side.

"LEI DID YOU SEE ME!? I TOLD YOU I COULD DO IT!" I know Leighton is mad, but the look on her face shows how much of a soft spot she has for him. I think she admires him a little more than she lets on. He's afraid of nothing and does everything for the experience whereas Lei was taught to be afraid of everything because of who her father is. Her childhood echoes mine, as fun was never a thing.

Leighton takes off towards him, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheeks. I can see how much she cares for him and it makes me happy to see her so happy. Laughing, I turn back to face Braxton.

"How have you handled him for so long?" A genuine smile appears on his face and I feel like my heart just stopped. He's so perfect.

"He may be an idiot, but he cares more than anyone I've ever met. He loves his people and will always have their backs. Besides, he wouldn't ever leave me alone, even if I asked him to." You don't see many friendships like theirs. The two of them are the perfect duo and anyone can see that.

We make ourselves a drink and head back over to the fire with everyone else. We spend a while just laughing and talking about the past few weeks. After several hours and many more shots, my vision is a little bit blurry. The sun went down an hour ago and the fire was the main source of light.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Attention here please!" I look over to see Carter standing on a hay bale holding a flashlight. "Some of us guys decided to participate in something fun tonight and kept it as a surprise for the ladies." I look over at Braxton and gulp as Carter continues speaking. "It was brought to our attention that the location of The Pursuit had made it too easy for the predators to find their prey. So collectively, we decided that tonight, we are giving the ladies a redo. This time through the cornfield." My eyes widen and I look back over to B to see him already smirking at me. Looking down at his hand, I notice he's holding the same mask he wore last night. Guess that means I'll be running through a cornfield tonight. Thank fuck I wore sneakers.

There is an eruption of applause from everyone around as they all get excited over the events that will unfold tonight. I can't help but laugh in my drunken state, but the idea of running away from Braxton through a creepy cornfield makes my stomach feel a little queasy. In my peripheral, I can see a guy I've never seen before awkwardly standing away from everybody leaning against a tree. I don't know what it is about him, but it seems like there is a negative energy that comes from him. Something about him is making me feel uneasy but I try to shove the feeling down and pay attention to everyone else.

Everyone starts to get up and the guys all start putting masks on that I didn't realize any of them had. The girls are all getting excited and everyone starts walking towards the field. Carter walks to the front of the group and makes another announcement.

"As this is the first time we're doing this in the field, for safety reasons, just make sure that everybody has a cell phone on them just in case anything were to happen. We all know the rules, ladies get a head start. 3…. 2…. 1…. GO!"

With that, the females begin to run down the main path in the middle of the field. Once we get a little further in, everyone starts to follow a different path and go in opposite directions. I find myself alone with only the moonlight to see. The field is eerie at night and I can feel my paranoia taking over. The wind is slightly blowing so the dried up corn stalks are swaying and rustling.

Behind me, I can hear footsteps and my heart starts to beat a little faster, not knowing who it could be. I stay as quiet as possible, and look for any sign of a glowing LED mask in the dark, but I see nothing. Still trying to stay quiet, I start to move a little quicker away from the sound, but as I pick up the pace, so do the footsteps behind me. The paranoia takes over entirely and my anxiety skyrockets and I start sprinting full speed ahead. I don't have a good feeling about this at all.

As if I was in some kind of terrible scary movie, I trip over a fucking rock and land face first in the soil. I lay there trying to regain my composure before I try to run again. Weight settled over me, bending me under the pressure until my breath hitched. I know that screaming won't help since I can hear others around me screaming as well.

"Well look who we have here. I was aiming for the blonde bitch but you'll satisfy my needs all the same." The voice sends chills down my spine. This isn't Braxton. I spit out my next words with as much hatred as I can muster.

"Fuck you! You're fucking pathetic!" All I get in return is a dark chuckle and that unsettles me deeply.

I try to calm my panic and feel the ground around me for something that might help. I find another rock just a few inches away and slowly pick it up. I start bucking and fighting until finally the weight lifts off and I can hear a grunt and then a thud next to me. As quickly as I can, I scramble to my feet with the rock in my hand.

"You fucking bitch! I just wanted to have some fun, but now I'll make it hurt." The fucking audacity of this lunatic.

"Unfortunately for you, I like the pain."

I can see his face more clearly and can tell that it's the man from earlier that was leaning against the tree. I should have trusted my gut and said something earlier. Any of the other girls could be in my position right now. Before I can even think, he swings his arm towards my side and I feel a burning pain. Looking down to see a small knife sticking out of me. He fucking stabbed me! My anger surges through me alongside the pain. Why is it that each "pursuit" someone tries to assault me?! This cocksucker picked the wrong girl tonight. Feeling my internal rage bubble to the surface, I swing my arm with all my might. The rock connected with his head but he remained standing.

Suddenly, he's on the ground grunting and somebody is on top of him. Getting a closer look without completely closing the distance, I see Braxton. I shouldn't be turned on by this right now. What's wrong with me? The instinct to protect B hits me and acting quickly, I run over to the two and swing the rock, making contact with the stranger's face. I don't stop swinging until his movement ceases. Braxton stands and walks behind me, gently pulling me back by my shoulders. He walks back over and looks down at the blood pooling around the body, then turns to face me again. There's a sparkle in his eyes and I recognize his desire running through him.

My adrenaline is pumping and I barely feel the pain from the knife sticking out of me. Without thinking, I walk to him and grab his face, bringing his lips to mine. Pulling at the hem of my sweatpants, he yanks them down to my ankles. Leaning down, Braxton swipes at the blood and gives me a devious look. He slowly reaches down to where I want him most, keeping eye contact the entire time.

"You handled that so well, Little Rage. You defending yourself has got to be one of the sexiest things I've ever seen. I love seeing you covered in blood like this. It turns me on." Between his words, he starts to pump his fingers in and out of me, still covered in the man's blood. It feels so wrong but it also feels so right. I'm so turned on that it doesn't take long for me to cum. Who knew blood would make it that much more exciting? "Good girl." Fuck I could listen to him call me a good girl all day every day. Just like before, this death means nothing to me. The gears in my brain aren't working to comprehend what happened. I simply just don't care. Looking at Braxton, I give him a flirtatious smile as I pull my pants back up.

"Still up for a chase, pretty boy?"

Without hesitation he responds. "Start running, Little Rage." Before the words fully leave his mouth, I'm running as fast as I can away from him. The pain from the knife starts to surface, but my adrenaline level is high and I refocus my brain to push myself faster.

A few seconds later, I hear his footsteps behind me and run until I can find somewhere to hide. I don't know where I end up, but I'm no longer in the cornfield. I'm in the woods but that doesn't stop me. I keep running until I reach a river with sand on the bank. My adrenaline comes crashing down and I stumble to sit in the sand, the pain from where the knife protrudes finally hitting me full force. "Fuck," I hissed to myself, before my vision blurs until I see nothing but black.