Torn

Chapter 1✓

Carter 

My heart beats wildly in my chest as my feet pound against the forest floor. Pine needles fly around behind me as I kick them up in the dust. Faster Carter! They are gaining on you! I pump my arms harder and skillfully maneuver myself around the trunks of the old trees.

It feels like I am flying through the dense forest as I push myself even more. I wonder how far I am ahead of them. I only had a few-minute head start. I strain to listen; it takes a moment, but I can pick up the sounds of the two men running behind me, and I know it won't be long before they are right on my heels.

I take a sharp turn right, before taking another turn not long after. I need to lose these bastards. Do not stop, you can do this, I tell myself. I slide to a stop and duck behind one of the larger trees around me. My back hits the trunk and I cover my mouth with my hand try to mask the sound of my ragged breathing.

My lungs burn and I try to suck in a deep breath. Footsteps are coming up fast behind me. Shit! How did they find me so fast? I look around desperately trying to produce an escape plan. I know this forest like the back of my hand. I can figure this out. If I leave now and go up a few hundred feet and duck right, it's a straight shot to grandpa's cabin-

I hear them stop running a few feet behind me. I stop breathing, my heart beating painfully fast in my chest. Damnit, I should have run when I had the chance.

"We know you're here. I can hear the beating of your heart." One of the voices rumbles.

"I can smell your fear, little girl. Come out of hiding. We'll go easy on you." The other male growls. I can almost imagine the feral smile on his face.

Shivers run down my spine. How the hell am I going to get out of this? I hear their footsteps begin to move apart. They are splitting up, each taking one side of the massive tree I'm hiding behind like they are stalking their prey.

I saw the man on my right come around the tree, dark black hair and brilliant blue eyes staring right at me. Triumph shining bright on his face. He lunges for me and before I can second guess myself, I duck under his outstretched arms and run for my life.

"What the hell, Quinn? We almost had her!" I hear him grumble as they both take off after me. I laugh loudly before swallowing it down, hoping I'm not celebrating too early.

Ducking under a low-hanging branch I take another sharp turn. Their footsteps are loud and close on my heels. How do I always get myself into these situations and what are they going to do with me once they catch me? I smile at the thought, anticipation coursing through me like wildfire.

Ten more feet and I can make my next turn. Dodge, run, turn, zigzag like a rabbit. They won't be able to get their hands on you that way, I tell myself.

One moment I am staring at a tree that I had pinpointed as my turn and the next the world was turning on me. A blur of leaves and colors are all I can see. Those bastards had lunged at me!

Our bodies begin flipping over each other with little to no control and my elbow hits one of them in the face but I wasn't sure who. Though the hiss that I hear come from their mouth as I tumble across the forest floor is quite satisfying.

The momentum comes to a sudden halt with my body on top of a tall and lanky, brown-haired male with piercing grey eyes and a sneaky smile. The black-haired bad boy, Quinn, lands on top of both of us. Shit. It's a Carter sandwich.

"Good catch, Xander." Quinn chuckles from behind me, and I can feel his chest vibrate against my back with his words. His breath is warm on my cheek, sending shivers firing down my spine. His teeth graze the back of my neck as he nibbles on the patch of skin that had become his favorite spot on my body; the birthmark of a crescent moon behind my right ear.