Agape

I'm not the bad guy

Chapter 24

Ella:

With Hayes's tight grip on my chin, my stomach churned with cramping knots and tears streamed fitfully down my crimson red cheeks as my eyes darted from his penetrating blue ones to the woods around me. I couldn't hold back the gulp, knowing he was going to hurt me, punish me. The way he was watching me with a dark kind of amusement dancing along his terrifyingly handsome features only made anxiety prickle my skin head to toe, showing visible goosebumps. It was extremely nerve-wracking.

He's nothing like Declan.

My ankle throbbed terribly, scaring me further, knowing my chances to get away were now gone. Gone, gone, gone. He knew it too and didn't bother trying to hide the fact considering the tilt of his red lips. Jerking my chin away, he releases his grip, and I immediately start scooting back, wanting to get away from him and his disgusting touch all the while ignoring the ache of my foot. Where are you D? Why did you lie to me? I wanted to scream and I wanted Declan to hear me. But he wasn't here, and he wasn't going to save me, not this time.

"Don't look so pale, love. We haven't even started yet." Hayes chuckled, reaching out and swiftly grabbing my injured ankle, squeezing hard, halting me from moving further away from him. A balloon of pain skyrockets not only through my foot but up my shin bone. I hiss out a screech not being able to help it, digging my fingernails into the dirt beside me all the while thinking I hate him, I hate him so much. The tears spitting out of my eyes only frustrate me further.

I take my other foot and kick him repetitively until he catches that one too and pinches my skin with his nails. "S-stop—let me go." I grit, my skin stinging from the pinch. What is he going to do to me?

"Why would I do that exactly? We're just getting started." He drawled, smiling a wicked smile that made fear ice it's way through my veins. I ignored him, trying to wiggle my feet free but his hold is solid, unbreakable. Without thinking, I impulsively lunge forward with a balled fist and hit him square in the nose using as much force as I possibly can. Catching him off guard, he grunts pulling way back, scrunching his face in pain, which in turn leads to him loosening the hold he has on my feet.

Wasting no time, I dig my feet into the ground and push back away from him quickly. I then use my hands to help me up off the ground, balancing on my one good foot before limping away, trying to run without putting too much pressure onto my twisted ankle. I don't dare look back, keeping my gaze forward, heading back into the direction of my house. With each step, a hot aching pang shoots up my right leg as all kinds of sharp things dig into my bare feet. My heart pummels loudly, vibrating in my ears as Hayes yells behind me. "You're in for one hell of a treat Ellie—run all you want, you know I'll catch you."

He's only calling me Ellie because Declan does, to make me vulnerable so I can trip up.

Run, run, run. I did just that, I ran as fast I could, propelling my feet to move with my newfound injury. Fear became my adrenaline, hope became my motivation. I needed to get away from Hayes before he could hurt me because he would without question if I didn't. Choking oxygen down my lungs, my arms punched the air ahead, willing myself to run through the invisible brick wall to the sight of my house. He wasn't going to hurt me without a fight, he wasn't going to win without a war.

I will rely on myself because I'm all I have.

In times like this, I wish I had neighbors.

The crunch bristled close behind me, but my legs kept their speed, straining forward letting the moisture drip heedlessly from my eyes. In about twenty more feet and I'll be in my yard, in the green lush grass, then I'll have a better chance. Faster Ella, move faster. My body buzzed, knowing the danger not far off. I sprinted until a pain so agonizing hit me abruptly, emitting the center of my back shocking the adrenaline right out of me as a yelp left my tongue.