Chapter 7: The Deal
1141 Words
I feel my lips tremble as he raises his hand and gently cups my face in his large and strong hand. “Hey… Hey, why are you crying?”
I sniffle and shake my head as the tears start to streak my face.
“I know what’s about to happen… Please… Please just let me go… I’m not ready for that. I…” I hiccup as I try to speak.
“I’m still a virgin,” I whisper.
He freezes and I hear him swallow hard. He pauses for a long moment as I continue to cry. “What do you think is about to happen to you…?”
I sniffle and swallow hard. “I know you’re going to rape me… That’s what has happened to the other three. I just hope like hell Erica gets away from all of you… I hope she wins this since the rest of us didn’t even have a chance.”
I cry harder as my body shakes from the sobs. I can’t believe it. I was so f*****g close. Only a few more hours, and I would have gotten the money. I could have started my life over and been done with everything.
I feel his thumb stroke my cheek gently as he sighs. “Hey… Hey, look at me.”
I snap my eyes up into his golden eyes and I see something. Not lust, hunger, anger, or anything else… Only… Mercy.
“First off, the girl you called Erica has already been caught. She was actually the first one caught in this whole game. The dumbass decided to hide five feet outside of the warehouse and she was instantly caught by like three guys. It was a whole thing. Second, I’m not going to rape you. I don’t rape women and I certainly don’t allow that s**t to happen in front of me.” He sighs heavily as he steps back slightly and gives me a moment to breathe.
I pant as I look up at him and he runs a hand through his hair as he looks up at the early morning Christmas sky. He mumbles something before he turns back to me with a new look in his eyes and I see a smirk behind his bandana. “How about this… How about I make a deal with you?”
I swallow hard. “A deal? What… What kind of deal?”
I eye him closely as I wipe the stray tears from my eyes and push my back further into the tree.
He chuckles low and nods his head slowly. “Yeah… A deal… Here is the deal. I will let you go. You can continue playing the game as you see fit. I won’t follow you directly, so you won’t have to worry about me trying to cheat with this deal.”
I swallow hard and nod my head slowly. “Okay… I feel like there is a catch to this.”
He smirks and nods his head. “Smart, little bunny… So, here is the deal. I let you go this time. You get to have a second chance at winning this game. However, if I catch you again before the game is officially over, you are to come with me back to the warehouse as my prize. No fighting, no running, and no trying to escape. Got that?”
I swallow hard. “Only if you catch me though, right?”
I eye him closely as I look him up and down. I look behind him too just to make sure no one is watching or going to try and catch me as soon as he leaves.
“Only if I catch you… Before I lay a finger on you, you can run, evade, and do whatever else you want to do in order to stay out of my arms. Once I have you in my arms though, your game is over and you belong to me.” He eyes me closely as I inhale deeply. “What do you say? Do you want to make this deal with me?”
I swallow hard and bite my lower lip to keep it from trembling. If I make this deal, I have a chance to keep playing and win the money. If I don’t, he takes me right now and I lose the game no matter what. Logically speaking, I should take the deal.
I sigh and lower my head. “What happens if one of the other hunters comes after me?”
“They won’t.” His voice is firm and final and it causes me to look up at him in shock. “Are you going to agree to the deal or not? My patience is running thin, little bunny.” He holds his hand out to me. “Shake my hand if you agree to the terms.”
Without much hesitation, I grip his large hand in my small one and shake his hand firmly. “Why are you giving me another chance?”
He shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head slowly. “I don’t know.. I guess I don’t like seeing you cry… You get a five minute headstart and then I will start hunting you again. Don’t forget, if I catch you, no more fighting, no more tears, and no more trying to escape. You belong to me from that moment on.”
I nod my head. Without any warning, he pulls me close to his chest and wraps his free hand tightly around my waist. He leans down and runs his bandana covered nose against my cheek as he whispers. “And I mean that… You belong to me.”
He instantly lets me go and I jump back. I pant as I look at him and shake my head slowly. “You’re crazy…”
He smirks and chuckles low as he shakes his head slowly. “You don’t even know half of it, little bunny… Now… Run.”
I swallow hard and bolt from in front of him. I ran deeper into the woods and further away from the warehouse. I have to find a safe place. I have to find a good place to hide. I see it, just up ahead. A tight grove of trees. In the middle of all of these pine trees is a large maple tree.
As soon as I reach it, I start to climb. I climb higher and higher into the tree until I feel safe that I am far enough off the ground. Once I am there, I tie myself back into the tree and I wait. Morning turns to afternoon and afternoon turns back into night. The game is officially almost over, but I have no idea or how long I have to wait until I meet my fate…
- Writer
