Page 19 of Shattered Souls

I’ve spent my whole life running. I can out run anything life shoves my way—including this.

“Yes! Yes. I’ll do it.”

Hyde takes a step forward and slips a key from his neck into the lock. It pops free and the door to my cage opens. I crawl out and get ready to bolt, but Hyde grips my arm and forces me up.

“You can run, little scarecrow, but let’s see how well you can hide.” Seek whispers next to my ear. My thighs rub together at the rumble in his voice mixed with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The sight of him with my panties flashes across my mind.

Hyde drags the dull end of his hook across my lower belly, his skin grazing mine momentarily. I stare at the action, open mouthed for a moment, before realizing that I’ve been let go.

My bare feet push against the cold earth as I run through the maze. I take turns as often as they come up, thankfully never running back into the duo. What feels like hours pass until I finally find the mouth of the maze.

People are walking, running, laughing, screaming, some are eating, while others play the glowing arcade games. None of them are aware of the fact that I’ve been kidnapped—oh yeah, and the fact I saw them kill a man.

What do the girls think happened to me? Do they think I flaked on them our first time hanging out? They probably think I’m a terrible friend.

I look around a little harder to try and see if either of my stalkers made it out of the maze before me. Seeing neither of them, I turn and run towards the exit. Innocent bystanders move out of my way, treating me like I’m just some deranged actor.

I don’t even make it past the stage, where I first saw these crazed men, when a large hand loops around my middle and pulls me back, knocking the wind out of me in the process.

“Let me go!” I thrash against the grip of my captor, not even knowing which one has me. He tosses me over his shoulder, leaving my feet kicking in the air, before walking back into the maze.

I try and slow my breathing. Try focusing on the hook that lazily swings in his hand. He plops me back down in the center of the maze.

“You suck.” I pout.

He reaches out and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. I let myself get a good look at him, just in case I file a police report.

I imagine he has brown eyes under the red and white contacts. I can see the light dusting of freckles across the bridge of his nose even with the, hopefully, fake blood. His dark hair is barely long enough to be styled, but it’s slicked back nonetheless.

I take a step back.

He doesn’t move.

Our eyes linger for a moment. Something like hurt flashing across those unnatural eyes.

I turn and run.

It takes me half the time to find my way out this time. And half the time I don’t even run, my feet already aching. I don’t run straight for the exit this time. I keep to the lines forming in front of each haunted house. Slowly inching my way out.

There’s a group of at least ten people walking towards the exit so I take my chance and slip into their group. None of them seem to notice me as we move as a solid object into the thick sea of fog.

Once again, a hand grips me and rips me from the crowd.

“Help!” I paw and reach out to my makeshift human shield. They all turn their heads in our direction but no one makes a move.

Seek presses his blade to my throat and a few of the men in the group smile at the action.

“You heard the doll,” Seek growls. “Someone help her.”

My eyes jump from face to face. I just need one person to care enough to say something. Yet, no one makes a move.

Some even go as far as to take their phones out and record my misery.

“Let’s go back to your maker.” He teases as he pulls me by my arm back to the maze. My mind numbs until we reach the center of the maze. Even though the cage has been moved—it’s still my prison, just now without the bars, only ten foot hedges.

“Don’t look so sad, little scarecrow.” He tips my head back to look at him. “You have so much fight left.” I don’t even listen to his words. I just turn and head towards the exit once more.

The next three times they get me, I take the time on our walk back to memorize the route out of these stupid walls. So finding my way only takes a minute to exit and weave through the people aimlessly.