Page 13 of Primal Hunger
Clever girl, isn’t she?
I don’t know what momentary magic her device casted over me, but clearly, this human wants to play games too.
Unluckily for her, I never lose.
Chapter
Five
Erin
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Holy fucking shit, the Grim is going to eat me.
My heart slams into my throat, and there’s a kink in my side from running, but I force my feet to move faster as I try to put as much space between me and the monster as possible.
Every muscle tweaks and aches from exertion.
His roar in the distance makes my heart stutter, and I know I only have a few seconds before he catches up. He’s insanely fast and can move in silence through the trees in a way that makesme envious. I understand now why people fall prey to him so easily, and I scold myself for being such an idiot.
At least, I think it’s ahe. There’s no way to tell through all the fur. The height gives me the impression of masculinity, but what do I know?
A horrified chuckle burns my throat on its way past my lips. Why did I ever think going into the woods was a good idea? My stupid ego got me right into the center of this mess.
The camera flash bought me a few seconds, but not enough. I might have even managed to get him in the frame, but I’m too terrified to worry about it. Too afraid for my life. I’m flirting with death every second I remain in the woods, and the realization that I might not make it out alive is quickly sinking in.
The light from the portal is nowhere in sight, and there’s no way for me to orient myself in the darkness.
There’s nothing but trees in any direction, with moonlight patchwork trickling down from the canopy overhead.
It feels pointless to keep running, knowing very well that I might just be heading deeper into the tangle of woods where no one will hear me scream, but I sprint anyway, trying to stay a few steps ahead of the beast on my heels.
Leaves rustle behind me and the sound of snapping twigs grows louder as the Grim closes in. My heart leaps into my throat. It doesn’t look like I’ll be getting out of this alive.
All my work will be for nothing if I’m not able to share my undeniable proof of the Grim’s existence with the world. I have to get these pictures out there somehow.I have to leave them for Tyler to find.
If I’m captured, or dragged through the portal, the least I can do is leave my camera behind.
Tyler will have the photos to share on the website, and everyone will see once and for all what lurks in these woods,what appears during the solstice. It’s more proof than anyone else has ever gotten and still a huge accomplishment in my book.
Even if I won’t be alive to celebrate it.
Grimacing, I slip the camera strap off over my head and toss it to the side. Even if the lens shatters, the memory card inside is safe. The proof will live on no matter what happens to me.
I pump my arms harder and leap over a knotted root, running for my life.
The Grim is closing in, the rustling getting louder behind me until I can almost feel his breath on my neck, and I scream. It’s not a cry for help, because I know there’s no one around to hear me.
Even if they did, they’re not liable to come looking for me knowing what day it is, knowing the Grim has come to claim another victim. It’s all the nerves and fear mounted in my body, finally escaping in a single cry before a pair of solid, muscular arms wrap around me and the ground disappears from beneath my feet.
I’ve made a mistake.
Hard muscles like unforgiving boulders press against my back, and I kick, trying my best to make contact with any part of this monster. One of my heels hits his thigh, but if it hurts him, he doesn’t let on.
In fact, he doesn’t react at all, but his warm breath rolls over my skin, sending a chill down my spine. It joins my mounting fear and makes my blood run cold.
“Let me go,” I demand, thrashing against his hold to no avail.
