Of course there is.
“Remember the man who came to see you a while back?”
“Vaguely. Something about his eyes freaked me out.”
“That was your uncle. Newton. And the boy with him? His stepson?”
“Wait…” My skin goes cold. “Silan?”
A single word falls from her lips. “Yes.”
Silan.
The boy I once trusted. The boy who tried to ruin me.
Suddenly I’m back there, in the dark, choking on fear and sweat.
“You stupid bitch,” he growled, his breath reeking of alcohol and something worse. “All you had to do was listen. But now? Now you’re gonna learn.”
“Get off me, Silan!”
He didn’t. His hands were everywhere. Fumbling, forcing, laughing. “He said I had to teach you a lesson.”
“He? Who the fuck is he? You don’t have to do this!”
But I saw it. The switch in his eyes. He wasn’t in control. He was a fucking puppet. And I’d had enough.
My hand found freedom first. I balled my fist and punched him right in the nuts.
His scream tore through the night. He slapped me hard, but he went down. “I’ll fucking kill you!” he screamed.
I was already running. Heart pounding. Legs shaking. Eyes burning.
I ran until I hit someone. “Shit,” I gasped, fearing the worst.
“What are you doing out here?” the stranger asked, stepping into the moonlight.
“I-” I could barely breathe.
“Athens?” His voice stopped me cold.
“Yeah?” I rasped.
“You don’t recognize me?” He was beautiful. Not handsome, beautiful. But I had no clue who he was.
“Should I?”
His jaw flexed. Hurt flashed behind his dark eyes. “Did someone hurt you?”
“My ex. He tried to rape me.” I said it aloud and felt the shame try to crawl up my spine like rot.
His whole face changed. Gone was the softness. What replaced it was devastatingly savage. “Where is he?”
“Back there. Doubled over. Hopefully sterile.”
He pulled out his phone. “Karter. Bring the guys. Someone hurt Athens. Old mill. Now.” He snapped it shut and looked back at me. “Go straight ahead. You’ll see a house. Someone there will clean you up.”
He turned to leave.
