Prey

Chapter 7- Escape

The next night was anxiously awaited as Bridget paced about the room, waiting to hear voices confirming their presence or a door to know they were gone. The hours grew later as she began to lose hope. She moved towards the bed and fell asleep only to be woken up by sure shakes as she was given a jacket and rain boots before being pulled through the house.

"We have a few minutes until our window closes."

"Where are they?"

Suddenly he pulled her against his chest as he fell against the wall, holding her from a figure. With his hand clasped around her mouth, she knew it had to have been Harlan. She heard his footsteps move about the stairs, possibly going to find her. Vic looked to her, giving her the signal to go outside. She darted towards the door as he had followed, keeping it open to avoid being discovered by sound. He ran across a field and under a tree where a beat-up truck sat on. The lights had been off to not be seen but as she entered the car, they heard the yelling of a voice they were in such a hurry to forget.

"Get back here! Where are you hiding?" He screamed as he lingered on the steps of the house. Vic told her to buckle up as he moved the truck towards the house. Growing anxious, she gripped the belt as they moved closer to him. As the car sat in front of him, Harlan smiled as he pointed his rifle hidden in the dark towards the duo.

"You finally got the balls?" He teased him as Vic gripped the wheel. He rose the weapon as Vic looked to Bridget for a second before hearing a shot go off, hitting the middle of the windshield. Vic pulled Bridget down in the seat, protecting her from future bullets. When he rose, the monster was gone. Her door came open to reveal he had snuck to the side as they hid. He pulled her to the ground before attempting to strangle her.

"We could have been happy!" He yelled as Vic placed the gun on the back of his head that he dropped in attempt to kill her. "Be smart about this-"

"If I kill you, this is all over. The pain you've caused-the sh*t you put me through!"

"Then pull the trigger...but just like your daddy-you won't do anything. All you're good at is sticking yourself deep into girls, speaking pretty little words."

His grip tightened on the weapon as his finger pulsated on the feeling of the trigger.

"She is more than just something to sleep with! She is beautiful! And strong!"

"And a good fu-"

Using the butt of the gun, he knocked Harlan to the ground before helping Bridget up and placing her in the car.

"Can you drive?" He asked as she nodded.

"Turn the car around. Point it towards the gate." He said as he pointed in the direction he desired to go. She moved towards the car and moved the stick shift back to reverse then forward to turn as she heard Harlan be hit by something. When the lights came on the scene, she saw Vic's knuckles were shredded-almost as if he had punched a wall. She moved up in the seat to see Harlan's bloody face on the ground. He was unconscious for sure.

"Move over." Vic said as he came to the driver's side of the truck. Pulling the car back, he used the wheels to run over Harlan's legs causing him to wake from the pain. With rage filled eyes, Vic floored it from the house and towards the highway. The sky grew from a calm night to a stormy mess within the hour, causing them to pull off to a motel. Rundown to stay under the radar, she moved to the shower as he laid in bed.

When she got dressed, she spoke to him.

"Thank you, for risking everything for me."

"It was time I left..."

"Did you mean the things you said to him about me?"

"What do you mean?"

"About me being strong and beautiful?"

"Of course."

She emerged from the bathroom in a robe loosely tied to expose part of her cleavage. Something not undesired by Vic, but not expected. When he saw her,he jumped up as she walked towards him.

"What are you doing?"

"You told me that you didn't want to be with me by force. Yet, we are now risking our lives everytime we stop moving. I spent the last few weeks being attacked and mauled...." Tears filled her eyes as the memories returned. "Can you give me something I actually want?"

"Anything."

"I want to sleep with someone who won't force me."

He looked to the ground, almost as if he wanted to say no, but couldn't bring himself to speak it aloud. She sat next to him as she placed her hand on his cheek.

"He took my innocence from me-something I treasured more than anything...But...If we were to die tomorrow I don't want to know only pain....please give me this last thing..."

He placed his hand on her wrist and brought her hand down.

"I meant what I said, anytime I spoke to you. I never meant for him to hurt you-I wanted to stop it, but I figured I was better alive to you then dead."

"You've proven that."

"But its' too late....he has already branded you and I can't be with you knowing that."

"Then forget it." She tried to kiss him but he kept her away.

"Bridget, I made a promise to myself I wouldn't touch you...no matter how much I want to..."

"Why not?"

"Because when you truly care about someone...you just want them to be okay."

"I will be."

"Not that way. I will get you as far away from him as possible. I promise you that. But please...please don't tempt for anything-I'm not strong to fight you...That's what I ask..." she nodded as she closed the robe and placed herself on the opposite side of the bed.

"Goodnight." She spoke quietly.