To Ensnare a Spider: A Contemporary Revenge Reverse Harem (Woodside Academy Book 1)

by Cleo Fox

  The first text from that Red person was before I'd ever offered Monica money. I double-checked the stamp of when I sent her payment, and the message from the person was sent before it.

  But where could I go? Jason's? I threw out the idea before I could even make it a possibility. He would want sex, and I didn't like sex with him. He always either fucked me from behind or missionary so he could choke me as he came, and I never once got off. I’d much rather face a possible stalker than him.

  A part of me wished I could've/would've invited those guys back to my house. But who knew what the repercussions of that would have been? Who was watching me, and how? Even at the library with Sai. They saw what I bought for lunch, but it wasn't like we'd done anything. And then at the amusement park. I hadn't done anything flirtatious, but they were calling me a slut.

  Was this something my mother cooked up to keep me in line while she was gone? So that I would be fake Chanel all the time? Another step in her plan to turn me into a robotic trophy wife and birth the heir of her stupid, fake, demon god?

  I turned into the driveway of the mansion. That was it. I wasn't going to wait around for college or even to finish high school. I'd run for it that night and never look back. I didn't want to be forced even more into a submissive box. I didn't park the car in the garage as I got out and ran toward the house.

  Letting myself in through the front door, I shivered at the darkness of the place and quickly switched on the entrance and stairway lights, banishing the dark as I searched for any possible shadows that looked human. I darted up the stairs and past the office.

  Even though the doors were locked, going by it never ceased to send a shiver up my spine. Sometimes, I swore I heard rope straining and creaking against the rafter. Some days it felt like his body was still in there, twisting back and forth.

  It was made worse at night, and I couldn't sleep.

  Turning on my bedroom light, I slammed and locked the door just in case. Rushing to my closet, I grabbed several outfits and shoes. They weren't my style, but I had no idea how long it would be until I could buy a new wardrobe.

  I pulled out one of my suitcases. Throwing it on my bed, I went to my bathroom to grab my toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and conditioner. I needed to be able to keep myself clean.

  My mind went in a thousand different directions. I had no plan, anymore. I just needed to run and keep running until I felt safe. She had eyes everywhere here, that much was clear.

  Throwing the toiletries into the suitcase, I went and grabbed all of my underwear and bras, throwing them inside before zipping it up. I left all of my makeup and hair accessories.

  The pocket of my hoodie buzzed as a new message arrived on my phone. I didn't want to, but curiosity got the better of me. I pulled it out.

  Red’s icon of a knight chess piece with glowing red eyes sat on the screen with one unread message.

  I tapped on it.

  7:50 PM

  Red: Where are you going, lamb?

  A chill coursed through me. There was only one person who called me that. My dad. And he only used it when it was just the two of us. No one else, not even my mother could've known of the nickname to use against me.

  Something bumped into my door, and I jumped and screamed, gaze going to it.

  The knob wiggled, but with it locked, they couldn't come in.

  My phone buzzed in my hands.

  I looked down at the message thread.

  7:51 PM

  Red: Let me in, lamb. Daddy wants to say hi.

  Something like a nail scraped along the wood from the other side.

  7:52 PM

  Red: Let me in.

  Red: Let me in!

  Red: LET!

  Red: ME!

  Red: IN!

  Red: Lamb!

  I screamed again. "Go away!"

  I scrambled with my phone to call 911. As I put it on speaker, it rang and rang, and rang. Why was no one picking up?

  "Chanel had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow."

  My blood ran cold, and my legs refused to hold me up as my dad's voice sang on the other end of the phone. He would sing the nursery rhyme to me as a baby. There were home videos of him holding me and singing.

  I hung up the phone. It buzzed, again, but this time a new icon popped up. I recognized the face as Rhett's.

  The scratching continued at the door.

  I didn't even bother to read what he had to say. If I died, someone needed to know what happened.

  Me: They're here, in my house. I think they're going to kill me.

  I hit send. A red exclamation mark appeared next to indicate it wouldn't go through.

  The room filled with a haze. Where is the smoke coming from?

  I tried to cover my nose with the hoodie and get up to go to the closet, but my legs refused to move, and soon my hands dropped away from my face, heavy, and unresponsive.

  Laying on the floor, eyes open, I watched as the doorknob jiggled again. Darkness clouded my vision. I tried to keep my eyes open as a key turned the lock, and the door swung open.

  A dark, hooded figure stood in the doorway.

  My eyes closed.

  "Is she out?" a voice asked, sounding miles away.

  "Almost," another responded.

  "Let's take her now. We only have a couple of hours."

  She never remembered, never held onto the pain as I did.

  I hated her. I hated her so much!

  She didn’t realize the magnitude of everything. But even if it killed me, I was going to make her remember.

  She must remember the pain they put us through.

  Also by Cleo Fox

  The Duality Series

  Wicked Games

  Kingdom Fall

  Mafia Gods: Curse of Ra

  Episode One |Episode Two | Episode Three | Episode Four

  Woodside Academy

  To Ensnare a Spider

  And Catch the Fly

  About the Author

  Cleo Fox is an RH author, reader, hermit.

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