Almost Free (Whithall University Book 3)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  He grips my chin softly, turning my head so we’re facing. The breath I was about to take freezes in my lungs at the look in his eyes.

  “There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while,” his whispers, his voice husky.

  “There is?” I ask breathlessly.

  His thumb caresses my jawline, and my eyes droop as my body sways forward.

  “Yeah.”

  “What is it?” I ask, moving closer. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was nervous. But that can’t be right. He never gets nervous.

  “Emma, I—”

  He pauses in confusion when my eyes go round with fear. Stepping up behind him is dark figure, and I know in my gut this isn’t one of the lads playing around. Before I can scream and warn him, something swings in the air. Seeing my expression, he looks over his shoulder, but it’s too late. He turns back to me, his eyes wide with horror. I cringe at the sound of the branch hitting him, the sickening crunch turning my stomach. He tries to reach for me at the same time I reach for him, but the man stalking me hits him one more time. Our fingers slide against each other’s, and I scream when he falls backwards, down the bank, splashing into the water.

  “Banner!” I scream, moving to take a step towards the river, needing to get to him. He’s going to freeze to death, and that’s only if he’s conscious. If he’s not, he could drown.

  A hand grabs my arm, swinging me around and smacking me in the face. I cry out, taking a few steps back, getting ready to run. My torch drops to the ground.

  I need to get to Banner.

  Terrified, I glance at our attacker, my eyes widening when they step into the light. “Mr. Flint.”

  “Did you think I would have forgotten you, you silly fucking cow.”

  I look to the river, not seeing Banner anymore. I rub my chest, feeling tears flowing down my cheeks. I may have just lost the one man I could ever truly, deeply love. He’s my one and only, and I never got to tell him how I feel.

  From the corner of my eye, Mr. Flint jumps forward, grabbing me by my coat when I move back too quickly. He looks rough, like he’s been in the wars, and the stench coming from him is overwhelming.

  “Get off me,” I scream, hoping someone from the camp can hear me.

  With strength I didn’t know anyone could possess, he throws me, and I land with a thud against a tree, sliding down.

  “I’m going to fuck you, then fucking kill you, you snivelling, whiny little whore.” He laughs humorously. “And to think I thought you were meek and weak.”

  I watch in horror as he pulls out a silver knife, the moon reflecting off the large, sharpened blade. I yelp, fear churning in my stomach when he steps closer. Quickly, I shuffle to my feet, my back pressed against the tree, holding my hands out in front of me.

  “Please don’t,” I cry out, my life flashing before my eyes. For a long time, I had nothing to live for. I had nothing I wanted to live for. I had lost everything, and I was drowning in depression. Then Banner climbed in through my bedroom window, the same night I took an overdose, and made everything easier. Day by day, he made me feel alive again.

  I have people in my life now who I love and adore. God wouldn’t take Banner from me, not after he gave him to me. And for him, I need to get through this. He needs me. He could be struggling in that river, calling out for help, and I’m stuck here with a lunatic.

  “There’s no one here to save you this time, Emma. Your boyfriend’s dead.” He laughs, sounding crazed. “When I get done with you, I’m going to cut your insides out. You’ll be screaming for help and no one will hear you. No one is going to save you.” He holds the knife up, a murderous glint in his eye. “The only option you have left is whether you make this easier on yourself. Not that I mind you fighting, just expect the pain that is to follow.”

  I scan the empty forest, seeing no one or nothing that can help me, deflating any hope I had of surviving this. There is not a weapon in sight, nothing to help get me away from him. I could try to run, but the size of the forest… I’d be lost before I got far, and that’s if he doesn’t catch me first.

  I hear him go for me, and I close my eyes, waiting for the blow I know is about to happen. Only, instead, I hear a scuffle. My eyes fly open with hope.

  Banner.

  But it’s not him.

  I’m confused when I see Darren standing there, panting, holding a thick, fallen branch in his hand.

  “Get the fuck away now. I’ve called the police,” Darren growls, standing between me and Mr. Flint.

  Mr. Flint clutches his stomach, looking winded. “Who the fuck are you—another one she’s fucking?”

  I shrink back against the tree at the venomous look he gives me. Darren steps to the side, blocking him from seeing me.

  “I’m your worst fucking nightmare. Now step back.”

  I scream when Mr. Flint jumps forward, holding the knife out in front of him. Darren goes back on one leg, bracing for the attack. Everything happens so quickly.

  I glance to the river where Banner fell, but I’m torn when I hear a grunt of pain. I look back just as Mr. Flint bends at the waist, before tackling Darren, sending them both flying to the floor.

  I look around for a weapon, crying with frustration when I don’t see anything.

  Darren howls in agony, and the sound runs through my soul. I flinch at the punch he lands on Mr. Flint’s jaw, knocking him backwards to the floor. The knife falls to the ground and I rush over, grabbing it and throwing it as far into the forest as I can manage.

  When I turn back around, Darren has the branch in his hand again, hitting a dazed Mr. Flint around the head. His eyes roll back, and I jump when Darren hits him again, not satisfied until he’s fallen to the floor with a sickening thud.

  “Darren?” I call when he wobbles backwards, looking at me with wide eyes. He drops the branch, clutching his stomach.

  “You need to find Banner. He’s on the bank—just down a bit,” he gasps out, falling to his knees.

  “He’s okay?” I ask in relief as I rush over to the torch.

  “He’s not conscious, but I managed to pull him out of the water,” he chokes out. I pick up the torch and turn around to shine it on Darren, ready to ask him what he’s doing here. It’s not that I’m not grateful—he’s just saved mine and Banner’s lives.

  The light illuminates Darren’s body, and a loud gasp escapes me. I feel the blood drain from my face when I see the rips in his shirt, blood oozing down his chest.

  Oh, my God.

  “Oh, my God, did he stab you?” I ask, rushing over.

  He falls backwards on his back, staring up at the sky. “So, this is karma,” he gasps, coughing up blood.

  I put the torch on his stomach, shining it on his stab wounds, and force the bile down that threatens to rise. I take off my gloves, pressing them into the wound, and apply pressure. I scan the deserted forest, panicked when the gloves don’t stop the flow of blood, the warm fluid running through my fingers. “Help—somebody help,” I scream, tears falling down my cheeks.

  Darren places his hand on top of mine, cringing in pain.

  “Go. Go make sure Banner is okay.”

  “I’m not leaving you, not like this,” I tell him as my throat tightens.

  “Who would have thought you would be helping me after all I did.” He moans, his back arching as he tries to get comfortable. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”

  I shake my head at him, pressing harder on his wounds. “No! Not like this. We need to get you to the hospital, and then, when you’re better—you can tell me then. It’s going to be okay.”

  “I need—I need to explain. I—"

  “Please, you don’t need to do this. Let’s concentrate on getting you help.” Blinking through tears, I lift my head and scream, “Help! Somebody help me!”

  “I didn’t—I wasn’t… I wasn’t going to rape you. You have to know that,” he says, struggling to get his words out.

  “I know you wasn’t,”
I cry, a sob breaking through. “I was never sure because it was a blur, but after Mr. Flint attacked me, I know that was never your intention.”

  “I loved your sister, Emma. I just loved Lake more. When your sister kept doing more drugs, I chose Lake. I never wanted her to hurt. It’s why I started taking them, to ease the pain.”

  “Why did you sell her those drugs?” I blurt out, watching his pale face close off in pain.

  “She would have gone anywhere to get them, done anything to get her next fix. When I ran out, I didn’t want her to get in trouble by going elsewhere. There are dickheads around who would have used her. I got some from another dealer, so she wouldn’t have to. I didn’t know they were laced with poison. I swear, I didn’t.” He starts choking again, and I feel like I can’t breathe, watching him turn paler by the second.

  “Please don’t die. Please.”

  “I’m so sorry,” he cries, tears falling down his cheeks.

  “I’m sorry,” I cry, trying to stop the bleeding. “What were you doing here, anyway.”

  “That day at the university, I saw someone hiding behind the bushes after you left. They didn’t think I noticed, but I did. I saw him go into the university, so I waited for the class to finish before following him to an old farm house. When nothing happened, I left.” He starts coughing, clutching his stomach. “You didn’t want to see me again, and I understood, so I never did anything. I didn’t even think any more of it until I saw his face in the paper. I knew it was you he attacked. I’ve gone back to the farmhouse every night for the past two weeks, and then yesterday morning, he left, following you guys up here. I’ve been watching him watch you. I wanted to come out and warn you, but I didn’t want to get in a fight.”

  “So, you decided to save me instead?”

  “You didn’t deserve what happened to you, Emma. What I did to you, and then what he did. I was a messed-up kid. So yes, I helped you.” He wheezes, clutching his chest. When blood starts pouring from the corner of his mouth, I begin to panic.

  “Somebody, please, help me,” I scream, my voice echoing off the trees.

  “Emma?”

  “Tom, I’m over here,” I scream, before looking down at Darren. “Hold on, Darren, help is here.”

  “I’m sorry,” he gasps, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

  “No, Darren, stay awake,” I cry.

  “Emma!”

  “Sorry,” Darren whispers. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I forgive you. Darren, can you hear me? I forgive you.”

  His eyes barely open, a small smile playing on his lips, before his entire body just collapses, one last breath expelling from his lungs before… nothing. He just lies there, not moving a muscle.

  “Darren, no!” I wail, pressing down on his chest. I shake him, but his head just flops to the side, lifeless.

  I scream, sobs racking through my chest, clutching what is left of his shirt in my hands. I place a hand on his cheek, stroking him softly. “Please, wake up. Please. I forgive you,” I shout, crying harder.

  Footsteps come bursting through the bushes, but I can’t look away from Darren, my head falling against his chest.

  “What the fuck? Emma?” Tom yells, rushing over to me, lifting me off Darren. I can feel his blood all over me as I look helplessly at Tom.

  “What the fuck happened?” Connor shouts, looking around at the two dead bodies. “Oh, fuck. Isn’t that the English teacher?”

  Tom shakes me, and I look up at him, feeling numb. “Emma, where’s Banner?”

  “Mr. Flint hit him, and he fell into the river,” I choke out, feeling my chest tighten with pain.

  “Oh, fuck,” Connor hisses, placing his hands on his head. “It’s fucking freezing.”

  Tears gather behind Tom’s eyes. “Was he alive?”

  Fat tears slide down my cheeks as I look down at Darren. “He said Banner was just down by the river bank. He pulled him out. He saved him,” I whisper.

  “Go look, Connor,” Tom yells, pulling out his phone. I listen to him call for an ambulance, just as more people come through the trees. “Guys, stay back. Don’t let any of the girls here.”

  “What’s going on?” Rafner asks, and I feel him move closer. “Holy fucking shit.”

  “I’ve called an ambulance and they said the police are on their way too. Can you go tell one of the girls that they need to wait by the treeline for them—and one of them at the entrance, so they know where to go?”

  “Yeah, be right back,” he says, sounding shocked.

  I still don’t look away from Darren, feeling lost.

  “Bro, I need help,” Connor yells. I look up, finding him struggling with Banner. He’s not moving, his chin dropped to his chest.

  “Banner,” I cry out, rushing to my feet. I help try to support him as we lie him down near Darren. I take in his appearance, my heart breaking in two. He has a gash on the side of his head, blooding seeping down his face, and his lips are blue.

  Connor takes his coat off, placing it over Banner. Tom does the same, coming to sit next to me as I begin to shake.

  “What happened, Emma?”

  “Mr. Flint… he came out of nowhere, Tom. He hit Banner with a branch, and he went into the water. Then he pulled a knife on me. He was going to stab me—rape me,” I whisper. “Then Darren tackled him. I don’t know—it happened so fast. Darren hit him with the branch, and I thought it was over. There was so much blood,” I whisper, looking down at my hands, which are still covered in Darren’s blood. I start sobbing, trying to wipe it off on my coat.

  “Get it off me,” I scream, wiping more furiously. It’s still there, staining my skin and soul.

  “Shh, it’s okay. I got you,” Tom soothes, placing his hands over mine.

  “Please, get it off me,” I whisper, feeling dizzy.

  “Who’s Darren?” Connor asks, and I feel Tom stiffen next to me.

  I let out a dry laugh, wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my coat. “He’s the lad who attacked me a few years ago and put me in hospital.”

  “Um, what the fuck!”

  “Bro, just drop it,” Tom says softly, but his voice holds warning.

  “Okay.”

  “The ambulance is here,” Rafner breathes out, gasping for air as he runs back into the clearing. He looks as pale as the rest of us, staring down at the two lifeless bodies.

  Two paramedics come rushing through the trees, their lights bright, making me blink, wincing. I fall against Tom, watching blankly as one works on Banner while the other announces the other two dead.

  It’s then that the night’s events catch up to me and I pass out, my head feeling heavy.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The paramedics are pushing me through A&E when I hear a commotion close by. I jump, startled at the noise. I close my eyes, rejecting the sound, and the voices fade into the background.

  “It’s okay, Emma,” Tom says, taking my hand as they wheel me into a room. A sudden chill sweeps through me and I begin to shake uncontrollably. My pulse races as I stare, in a daze, at Tom.

  Tom grabs the blanket from the bottom of the bed, pulling it over me. I watch him, feeling detached from my body.

  He looks over his shoulder, his lips moving as he talks to someone. I blink, feeling numb. He steps aside and, in his place, Mark and Levi stand in front of me, bending down so we’re eye level.

  Marks lips move, but I can barely make them out. It sounds like I’m swimming under water. “Emma, baby, are you okay?”

  I blink.

  Mark is talking to Tom, running a frustrated hand through his hair, making it stick up. I want to tell him to straighten it before a male nurse walks in, but nothing comes out.

  I blink.

  Levi holds Mark, rubbing his hands up and down his back as Mark’s shoulders shake.

  I roll away from them, facing the other side of the small cubicle they put me in. A nurse comes to check the IV the paramedic put in me, before pressing buttons on a machine.

&n
bsp; I barely feel the tightness around my arm, too paralysed to even investigate what it is. My eyes close tightly, shutting everything and everyone around me out.

  *** *** ***

  “Have they said what’s wrong with her?”

  “She’s in shock. She’s not processing. It’s bad, Banner. They’re talking about admitting her into the psych ward,” Mark says, his voice gruff.

  “Banner, you need to go rest. You’ve got a concussion and a head injury,” Levi demands. “If her condition changes, I’ll come and find you.”

  “I’m not leaving her,” Banner growls, his voice husky and dry.

  “Mate, we can watch her,” Mark says, agreeing with Levi.

  “I said fucking no,” Banner snaps. The sound has me jumping, opening my eyes. “Emma?”

  I blink over at Banner, tears gathering in my eyes when I see the bandage wrapped around his head. He runs a finger down the side of my face, forcing a small smile.

  “Banner?” I croak, my throat raw.

  “Emma? Oh, my God, you’re awake. Are you okay? Do you need anything? Should we get a nurse?” Mark rushes out, coming around the bed to stand next to Banner. Levi comes into view next and I blink back more tears, feeling my throat tighten. I glance back at Banner, needing to touch him, to make sure he’s real. I can’t move though, too afraid it’s an illusion. “There was so much blood, Banner. So much.”

  I close my eyes when I’m bombarded with images of the night’s events. I keep seeing Darren’s face, the anguish and pain written all over it. I know he tried to hold back, not wanting to show me just how badly he hurt. But I could read it in his eyes.

  I close my eyes tighter when I see the moment Banner fell into the river, the torment I saw there. He looked petrified, but not for himself—for me.

  “I’m sorry, Emma. So sorry,” Banner whispers.

  I blink my eyes open, letting the tears I was afraid to let fall, flow down my cheeks. “I thought I lost you forever when you fell into that river.” As soon as the words escape my lips, I break down, sobbing into the pillow. I clutch it in a tight grasp, the pain in my chest unbearable.