Survival, a YA Paranormal Romance (The Guardians of Vesturon Series, Book #1)

by A.M. Hargrove

  Maddie immediately started thinking along those same thoughts when Sharra interrupted her.

  Sharra: Okay you two, one at a time. You are supposed to be conversing with each other, but I am getting barraged by all of your thoughts at once. It is very difficult for me.

  Rayn: You are right Sharra. My apologies. I got a little ahead of myself. Maddie, how are you?

  Maddie: I’m fine Rayn, other than missing you like crazy. I think of you constantly, as well and I can’t wait for this whole mess to be behind us.

  Rayn: I have been trying to get an audience with the Council Members, but they are not taking any appointments right now. I will continue to try every day until I get one. I am persistent, and they well know it.

  Maddie: Is there anything we can do on our end to help?

  Rayn: I do not think so right now. I have discussed all I can with Therron and he has talked with the other brothers and Sharra about everything. Therron said they are going to devise a plan for my trial, whenever that will be.

  Maddie: How’re you holding up? I mean, being confined and all? I worry about you.

  Rayn: Maddie, do not distress yourself. I am fine, truly. I get a bit bored and antsy as I am not used to all of this inactivity, but otherwise, I am completely fine. My quarters offer me every amenity, and I am very comfortable. The only thing missing is you.

  Maddie: Well, I sure you miss a lot and cannot wait to see you again. Like I said, I think of you all the time.

  Rayn: I know, Maddie. I sometimes get hit with your thoughts. Yesterday for example, I kept getting hit, so I was projecting back to you.

  Maddie: I knew I felt your presence! I was on the back terrace watching the stars and thinking of you.

  Rayn: I always try to be in your head. I miss you so I visualize you constantly. Maddie, I miss holding you and feeling my hands in your hair. I miss your beautiful scent and the taste of your lips on mine.

  Sharra: Ew! Stop right there. Let us not get too carried away, Rayn. That is exactly the type of things I do not want to hear, okay?

  Rayn: So sorry Shar, and I understand. From now on, we will just discuss the weather!

  Sharra: Why would you want to discuss the weather? Oh, you are trying to tease me. But it is kind of gross for me when you discuss that stuff.

  Rayn: I realize that, but can you make just one exception today? I have not seen or talked to Maddie in forever. I miss her, and I want to share my thoughts with her.

  Sharra: Ew! That is disgusting. You are my brother and I cannot think of you that way. Just be quick and get that part over with so we can move on.

  Maddie: Look, Rayn, I think we can keep it pretty clean here. You know I miss you and love thinking about you that way too. But it is uncomfortable for her so let’s not talk about it, okay?

  Rayn: Sure Sunshine. Whatever you want. Just know that when we do see each other, I am going to tackle you and kiss you right there and then. And I will not care who is a witness!

  Maddie: Ha! Fair enough!

  Things went on like this for another thirty minutes or so, and then Rayn’s thoughts stated taking on a fuzzy appearance. Maddie also had to repeat herself several times. She opened her eyes to see Sharra, and immediately knew they were going to have to cut it off. She reached out to Rayn, and he understood so they finished their goodbyes.

  Oddly enough, the last thing he said to her was, “And Maddie, honey, try not to burn the house down. Okay?”

  Oh dear, Therron must have told him about my bad luck in the kitchen, she thought.

  Maddie squeezed Sharra’s hands and realized how dreadfully tired she was. She helped Sharra into the tent and got her comfortably nestled in her sleeping bag. Sharra’s head wasn’t even on her pillow before she was fast asleep. Maddie went back outside to sit under the stars for a while and to think about her conversation with Rayn. She was blissfully happy at that moment, his thoughts and feelings still washing over her.

  Chapter 9

  The stars were making an impressive show tonight. From Maddie’s position on the mountain, they almost seemed close enough to touch. If only she could reach out her hand and grab one. The night air was crisp and the fingers of the summer heat were losing their grasp, but Maddie wasn’t thinking about that. She was one hundred percent focused on Rayn. She knew she was unquestionably in love with him.

  Now she understood how her parents felt about each other...the depth of the love they had. She sucked in her breath when she thought of the pain and suffering her father must have endured when her mother had died. How could she ever deal with the loss of Rayn? She was sure she could not.

  Where would this road take them? When or would they ever be together again? She prayed he would return to Earth soon. She wanted to touch him, to see his face, his beautiful eyes, and his perfect smile. With a groan, she arose from the ground and started pacing, hoping to release her frustration from the hand they were dealt. She peeked in the tent to check on Sharra and heard her softly breathing, slumbering peacefully.

  She decided to take a bathroom break before she turned in. She put on her headlamp and started making her way down the trail, looking for the best place. She got tickled at herself, for she felt like a dog, sniffing out the perfect spot. She was lost in her thoughts of Rayn, of Sharra and of where they would all end up when it occurred to her that she had been walking for some time. She didn’t give it much thought but started to think that perhaps she should turn around. She felt completely safe; after all, everything out here was veiled.

  She took care of her needs, and started heading back in the direction of the tent when she noticed the change; things looked different. It wasn’t anything she could put her finger on. Maybe she took a wrong turn or something. She kept walking, but now she started to realize that something was wickedly wrong. The trail had flat out disappeared. She couldn’t understand how she had gotten so turned around and confused.

  The hairs started to rise on the back of her neck, and she felt the beginnings of an adrenaline surge. She had to get back to the tent. There was danger lurking somewhere; she could sense it! The disturbing part was that she didn’t know what the danger was.

  She continued to make her way in the direction toward the tent when she heard the twig snap and the leaves rustle. That noise alerted her, and her mind flashed back to the last time she heard similar sounds. Her adrenaline rapidly surged at mega force, producing the typical responses: her heart nearly exploded, she quickly became drenched in sweat and her eyes darted around, wildly searching for the cause of her fear.

  When she spied him coming out of the brush, she wasn’t surprised a bit. In the dark recesses of her mind, she’d always known he would return for her. He never struck her as one who would let go of something, especially when he considered that something to be his. And Maddie knew, without a doubt, he thought of her as his.

  “Well, well, well. What a surprise to see you here, Red. Thought I’d taken care of you that last time I saw you. You’re looking good though, I have to say.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “Aw, I never let one get away, so I’ve been hunting you, sweetie pie.”

  Maddie correctly perceived he was here for the kill. This was it, what she had feared the most. She found herself focusing on self-defense. She would have to choose the precise time to make her move. She had no weapon, and he still had his crossbow. If her timing was off, she would forfeit her life.

  He ambled toward her with that vicious grin on his face.

  When he got close enough she thought, It’s now or never.

  She threw a kick that caught him in the groin. When he bent forward, she reached up, grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled his head down as she brought her knee up. It was a move that would have made any fighter proud, and it effectively cracked Darryl Carter’s nose.

  Blood started pouring out, running down to his mouth and towards his neck. Maddie was on a roll and didn’t stop with that. When he reached his hands up t
o his face, he opened up his rib cage to assault. Maddie threw a right hook into his ribs, pivoted until her back was to him and drove her elbow straight into his solar plexus, knocking the wind right out of him. Then she took off running. Her plan would have worked beautifully, if she had only known where she was going.

  Maddie had gotten so turned around and confused in the melee that now she was thoroughly lost. Panic washed over her, driving her forward, breaking through brush, and trying desperately to get back to the tent. In her disorientation, she only succeeded in running haphazardly in a circle.

  She felt the rope land around her neck, like a lasso, bringing her down instantly. She turned her head to look at him and smiled. She knew her end was near, but by God, he wouldn’t take her down without a fight.

  Darryl Carter was mad beyond reason. Red had gotten him like no one else, except for maybe his parents. How that little thing could land such a wallop, he’d never know. He was going to make sure she would to pay for it...in an unimaginable way.

  He pulled the rope until she was within reach and then unleashed his fury on her. He was getting ready for payback for all those sleepless nights of his, wondering where she had gone and how she had disappeared; and payback for the broken nose she had just gifted him. He right hooked her with his entire body weight. The punch sent her flying and before she even hit the ground, he slammed his foot into her side, launching her into the air like a rag doll.

  Maddie crashed into the ground, teeth rattling. The air left her lungs in a whoosh. The searing pain in her back and side prohibited her from inhaling badly needed oxygen. She reached her arms to the sides, hoping to find something within her grasp to use as a weapon, only to come up empty-handed. The second her arms opened wide, he landed another kick to her side. She knew the blow had ruptured something for she blacked out, drenched with the pain.

  Darryl tried to awaken her, without success. He picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder and trotted down the mountain. She was a long and lean thing, but hardly weighed much at all. She astounded him. Such a little slip of a thing had given him more trouble than any man he’d ever met. He couldn’t remember anyone coming remotely close to breaking something of his and here this little gal had done a jam up job of busting up his nose. In his twisted, sick way, that made him like her even more. Too bad they hadn’t met in different circumstances, he thought.

  He jogged down the mountain for about twenty minutes until he felt her begin to stir. He heard her moaning before he decided to stop. After he tossed her on the ground, he conjured up images of how he would have his fun with her. Her movements brought him back to the moment.

  Maddie was in excruciating pain, making it nearly unbearable to breathe. She knew she suffered some broken ribs, and she was certain there had to be some internal injuries resulting from the kicks he had pummeled into her side. Maybe her spleen had been ruptured. She tried to hold back from making any noises, but she couldn’t help the moans that escaped from time to time. She didn’t know how much more she could withstand, and she saw her chances of escaping quickly slipping away.

  He came to her then and dragged her to the nearest tree, winding a rope around her, securely tying her to it. When he cinched the rope tight, her adrenaline surged, she crawled out of her fog and began screaming for her life. He grabbed his pack and pulled out a roll of duct tape to shut out her screams because they were nonstop, not that anyone could hear, but they were getting on his nerves.

  When she was trussed up nice and neat, like a little Thanksgiving turkey, Darryl assessed the damage they’d done to each other.

  Without a doubt, Darryl had a broken nose, possibly a broken rib, a bruised groin and a bruised solar plexus. Darryl was certainly going to make Red pay for this one. He’d already gotten back at her somewhat; she looked to be in quite a bit of pain, which pleased him immensely. Just wait until she saw what he had in store for her. He couldn’t wait to play with Red a little before he turned her lights off for good.

  Maddie watched him from her prison. She was paying for what she’d done, but she had refused to let him take her without a fight. Her fear was mounting and fast. She knew that soon her ability to think coherently would be gone because that sick, twisted look in his eye meant torture for her. She tried to wiggle her arms or hands free to no avail. The pain made it pointless.

  Darryl Carter stood up and started pacing. He wanted to draw this whole thing out for his own personal enjoyment, but he wasn’t feeling too good right now. It might be better to just kill her and get out of here.

  He glanced over at Red and saw her squiggling and squirming, trying to get those ropes loose. He wouldn’t put anything past her. She’d survived more than anyone else he’d come across, so he wasn’t taking any chances. He knew exactly how to keep her still. He reached for his crossbow and saw her eyes widen. This was the part he loved the best. He walked up to her and from six feet away, fired a shot right at one of her quadriceps. It went straight through flesh and muscle, scraping bone as it passed through her leg and embedded in the ground beneath her, effectively trapping her.

  Her muffled screams were like a symphony to his ears. He could hear his commanding officer congratulating him on his exceptional shot.

  Now for round two; he narrowed his eyes as he looked at her closely to determine where his next shot should be. He didn’t want a kill shot, just one that would let her know who was boss. He decided to put one right beneath the clavicle. He let it fly and the arrow went clear through, impaling her to the tree. Red was now trapped and wouldn’t be going anywhere; not for awhile, he thought as he snickered to himself.

  Maddie felt the racking pain of the first shot. Her nerve endings were ultra sensitive from her earlier adrenaline surge, but the shot from the crossbow was searing. She felt it rip though the tissue and muscle of her leg, crunching by bone and crucifying her to the ground. Even the slightest movement would send currents of pain roaring through her. When the second shot came, her hold on her sanity began to crumble. Thankfully, the darkness came and enfolded its soft cloak around her.

  Darryl was miffed at her for passing out during his little party. He backhanded her across the cheek to awaken her but had no luck. She was out; maybe some water would do the trick. He took one of his CamelBak bladders and started squirting water in her face. He saw her eyes finally flutter open. That was good thing because he wanted to have a bit more fun with Red.

  “How do you like our little game here, Red? Come on. You need to stay awake because the fun is just getting started.”

  Maddie heard someone whimpering and wondered who was making that noise. Minutes passed by before it occurred to her that the pitiful whines were coming from her. She tried to beg for her life, but the duct tape muffled her words. She had nothing left, nothing to bargain with, or for.

  She desperately started to think about Rayn. She remembered somehow, in her delirium, he said he would always hear her. She simply had to think of him. And she did. She thought of everything that had taken place. She begged him to find her. The thoughts kept repeating themselves in her brain, over and over.

  The pain was distorting her thoughts. She started hallucinating, thinking she was with her parents. Then clarity returned. She never knew pain could take you to these depths; she must surely be in hell. Tears were streaming down her face, but her mind regained its intense focus on Rayn.

  Please find me, Rayn! I don’t think I can hold on much longer! My mind is slipping, and he’s going to kill me! Rayn, please find me, her thoughts screamed out.

  Over and ever her thoughts continued until she lost consciousness again.

  This scene kept repeating itself. Maddie passing out, and Darryl Carter waking her up. He didn’t seem to tire of it because he reveled in the pain he was causing her.

  He loved the fact that she was at his mercy and couldn’t wait for her to beg. That was his favorite part; it made him feel so important, like he was someone. He was going to feel especially proud tonight when
Red begged.

  Darryl Carter finally reached the point where he was ready to hear her voice, wanted to hear her pleas for her life. This part tickled him to no end. Like she thought that would work! Oh well, he thought, let’s not spoil all the fun.

  He yanked the duct tape off her mouth, and she started screaming and screaming. He thought she’d be too weak to scream, but then again, this one was just full of surprises. He backhanded her again, putting all his strength into his swing, just to shut her up for a minute. He was astounded at how loud she was. Her head snapped back and bounced off the tree. Darryl briefly wondered if her killed her then, for the blow sounded as if it had cracked her skull. He thought he would try to revive her again with his little water trick.

  As soon as the water hit her, Red started screaming again. Bam, another smack across the face. Darryl was in his element. Now this was starting to turn into his kind of fun. What he wanted her to do though, was to start begging for her life. That was his favorite part.

  Suddenly, Red pinned him with those topaz-colored doe eyes of hers, and he practically had to leap back. Her eyes were spewing so much hatred he could feel it all around him. Darryl didn’t understand how, but he knew she had some kind of power in those eyes. The hairs on the back of Darryl’s neck rose to attention. For a minute, he knew if she wasn’t tied to that tree, he would be afraid of her. If given the chance, he knew without a doubt she’d kill him.

  Somehow, she mustered up the strength to ask him in a hoarse whisper, “Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to you?”

  “Let me see. How about this: I love your red hair? Or, how about you got in my way? Or maybe, wrong place, wrong time? Anyway, I’ve been ordered to kill you. So that’s really the why of it.”

  “Who ordered you to kill me?” she croaked incredulously.

  “My commanding officer, that’s who.”

  Maddie realized then he was not only cruel but also insane. There would be no getting out of this one. It was the end of the line.

  Darryl Carter watched her think. He knew she was trying to figure out a way to get out of this. Another smack and that might change her mind.