Free Dark and Twisted by Heidi Acosta Page A

pothole-filled street in front of Liv’s house. A shadow moves in front of me, and I know it’s him. My heart plummets to the bottom of my stomach. I don’t wait around this time to share pleasantries. I run.
    A high-pitched laugh cuts through the air, surrounding me as it bounces off the trees. It’s a dark, sinister laugh that turns my veins to ice and causes every hair on my arms to rise. I pick up my pace, and an ache in my side cuts deep into me like a razor, but I don’t stop running. Damn it for skipping out on all those gym classes. My legs burn, pleading for me to stop, but I don’t dare.
    The laughter grows louder until it’s everywhere. It chills me to the bone. I feel like I stepped into the scene of a horror movie. I hate horror movies . I pump my arms as hard as I can, my feet slamming on the ground, jarring my teeth. I’m almost there. The laughter dies, and I risk the chance of looking over my shoulder, hoping he will be gone.
    My feet are out from under me. Time seems to stand still as I’m suspended off the ground, and then everything speeds up. I try to scream, but, I slam down hard on the ground, and all the air is crushed out of my lungs. Pain shoots up my arm from where I hit the hard ground, but I don’t have time to worry about what I hurt. I’m being dragged backwards, fast, and the end of the trail is fading away. I grip at the ground, clawing at the dirt and dead vegetation. Anything to stop him from taking me deeper into the woods.
    Oh, my god, what will he do to me if he gets me farther in? The dirt digs its way under my nails, and scratches burn across my palms. I try to scream again, but it comes out muffled. Fear grips me as I desperately try to get away from him. No one can hear me, and there is no one coming to help me. I continue to grab at the ground for something to defend myself with, but the twigs and roots snap as a strong force yanks me forward. He holds my feet together by the ankles as I try to kick free, jerking with all of my might.
    His hold breaks, and now’s my chance to get away. I spin over, trying to get to my feet, but he grabs me by my hair and slams me back to the ground. My bag offers some protection, but gravel still manages to dig its way into my exposed skin as he drags me as if I’m nothing more than a rag doll.
    I reach back, pulling at his hand and trying to free myself. He releases, me and I crawl and stumble away, but I am not quick enough. He grabs ahold of my ankle and marches deeper into the woods, not loosening his grip on me.
    Desperate, I kick again, and my shoe finally makes contact hard enough that I hear the sickening sound of bone cracking. He lets out a growl that sounds more animalistic than human. Dropping my foot, he cradles his hand protectively to his chest. I scream and crab-walk backwards, trying to get away.
    Still holding his wrist, he turns and descends upon me, like a cat stalking a mouse. I scream again with everything I have. His eyes glow a fierce red, floating in a sea of black shadows. His uninjured hand goes around my neck, and it is like fire scorching the skin. I grab his hand and trying to wrench it away. But he is strong, and the pain is unbearable. My vision blurs, graying the edges, and I am unable to grasp a single coherent thought as fire blisters my skin.
    The fire stops. It is gone, and the only thing left is the reminder of the burn. I gasp for air bringing my hands around my neck. The skin is tender but unharmed. What is he?
    His head snaps up, listening to the rustle of leaves. Then he is up off me darting into the woods.

Chapter Nine
    Hours, minuets, seconds might have passed, but time doesn’t make sense to me anymore. I scream until my throat feels like raw meat.
    “Eden!” Mr. Wissian is leaning over me, slapping me gently on the cheek.
    I cry out and propel myself backwards. Searching the woods, but I see no one else, and I let the next scream die in my throat.
    “Eden, are you hurt? What happened?”