Chapter 43 - Willow

My knee smashed up into Ethan's balls as soon as the words registered in my brain. Using one of Tali's favorite tricks, I elbowed him in the throat and pushed him away as he tried to figure out which injury to nurse first.

I raced from the room. Nothing was the same. I wasn't in my old house. I'd told Ryker the wrong place. I was on my own.

I shot forward, cursed the rough flooring and Ethan's habit of stealing my shoes. I gathered the pain in my feet, held it close to me. Nurtured it in my brain as I darted around corner after corner.

He'd built a maze. And I was his rat.

I ran and kept turning corners. As long as he couldn't get his hands on me, I would be fine. I could hold out until Ryker came. Until that grouchy, bossy bear found me. I was going to slap him silly. Make him hold me through the nightmares that would undoubtedly keep me awake for the foreseeable future. His fault, he could help clean up the mess.

"You can't run from me, Willow."

That long, low cut on