Author's note: Please excuse the long intervals between recent chapters. Since I am a university student, and have two jobs as well, I've had very little time for updates. I really do apologize for that, because I know that it's frustrating to have to wait months for a new chapter to a fic. PS: A shout out to Imzadi, who I'd like to thank for continued readership and support. It means a lot that you take the time to write me.
Just a warning, this chapter gets a little
dark, and may not be suitable for younger readers.
The cool air tickled her skin as she stood alone in the darkness. Lindsey was nowhere in sight, but she could hear a slight rustling in the foliage that was certainly not the wind. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she stood waiting for the inevitable attack, not knowing when it would come. Cursing in her head, she wondered why she had let herself get talked into being the bait. Honestly, her former partner had managed to talk her into it even before she'd realized it. Not her best display of mental prowess, she had to admit. Suddenly, a man appeared on the path in front of her. Lilah took a step back, hoping to draw him out into the open a bit more. Leering, the stalky man advanced on her. He drew a knife from his belt, tilting it so that its blade gleamed in the shadows.
"Alone at last." he quipped.
"How original of you. I've never heard that one before". The dark-haired lawyer's tone was caustic, intended to provoke his ire. "And I'll bet that next you're going to tell me that you hope I scream or some similar kind of garbage. Well save it, ok? Because you're about as scary as bunny slippers. There's nothing sadder than an evil wannabe."
"How about an evil has-been?" he snarled.
She smirked. "You know, I'd be offended were that comment coming from anyone important."
"Well girly, considering I'm the guy who's gonna kill you, I'd say I'm pretty damned important, wouldn't you?"
"Oh, promises. You men are all talk and no kill. Let's get on with the murdering shall we? I have better things to do with my time than standing around and waiting for you."
"What makes you think I'm gonna kill you right away? That wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun as what I have in mind."
Her blood turned ice-cold as she took in those words. Images of a small bedroom and sweaty shame flashed through her mind; she saw them as clearly as she saw the man who stood before her. Then, steely anger settled in her like a heavy weight, and a hard glint came to her eyes. There was no way that she was going to let this man make her into a victim. Never again would she endure what she'd been forced to endure all those years ago. "You come near me," she began "and I'll kill you." The words came out without tone or feeling, and for the briefest of moments, her antagonist felt a remote sense of doubt. Blinking, he quickly banished the feeling.
"I think you're forgettin' which of us outmuscles the other here. Plus, I've got this." He pointed the knife at her. "You, you've got nothin'. But I'll tell ya what. I'm going to make you a deal. You tell me where your little buddy is, and I'll make it nice and quick for you."
"Screw you asshole." Even she was surprised by the speed and vehemence of her reply.
"Well, no-one can say I didn't offer. Guess we do things the slow way." With surprising speed, he closed the gap between them and shoved her roughly against a tree. The rough bark scraped at her skin, and as he pressed her harder against it, she could feel it getting rubbed raw. The assailant grabbed the neck of her shirt and yanked at it, tearing the garment halfway open. Desperately, she jerked to the left, feeling the grating sensation of the bark along her skin, and toppled to the forest floor. Tingling with raw pain and somewhat stunned, she hesitated a moment before moving. It was a moment too long.
In an instant, he was upon her, his weight pressing down, pinning her down in the dirt and dead leaves. Like a spider, one of his hands crept up along her body in an uninvited search, sliding beneath her clothes and creeping, serpentine, along her bare skin. She shuddered in disgust, her stomach churning at the thought of this man, this beast, touching her, here in the dirt and the dark. She couldn't die like this. It was filthy and degrading, and she wouldn't allow it.
Leaning over her, he grinned. He could sense her revulsion and simultaneous fear. He relished them. Power. He had the power to invoke in her an emotion stronger than fear of death, and the power to penetrate her soul and tear things apart within it. For him, it had nothing to do with the physical; rather, it was the high that he got from the devastation of another human being. Pausing a moment, he looked down at his captive's face to fully drink in the moment.
Observing his momentary pause, Lilah used it to her advantage. With a speed and strength born of an adrenaline rush, she wrenched a hand free. Cursing, the aggravated man strove to ensnare the offending limb. The young lawyer could feel the earth between her fingers as she clawed at the ground, searching blindly for a weapon, any weapon. Finally, she felt a largish stone against her palm. Hoping against hope, she quickly closed her fingers around the object, grasping it tightly. A cry of rage escaped her as she swung for his head. Reflex kicked in, and the man managed to move his head enough to avoid a shot to the temple. He did not, however, escape without harm. The blow made enough of a connection with his crown to send a jolt of pain surging through him, and caused him to see little black dots.
"Aow! Goddam bitch!" Instinctively, he sat up a little, his right hand travelling to his head to assess any damage done. It was then that her palm was driven upward, into his jaw. He felt his head teeth rattle and his head snap back, and then the wrenching of her body beneath him as she twisted her way loose. His vision righted itself and he could see her scrabbling along the ground for his knife, which had fallen during their struggle. Swearing, he attempted to capture her legs and restrain her. His effort was rewarded with a vicious kick at his face, which he just barely managed to avoid.
Lilah quickly closed the distance between herself and the blade, then seized it triumphantly. She leapt to her feet and steadied herself, tightening her grip on the weapon. Her attacker had just managed to get to his feet when she turned on him, arm drawn back. The knife flashed in the moonlight as it sang through the air, aimed for his heart.