Sitting in the chair that Cole made himself, I lean back and bask in the early morning sun. I can’t remember the last time I was up before the dawn. It feels amazing to watch Mother Nature wake up as a parade of glittering golds and soft pinks streak across the sky.

Everything about this feels perfect. The way Cole kissed me tenderly before slipping out of bed this morning telling me he would be back later with some fish for breakfast. The way I can enjoy the calm beauty of birds and squirrels beginning to forage for their own food. Even this cup of instant coffee that once tasted so nasty on my tongue seems right now.

It’s like I spent so much of my time in university worrying about schedules and my scholarship that I forgot how good it feels to truly relax. My mother was right, I needed to get out and explore. I needed experiences that I could never find in a textbook. I needed this.

And now it’s going to end.

The thought shoots through me, burning my nerves and making my hands shake around my coffee cup. Cole and I spent the entire day and night fucking. The amount of times and ways that we were one left my body sore in the best way and my spirit awakened. I was sure, as we were drifting off to sleep last night that he would finally whisper the word I’ve been longing to hear for days.

Stay.

“Tomorrow we have to say goodbye, huh?” He asked and my heart shattered.

“If you think so,” I tried to leave it open, to put my foot in the door, leaving a crack of possibility for him to change his mind and invite me.

“I can’t keep waiting to be found. It’s only a matter of time until the authorities head out this way. I’m guessing your boss has gotten a hold of them and his own boss by now,” his deep voice was tinged with betrayal.

For a moment, I felt guilt swirl up inside me that I had ever been a part of that manhunt. My ignorance about who Cole really is didn’t feel like an excuse.

“I’m sorry I’ve caused all this trouble for you,” I tried not to let the lump growing in my throat affect my voice.

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault. Besides, none of that matters now. I guess the only thing to do is get you back to town and for me to find a new place to make my home.”

“Sure,” I didn’t want to say any more than that single word because I knew if I uttered even one syllable more, my voice would crack and my tears would pour out of me.

Instead, I rolled over, trying to seek comfort in Cole’s arm wrapped around me. Trying to memorize the way his skin felt on mine as he spooned me. Trying to make the moments until he marched me out of these woods last forever.

Mama was right about so many things. Living my life. Having new experiences. Opening my heart. What she didn’t tell me was the overwhelming pain of heartbreak that comes from losing it all.

I wipe my hands over my misty eyes and stand up. I need a distraction. Sitting here crying isn’t going to change a damned thing. Cole’s going to need a fire in the stove to cook the fish on, so I’ll go grab some wood and try to get one started for him.

Placing my mug on the counter by the door, I slip on my boots and walk outside into the early morning sunshine. The air smells sweeter this time of the day, with the dew glistening on the plants and bushes. Everything looks like it’s twinkling. I take a deep breath of fresh air into my lungs and try to clear my head. Turning the corner around the cabin, I start stacking a small armful of wood onto my arm.

Thud, thud.

I turn toward the heavy footsteps smiling, expecting to see Cole holding a line with his catch of the day dangling from it.

My eyes grow wide and I open my mouth to scream as I drop the wood to the ground, but no sound escapes my lips.

Cecil stares at me with wild eyes and a scowl etched onto his dirty face. His hair is standing on end and he has debris scattered throughout it. His clothes are ragged and filthy. He looks like he was dredged up from a swamp, his hollow eyes flash at me as I can see madness dancing inside them.

“Good morning Abbie,” his voice is stuffed up like he’s got a cold or suffering from allergies.

I glance from side to side for Cole. He’s not here. My eyes desperately scan around me for a weapon. I’m not an idiot, I know a deranged animal when I see one. When I look at Cecil he looks no different than a rabid bear. He’s probably twice as dangerous.

The only thing around me is the wood and I lift up a log unconvincingly like a short, fat bat.

“Stay back,” my voice wavers.

“Isn’t it crazy?” He steps toward me slowly and I inch back until my legs hit the pile of wood. “I’ve been out here for days looking for you Abbie. Fucking days!” I can see scrapes and what look like bee stings covering the backs of his hands. His grimy clothes are tattered and his gray hair is strewed. “I thought you might be dead. I worried about you. And all this time you were shacking up with a fucking killer.” He lunges forward and I yelp, twisting to the side, I run around the corner of the house, but my scalp sears with pain as Cecil jerks my head back by my hair. I swing the wood, but miss him and it clangs against the side of the cabin with a deadened thud and drops from my hand. Cecil grabs my shoulders and throws me against the wall so hard my teeth rattle and I see spots in the sky. Before I can scream, his hand circles around my throat and he’s pressing down hard. I gasp for air.

“Let me go,” I sputter and kick at him but he throws his entire body forward and pins me back against the wall. I’m trapped under him and the corners around my vision are starting to go black as I fight for my breath.

“I looked after you. I was going to make you rich. Make you famous. But it turns out you just wanted to chase some dick, huh? Isn’t that what you’re doing out here. Sucking his cock?” He glares at me with his icy blue eyes.

I try to argue. To scream. To plead. But all that comes out is a squeak as he crushes my windpipe. I’m feeling dizzy and my head is growing light.

Is this how I’m going to die?

I can’t even cry. I’m just stuck under him. Stuck smelling his rotten breath as he accuses me of being a slut.

“Cause if it’s cock you’re chasing, I’ve got some for you,” with his free hand he tugs the front of my pants down and I try to twist my legs shut. He presses harder on my throat and I can feel my consciousness slipping away. My limbs are hard to control, my lips are tingling and my head is woozy as I try to suck in some air.

“No,” I manage to breathe the word out. Not that he cares.

Cecil steps his foot between mine and kicks my legs open, I try to claw him, to slap him, to kick him, but I’m barely hanging on. The world has become a small tunnel containing only his disgusting, dirty face.

I can feel his gritty hand on my skin and I can’t even sob. My face feels like it’s filled with too much blood. Like when I was a kid and used to hang upside down on the monkey bars for too long. Tears spill over my cheeks and I realize there’s nothing I can do. He’s stronger than me. I’m overpowered. He’s going to rape me.

He might kill me.

And there isn’t anything I can do.