Vengeance reborn

My heart was burning out of my fucking chest as I sprinted down the dark highway, every step unsteady, terrified I'd trip and give the madman chasing me exactly what he wanted.

God, Ruby, you're so fucking stupid. Why didn't you take the ride your friend offered after the club?

Now here I was—running down a deserted street like some dumb girl in a cheesy horror movie. Except this wasn't a movie. There was no cut, no rescue scene waiting to happen. I was really running for my life.

I glanced back.

Bad idea.

The guy who'd been following me for miles was closer now—way too close.

As I snapped my gaze forward, I cursed—my foot catching on a rock in the road.

I went down hard, rolling across the asphalt, pain tearing from my knees and hands as skin scraped raw. I hissed and swore, forcing myself to move, to get back up—

But a shadow loomed over me.

My breath hitched.

I looked up, terror freezing me in place. "Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Don't hurt me."

It was the last thing I said before everything went black.

A few days later—

"God... what the hell happened?" I groaned.

My head throbbed like someone had split it open and stitched it back together wrong. Every muscle screamed as I tried to move Damp earth pressed into my cheek. Leaves clung to my skin. The air smelled like moss and rot.

I forced my eyes open.

Trees.

Their branches tangled together above me, blocking out most of the light. Panic fluttered in my chest as I pushed myself upright, wincing when dried mud cracked along my arms and legs. I was filthy—caked in dirt my clothes stained and stiff like they'd been slept in for days.

How long had I been out here?

My memory was a blank wall.

The highway.

Nothing after that.

"I must've... drank too much," I muttered hoarsely, even though the words didn't feel right. My mouth was dry, my tongue thick, and there was no taste of alcohol—only dirt.

I staggered to my feet, nearly falling again, and started walking. thorns scratching at my skin as I pushed through the trees, every sound making my heart jump.

After what felt like forever, the forest thinned.

Relief flooded me when I stumbled out onto a narrow road, I dragged a shaky hand through my hair, leaving streaks of dirt behind.

Yeah. Definitely drank too much.

I was definitely going to row Jess when I reached home.

Never let your best friend walk home. Ever. Didn't matter how drunk she was—especially not when the night ended like this.

I don't know how long I walked before I finally flagged down a car. Saying I got looked at weird was an understatement.

I probably looked like a damn lunatic—filthy, scratched up, barefoot, and shaking.

I leaned toward the open window, throat dry. "Excuse me," I said, forcing the words out. "Could you give me a ride to Lakeview Green Apartments?"

I hesitated, unease creeping in.

"I should still be in Alabama... right?"

"Um... sure," the lady said, hesitation threading through her voice. "Are you alright? You don't need an ambulance or anything?"

I forced a smile. "No, I'm okay. Just had a rough night. I'll be fine after a hot bath and a nice, strong cup of coffee."

"Okay."

The rest of the drive passed in uneasy silence. I noticed the woman kept glancing in my direction, her eyes flicking from the road to me and back again.

I shifted in my seat, nerves crawling under my skin.

"I'm sorry for staring," she said finally, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "You just... you look so much like a girl who went missing a few weeks back."

My stomach dropped.

"Um! Ok" I said quickly.

I brushed it off like it was nothing. The rest of the drive stayed silent. She didn't say another word before pulling up to my destination.

Okay. That was officially the weirdest conversation I've ever had in a stranger's car.

I shoved the thought aside and headed up to my apartment. I fished through my dirty pockets for my keys, letting out a breath when I finally found them.

Thank God.