Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,230

as the drug worked its way deeper into my body, taking hold of my muscles and trying to freeze them, immobilise me. No no no.

I pushed myself on as more laughter called out behind me, distorted and filled with their amusement at watching me trying to escape.

I glanced over my shoulder seeing two, then three, then ten figures amongst the trees with masks covering their faces as my vision blurred and multiplied.

Another arrow speared through the air and I ducked with a scream, terrified I was about to feel the pierce of metal driving deep into my flesh and the raging burn of fire consuming me. But somehow it didn’t come. So I kept running. And I wouldn’t stop.

I just didn’t know how much further I could go before one of those arrows found its target.

E very muscle in my body burned with a fatigue so deep and relentless that I was almost certain my limbs were about to give out and I was going to drown in this god forsaken lake.

As I swam, my mind played tricks on me, making me believe that I could hear screams on the wind that whipped above the waves which had my heart racing with fear for the girl I loved.

I'd kicked my shoes off and ripped my shirt off too so that I could swim better, but I was starting to feel like I wasn't getting anywhere at all. Like I'd somehow managed to swim myself around in circles out here in the dark and I was going to run out of energy at any moment and succumb to the inevitable call of the deep water beneath me.

Tatum's screams carried to me again and the jolt of fear that shot through my body at that sound had a spark of adrenaline igniting in my veins.

That hadn't sounded like my imagination. It had sounded damn like reality come to sucker punch me in the dick.

I swam harder, faster, the sound of her screaming coming once more and making me feel certain that I hadn't imagined it.

A wholly different kind of panic enveloped me as I powered towards the screams, hoping against hope that I was getting closer to her as I sucked down breaths and my limbs trembled with fatigue.

My toes suddenly scraped against the pebbles on the lake bed and I could have fucking sobbed with relief as I struggled further forward and the shore rose beneath me.

When I could finally regain my feet, I shoved myself upright and found myself at Sycamore Beach, the moonlight shining silver off of the sand and highlighting the girl who was racing towards me from a gap between the trees which marked the edge of the forest.

I broke into a run as I powered out of the lake, sucking down deep breaths as the freezing water dripped from my body, making me shiver in the cold wind.

Tatum stumbled and fell as I ran towards her and my heart leapt with panic as I yelled her name.

Movement in the trees beyond her caught my eye and I looked up, spotting a figure between the trees wearing a bone white mask to conceal their face.

"When I catch you, I'm going to fucking destroy you!" I bellowed as I charged towards them, but Tatum was my main focus.

As I reached her, the pungent scent of gasoline caught in the back of my throat and I dropped down to my knees, rolling her over as I pushed the wet hair out of her face.

"Tate?" I asked desperately as she fell limp against me and I shook her hard, trying to force a reaction from her. "Tatum! Wake up!"

I shook her harder and she groaned, lurching over and heaving until she puked all over the rocks beside us.

Her hand flew out to grip my arm as I looked around for any sign of the Justice Ninja, but the trees before us were empty once more.

The scent of gasoline was overwhelming and I realised that it wasn't water that covered her at all.

"Holy fuck, Tate, what the hell happened?" I demanded as I tugged her against me and her blue eyes widened with panic before she seemed to realise it was me.

"They're going to kill me, Blake!" she cried, throwing her arms around me and sending my pulse skyrocketing as I looked out into the trees again.

I gasped as I spotted a flame igniting between the thick trunks and leapt to my feet, hauling her upright. Her legs gave out as