Page 79 of Ghost Hunted

“Please.” I sniff loudly, wishing I could reach up to wipe my face. “I don’t know who I am without it.”

“You do know, Lia.”

“Who’s Lia?”

He sighs, turning his full attention back to the road. He doesn’t say another word until he’s pulled into a parking lot. Then he walks back around to the passenger door, opens it, and pulls me out, throwing me once more over his shoulder.

“I really don’t like being carried around like this and—”

Smack.

“Stop, please! Stop!”

“I like it when you ask me to stop,” he murmurs. “It makes me want to do it again.” Smack.

“Please! Stop! Red!”

He pulls me down suddenly and unties my wrists, the black hole of his face just inches from me. “What did you say, now?”

“Uhm… stop. Please.”

“The other word. Red. Why did you say it?”

“I… don’t know.”

The mask flusters me, and so does the scent coming from him, something that feels both familiar and strange. I try to turn away, but he grabs my chin and tilts my face so all I can do is stare into his abyss.

“I know you’re in there, Lia,” he whispers. “I’m going to break your body and draw you out. I’m going to free you, baby.”

I swallow nervously as his arms wrap around me, and the warmth from his body makes me dizzy.

“I don’t know who you are,” I murmur. “Please… show me your face.”

“You have to earn it,” he says, threading his fingers through my hair. “You don’t know my name yet; you have to call me by my name if you want to see my face.”

“I don’t think I know who you are,” I protest, as he hooks his hand around my wrist and pulls me along. “I don’t know your name.”

“Do you know your name?”

“Uhm…” I frown, trying to remember what he’d called me. “Laura.”

“Silly girl.” His tone is warm, but I can tell the laughter in his voice is forced.

“Where are you bringing me?” I try to fight him as he tugs me along, but he doesn’t let my resistance deter him.

“Be a good girl and walk, or I’ll carry you again. Want me to carry you? You stink, by the way,” he adds, as he holds me closer to him.

“Asshole.”

“Have you even taken a shower in the past month, naughty girl? Are those the clothes you left in? When’s the last time you’ve had anything to eat? You’re just skin and bones.”

“Uhm…”

“Do you know how to do anything?”

“Yes. I know how to fire a bazooka.”

By now he’s dragged me into the elevator of a building, and he pushes on the third floor button. When the doors open again, he goes back to dragging me to the other end of the hallway.