Page 61 of Darkened Promises

“Thank you. It’s just this last pile here, then I need to get some clean bedding.”

We make quick work of adding the remaining soiled sawdust into the barrow, then Nate grabs the handles and follows me across the field to the muck heap. Once emptied, we load the new bedding into the barrow and walk back to the shelter.

Before we can finish unloading the unopened bags, we have company.

Nate hasn’t noticed yet, too busy moving the heavy bags to see the nosy visitor. Quietly, I remove my phone and start recording, smothering my mouth as Squid sniffs him, then stretches his neck towards Nate and unfurls a long, wet tongue.

“Fuck,” Nate grunts, rearing back and wiping a hand down his very damp, slobber-covered face.

Squid blows loudly through his nose, then headbutts the bags Nate just cut open. Sawdust flies everywhere. Nate swears and ducks out the way, scooping me into his arms and moving us outside.

I laugh.

It feels loud. It feels real. And it feels freeing.

His arms are still wrapped around me, and my body vibrates as I try to tell him, “Sorry, I forgot to warn you. Squid likes to help make his own bed.”

Nate grunts, not bothering to answer with words, then leans in and covers my mouth with his, kissing me until I’m breathless.

“What…what was that for?” I ask, still panting and light-headed from his touch.

“I needed to,” he replies, squeezing me tighter.

“You needed to kiss me?”

“Yes.”

A loud crack echoes from the trees. The world spins. I get shoved down, heavy heat covering me. I can’t tell what’s happening. Blood roars through my ears, too loud and fast to make sense of anything. My fingers dig into the soil, tangling with the grass as I try to calm my shaking.

There’s a voice; it’s muffled from my panic.

Oxygen drags through my lungs as I fight my body’s frantic breathing. I need to slow it down. I need to breathe.

“Can’t fucking see anything. We’re in the backfield with the cows,” Nate says, his words starting to filter through, but I can’t hear anyone responding.

“You went for a piss? Fucking useless if you can’t even be here. I’m taking her home,” he spits out.

He gently pulls me to my feet, and I realise he must’ve been talking to someone on the phone.

“What h-happened?” I choke out through the painful sensation of blood flowing back through my body. Pins and needles stab at my face and limbs.

“Don’t know. There was a loud noise in the trees at the back. The shit-for-brains Logan sent is⁠—”

“Can you tell me what happened?” a male voice yells from behind me, and I jolt at the noise, too on edge to stay calm.

“Fucking told you, there was a loud crack from just behind the tree line. Go do your job and look. I’m taking Rosy home. Make sure you update me once you’re done.”

I don’t bother arguing because I want to go. I thought I was ready, that I could do this… Maybe I was wrong.

The world’s no longer safe. It’s full of predators. You just don’t know who they are beneath their disguise of humanity.

THIRTY-TWO

BRYNN

The front door opens, and some of the twisted knots ease from my stomach. Rosy shuffles in with Nate’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, and I can’t stop myself from rushing over to her.

“What…can I do?” I ask, disliking the cloying helplessness I feel as Rosy curls inwards.