the dark days (book one of the darkness saga)

Where is the f*****g bus? I kept on looking down the road, avoiding eye contact with the people passing by. Stop looking around, Alex. I pulled my hoodie over my head. Anxiously I take in a deep breath and slowly breathe out. I feel knots in my stomach, and sweat trickles down my back despite the cool weather. I needed to get it together if I wanted this to work. I notice the lady across the street staring at me suspiciously. Fuck I know her. She's the lady manning the newsstand across the street from where I live. I quickly look away. I look down the road again. Where was the f*****g bus? I can feel it in my gut. He knows I'm here. My mind was shouting at me to run, but fear froze my legs. Should I make a run for it? I calculated how fast I could dash to the tree line across the road; would I even make it to the town border? I tightened my grip on the gym bag I was holding. The bus was never late. s**t, he knows! Then I noticed the glare from a windshield in the distance. Was it the bus? My heart stopped as a black SUV rolled down the road. I turned around calmly, flinging the gym bag over my shoulder. I walk casually, trying to appear inconspicuous. A black pickup truck was slowly coming in from the other direction. s**t! I think they spotted me. I double back and turn at the next alley before quickening my pace. Was I going to make it to the tree line if I ran? Before I could change my pace again, a shadow loomed over me. Anxiety turned to fear as I froze in place. I kept my eyes on the ground. I didn't need to look up to know who it was. “Isn't this an unusual route to take home?” He asks, his tone sounding like we just bumped into each other on the street. He deliberately walked toward me, like a lion stalking its prey. “Do I need to ask again?” My hands began to tremble, my knuckles white as I tightened my grip on the strap of the gym bag. I was paralyzed with fear and couldn't bring myself to speak. He circles me like a predator about to pounce. He grabs the gym bag on the second go-around—hard, causing the strap to burn my palms. I winced but didn’t protest, keeping my gaze down. I rubbed my palms together to soothe the burn and then pressed them against my stomach. The knots in my stomach still felt worse than the pain on my palms; they felt like they were ready to explode. To top it all off, I was getting lightheaded from holding my breath. He rummages through my bag with an arched eyebrow. “Care to explain why you have your passport and a whole lot of money in here?” I didn’t even try to lie. He already knew what I was doing. This isn’t my first failed attempt to escape. Like the failed attempts to end my life, he always caught me. I could try to run. He won’t dare make a scene. He would never get himself involved in something that could ruin his reputation. Maybe I could run? But what would that do when everyone here who knows him followed him? I couldn’t quite understand it. He wasn’t the Prime Minister of Canada, but he was king in this town deep in the north. He squeezes my chin and forces my head to look up at him. My hoodie falls off my head. My messy brown bun gets undone and falls to my shoulders. My glasses slide halfway down my button nose. My husband was much taller than me. He was more than 6 feet. I had a more petite profile, daintier than the average, almost childlike when I was with him. He hunched down so that we were at eye level. If you saw us from a distance, you would think this was a romantic moment between a loving couple. Unfortunately, it was the exact opposite. He only moved closer like that so that no one else could hear him. “You know you’ll be punished for this.” His piercing blue eyes were staring into my hazel brown eyes. I wince again as he squeezed my chin tighter. Xavier’s piercing blue eyes matched with his boyish grin, which once mesmerized me. He had that typical boy next door charm that instantly made you trust him. His dirty blonde hair was always in a perfect messy brush-up, and the tattoos on his muscular forearms balanced it out with a bad boy appeal. His presence is intimidating, but once he smiles—truly smiles, the kind of smile where his dimples show—it can make any woman’s heartbeat out of her chest. This was the smile that used to swoon me. Of late, those smiles belied thoughts more sinister. My dear husband, with his muscular arms, broad shoulders, and washboard abs hovering next to my diminutive physique. It makes one question why such a mismatch would ever work. My dear, dreamy husband. He was a sight to behold, and he was all mine. All that physical attraction now only eludes me. The admiration was replaced by dread. “I'm… sorry... Xavier.” I stutter as he tightens his grip on my jaw. Xavier lets go of my chin and throw my gym bag to the man standing behind him. “Austin, keep everything inside this bag.” Austin gave me a sympathetic look as I gave him a weak nod. I quickly looked away, afraid of Xavier noticing the quick exchange. Austin has always been sympathetic, and so was everyone in the house. Xavier notices the exchange anyway. His eyes flash at Austin as he growls and grabs my arm. He unceremoniously drags me to the black pickup truck that was parked ahead. I made myself as small as possible while I sat in the car. I leaned on the passenger door and looked out the window, remembering the fateful day I arrived here. Five years ago. “Welcome home, beautiful,” Xavier whispered in my ears as he removed the blindfold. I could hardly believe it. More like a mansion, the cabin stood in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by pine trees and a breathtaking view of cascading mountains on the horizon. It was like a scene out of a movie, and I couldn’t believe this was our home. Giddy, I turn around on the balls of my feet before tiptoeing towards Xavier and wrapping my arms around his neck. He straightens up, and I dangle there for a moment before he catches me with his arms behind my waist. He pulls me up until his eyes meet mine. His jeans leaned into me as we kissed passionately. He whispered, “You and me forever.” Between kisses, I manage to answer back. “Always.”