Isabella's POV
If not for the tree, I would've fallen. Mr. Volkov had stepped back. His dark eyes were still fixed on me. His gaze was too intense as I couldn't maintain eye contact with him. My cheeks were red and hot.
I looked away, chewing the inside of my cheek to stop my lips from trembling.
An emotion so strong overwhelmed me. I don't know if it was shame or shyness, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I just want the ground to split open and swallow me whole.
With one last glance at me, he turned around and prowled away. My gaze flickered to his muscular retreating back, and just like he disappeared through the trees and I finally took in a shaky breath, which I was holding.
I straightened myself. I could feel heat radiating off my ears as I tried to take a step forward, but my legs were trembling and shaky. My heartbeat refused to settle as I touched my face to calm myself down, but my chin was wet. Again, I was hit by something with force. Shyness. Embarrassment.
I wiped my chin clean, looking around with flustered eyes. There was no one around. My watch began to beep again, and the lights had now turned back to normal, but my heart was still haunted by those red lights and what transpired in them.
My watch showed a message that I must immediately get to the finish line. I tried to calm down and ambled down the pathway towards the finish line, and once I got closer, I could see people huddled up there, and I was the last one to reach. All eyes were fixed on me, and they looked me up and down, and I kid you not. I was gaping at all of them the same way they were gaping at me.
One girl who had a yellow color assigned to her wasn't in her yellow tracksuit anymore; instead, she was now wearing a huge yellow shirt and nothing else. Her hair and mascara were a mess; by the look of her ruined ponytail, anyone could tell what had happened to her. And the girl in red had her shirt torn from places, her red lipstick was completely smudged, and even her hair was a mess, but the wide smile on her lips and the glint of triumph in her eyes said another story. Mia was completely fine, as if no one even touched her, and I swear to God, my jaw slacked when I saw Jerry. His left eye was bruised, but that wasn't it; there were three very prominent hickeys on his neck, his clothes were dirty as if he rolled on the ground, and his eyes looked flustered, ashamed as he refused to meet my eyes, his fingers fidgeting, he wanted to disappear just like me.
The hunters were all men. Does that mean... Jerry...
Two men in uniform handed us our belongings and a black envelope. We didn't see any hunters as we were escorted out of the gates, and there were ten black cars with tinted windows. We were escorted to our cars separately as the drivers closed the door. They assured us they'll be dropping us home safely. I didn't want to go, but they said that it was mandatory and was mentioned in the contract, which I've signed. I was praying to God to reach home safely, and I did. The driver dropped me off right outside my house. I hurried inside and locked the door.
Running to my room, I locked it as well and then dropped on the bed, pulling sheets all around me and cocooning myself in it, and buried myself in my pillow.
I can't believe what just happened to me...
What in the world just happened tonight?
I couldn't even imagine such a thing in my wildest dreams, and yet my heart was still pounding with adrenaline of the chase, the hunt. The feeling of being caught, exploited.
I should be disgusted. I should hate it, but terrifyingly enough. I didn't feel that way.
I feel thrilled. Never in my life had I tasted such adrenaline, the rush, the ecstasy, and those sensations.
It was addictive. I should be ashamed, but I wanted more.
And the way he bit my neck like a vampire...
I abruptly jumped out of bed and dashed into the restroom, and I gasped at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were still red, but there was a cut on my lower lip that had a crust of blood on it. But that wasn't what surprised me. It was the huge purple bruises on my neck and my collarbone that stood out on my skin so prominently. And my hair was a mess too, but my lips.
Jesus Christ...
They look so full and bigger that it seemed like I've got Botox done, Good Lord.
He manhandled me so good...
Wait... What the hell am I even thinking?
Shaking my head, I hurried back to the bed and sat on it with crossed legs. To divert my mind, I began to scroll through the reels, and it did help to divert my mind a little when something caught my eye.
The black envelope.
I opened it and to my surprise, there was money in it. A couple of dollar bills, very good enough if I must say and there was a small note. A black card which had silver writing scribbled on it.
"Congratulations. You are now part of the hunt. Feel free to join in the next hunt that'll be happening next month, 20th. Accept our small token of appreciation.
From,
The Hunt."
I stared at the note for some time. This was some weird shit. I never knew such things or places even existed...
But then a thought made me disturbed... Mr. Volkov was a part of such a game, and maybe I wasn't his first prey, and I don't know how many girls he has done this thing to. All of a sudden, I felt bitter and angry.
I was there unknowingly; if it wasn't me, he would've been chasing down someone else.
Bloody hell.
Why do I feel bad?
I want to hit him. Punch him. How dare he?
I glared at the bed. I don't like this thing. I hate that this thing was getting to me.
I hate Mr. Volkov. That good-for-nothing beast.