CHAPTER 105

CHAPTER 105
HAYLEY’S P.O.V

I watched Marie making her way over to me, a smoking gun in one hand and the other on her hip.
She was dressed in black leggings and a loose shirt. She surprisingly looked good for someone who had just shot two men in cold blood.
“Don’t look so terrified. You’ve witnessed a murder too, haven’t you?”
I swallowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She snorted. “Please, I’ve been alive far longer than you have. I know all about the boy that was thirsting after you and his body that was found.”
“Again, I don’t know what-”
She aimed the gun right at my face. “Lie to me again, I dare you.”
I didn’t dare speak, I just stared straight at her and forced my expression to neutral. She was crazy, far crazier than Jake had led me to imagine. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a recent development or if she had always been this insane.
“I thought so,” she mumbled before lowering the gun. “Do you know what this is?”
When I said nothing, she made her way over to me and grabbed my cheeks in a tight grip. Her nails dug into the side of my face, leaving crescent shaped marks in their wake.
“When I ask a question, you answer.” She shoved my head back hard. “What is this?”
“A gun.”
“Not just any gun, it’s the one that was used to kill Charles. I’m sure you’re wondering how I got it.”
The truth was, I was curious, but I couldn’t let her know, so I just shrugged. She was too wrapped up in herself to notice that I didn’t give a straight answer.
“I know Jake. I know his friends and his allies and I know all the people who know where to hide guns. It took a long time for me to get my hands on it. It was in another state.”
“Why are you doing this?” I asked finally. “What do you want?”
“That’s easy, I want Jake. You have shown me that he is the right partner to have. I was so stupid eight years ago, I should have never let him go. I made a mistake and now, I’ve come to right it.”
I swallowed deeply. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Jake is an honorable man. He won’t give me the time of day while you’re deceiving him with another man’s baby.”
I was taken aback. “Excuse me?”
Her hand came flying towards my face and I felt the pain before I even registered the slap. “Don’t lie to me you little bitch. I know what girls like you can do. You’re trying to baby trap him.”
“I have no reason to do that. I have my own money. I have a fucking trust fund.”
She slapped me again. “Don’t lie! You want Jake, but I won’t let you deceive him. No, I’ll carve that fucking baby out of you.”
Fear gripped me, not because of her words, but because I could tell that she meant it. She had a glint in her eyes that I had never seen before and it fucking terrified me. My hands moved to my stomach, protecting it as best as I could.
“You’ll go to jail,” I warned. “How can you be with Jake if you’re in jail?”
She laughed humorlessly. “Jake isn’t the only one who knows how to make bodies disappear. No one will ever find you.”
“My father will turn the world upside down to find me.”
“Then I’ll just have to make him disappear too.”
She pulled out a pocket knife from her back pocket and leaned over me. The light bounced off the blade, giving it a glint.
“Wait! Please! You don’t have to do this. I’ll leave Jake, I swear. I’ll leave with the baby. I’ll tell him it’s not his.”
She paused. “I don’t believe you.”
“Give me a phone and I will.”
She debated it for a moment before nodding. She pulled out a phone from her back pocket. It was small, old and weathered. I watched her punch in some numbers before putting it on speaker phone.
It rang but there was no response.
“Looks like luck isn’t on your side, Hayley.”
“Try his other number. It’s his personal number.”
“He doesn’t have another number.”
“He does.”
“I would know about it. You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie when you have weapons pointed at me?” I ratted off the number for her.
She pursed her lips but dialed it and it took a second, but it connected.
“Hello?”
“Jake.”
He went silent for a moment before cursing. “Hayley, baby, where are you?”
“That’s not important. I just- I’m leaving.”
“What? Hayley, talk to me. Your dad and I are worried. What the hell is going on?”
I swallowed back a sob. “I just want you to know that I’m sorry. I wish this would end any other way. I’m taking the baby with me.”
“Baby,” his voice cracked. “Please-”
“It’s Marie! She’s holding-”
“You bitch!”
I slammed my head into her nose and kicked at her ankle. I watched her fall to the ground with a groan and I ran. I was lucky the men only tied my hands and not my legs because I pushed myself as hard and as fast as I could go.

Behind me, I heard Marie scream out curses but I ignored her and headed for the car first. When I didn’t see the key in the ignition, I made a split second decision and dashed into the woods. I had no idea where I was going, but anywhere was better than with her.
If she were to catch me… I didn’t want to think about it.
I heard Marie rush out of the barn and heard a shot. I didn’t bother turning back to see if she was close to me or not. I just kept moving.
“When I catch you, I’m going to skin you alive, you fucking bitch!” she hissed out.
I heard the engine start and a sob caught in my throat. I wiped back the tears, using my teeth to rip off the zip tie so I could run better.

I wasn’t sure how long I was running for before I tripped over my own feet and fell to the ground. My shoulders shook from the force of my sobs, my lungs burned and my limbs hurt. I tried to rise but I couldn’t, I was shaking all over.
I dragged myself to my feet, forcing my legs to keep moving. I didn’t know how close or far Marie was to me, all I knew was that I needed to keep moving or I would die and while I didn’t care much about my own life, I couldn’t let her have the satisfaction of killing my child.

I forced myself to keep weaving through the trees until I couldn’t move anymore and my legs gave out. The sun was beginning to set and I knew it was only a matter of time before I could barely see in front of me. I had no idea where Marie was or if she was even still chasing me. Maybe she decided I would be better off dead in the forest.
I leaned against a tree, my legs pulled up to my chest and my arms wrapped around my legs. I couldn’t risk getting lose more at night and it seemed a good enough place to rest.
I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t give up, not now at least. I consoled myself with the memory of Jake’s voice. I knew he would come for me. I knew it as well as I knew my own name.
He wouldn’t leave me here.
With that thought in mind, I placed my head on my knees and closed my eyes.

I woke up to the sound of rustling and instantly pulled myself to my feet.
I wasn’t sure if it was a human or an animal but I wasn’t willing to take the chance. It was pitch black and the trees were so high that they were daunting but I forced myself to keep going.
My stomach rumbled with hunger, my limbs shook from exhaustion but I kept moving until I heard it… a voice.
“Hayley!”
I didn’t recognize the voice so I stayed silent, not wanting to alert the person in case they were working with Marie.
I moved in the opposite direction from the voice, trying to keep as much distance between myself and it. I was so focused on getting away that I didn’t watch my step and I slipped.
A scream left my lips as I went rolling down the side of a small hill. I tried to catch my footing, tried to grab onto anything but there was nothing within reach. I rolled down helplessly before slamming hard against the bark of a tree.
Pain radiated up my entire body as a broken cry left my lips.
I was tired. So fucking tired.
“Hayley!” I heard the same man from earlier scream. His voice was closer now.
I didn’t have it in me to fight anymore, I just lay there, tired and in pain until I heard his footsteps get closer.
“Hayley! Fuck! I found her! She’s right here!”
That was the last thing I heard before it all went black.