John stomps back into the house cursing under his breath. He snatches a clean pair of jeans from the dryer behind me, yanking each foot through the leg holes. Water drips down from his soaking wet hair as he moves frantically. There’s a look on his face I’ve never seen before. Riddled with fear and confusion.

“What was that?” I manage to ask, my voice eerily calm considering the circumstances.

“Someone is fucking with us, and I’m going to find out who.” He tries to sound confident but I can hear the distress in his voice.

Wondering what he’s referring to, my knees wobble and almost give out as I come to a stand. My panties have fallen down to my ankles, but I don't bother pulling them back up. Stepping out of them, my arms reach out to grab the nearest chair to hold my weight up. I glance beside me, realizing my visitor is missing from the back porch and a sense of dread washes over me.

What if he isn't here to save me? What if he’s here to toy with John and I both until we’re dead? If I call the police, they certainly won't get here in time. I grab the linen napkin perfectly folded on the kitchen table and wipe my face with it. Removing the fresh blood from leaking into my eye. I wince from the pain but press down firmly to stop the bleeding.

Regret begins to wash over me like a bucket of cold water. I started this, acting interested in him and now he’s back. I could see it in his eyes just now, he won't stop until he has me. I could sense it through the restricted touch of his hand through the glass. And I started the gesture. My eyes clamp closed. God, you’re such a stupid girl Salem.

“What the fuck!” John exclaims after finally answering the front door.

I stumble my way through the kitchen, weaving through our tightly furnished living room and turning toward the foyer when I see it. Gastly and mutilated, a deer head has been thrown at our front door and left on the welcome mat. There’s a splatter of dark red plastered across the dingy white paint of our door from its impact. That has to be where the sound came from that startled us both.

“Come out and fight like a man, you sick freak!” John screams into the empty mountain air, waving his revolver around like a toy.

“John, don't instigate him.” I whisper, sort of hiding behind him but peering around his body to see if I can find any movement going on within the treeline.

“Him?” He seethes, “So you know who did this? Who have you been fucking around with?” His movements are frantic and wild, eyes beady with terror.

“Nobody, I just assume a woman wouldnt be able to toss a mutilated deer’s head at our front door.” I frown.

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He frowns back, unamused by my answer. I watch as he stomps out onto the porch, cocking his gun and aiming through the sights into the darkness. Whatever he’s aiming for, I can't see. His arms stiffen outward with the gun locked into his sights as his torso twists around looking each direction.

I roll my eyes. The man has a terrible aim. I’ve seen him through the window during his little target practices and he couldn't hit a still target five feet in front of him.

Something finally emerges from the shadows, abruptly wrapping around his neck like a snake and John doesn't have time to fight back. It's a man, tall and thin but serpent-like and strong enough to take a grown man down. John wails, shooting into the darkness and missing completely.

Terror washes over me but I can't move, I can't scream. His gun thuds against the old wood of the porch as he fights off the man wrapping around him. I contemplate rushing in to grab it, but it's too close to the altercation for me to feel comfortable doing so.

Finally my feet unglue themselves from the floor. I catch my breath, huffing in panic as my feet carry me backward. Who the hell is that? It's not the stranger I’m used to, he's too slender. So, there's two of them?

I swallow the lump in my throat, wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into when I see John fall to his knees limply. My brow furrows, eyes focusing into the dark when they zone in on the syringe being plunged into his neck and my feet glue to the floor once again.

The snake-like man pauses beside my husband, dropping his lifeless body like a sack of potatoes and he lands with a groan. I can tell just by the silhouette of the stranger that he’s trying to catch his breath. I remain frozen, watching his movements but unable to run away even though my body desperately wants to.

When he finally steps into the light emanating from the foyer of the house I’m starstruck. His fingers fumble with the same white mask I’ve become familiar with and he reveals himself. My eyes almost pop out of my head.

He’s gorgeous.

His sapphire blue eyes are locked in mine, causing time to stand still. “Holy shit,” he breathes, taking a step closer. He looks starstruck too, and maybe a little confused? Either way, I finally manage to break our heated stare and step away from him when I run into something solid. The strange man’s focus shifts to whatever stands behind me and my breathing hitches in my throat.

Warmth radiates through my body but I don't dare turn around or look up. I already know who’s standing behind me but my panicked breaths don't slow. His long fingers curl under my chin, forcing my gaze up to meet his. Another white mask stares down at me, taking the napkin from my grip and crinkling it into his pocket.

His heavy arm wraps around me and for some reason I relax into him. The earthy scent of his skin wafts into my nose and I melt into him even more. He smells just as I thought he would. Like the fresh cut grass and dirt mixed with a little musk of his own.

His bare skin is damp to the touch, soaking into me through my dress. I try to focus on it while my breathing slows and I begin to feel dizzy. My eyes fall to my side where I spot another syringe, only this one buried into me. He must’ve done it so gently I didn't notice the prick into my skin.

I knew it. This was too good to be true.

Before I can ask any questions, the room blurs and I feel my muscles finally give out as my world becomes swallowed up in darkness.