She could feel the blade of the knife on her neck while he pulled her into the bush. She had not seen or heard him. He came out of nowhere. Keep calm! She had to keep calm. What did they teach them again? Her heart was pounding while she was trying hard to remember what they told them to do in such a situation. His breath was heavy, his grip firm and seemed strong and calm. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and how he was going to do it…

“Don’t make any sudden moves, or your throat is slit,” he whispered harshly in her ear.

She swallowed hard, the sharp blade tickling her throat. His heavy breath prickled the back of her neck, the short, thin hairs standing on end. He brushed his lip across her bare shoulders, sending shivers down her spine. She couldn’t decide if she was frightened or aroused.

“You pushed me to this point,” he said as he pulled her up by her elbow, dragging her toward his car. He ducked her head down, folded her into the trunk.

“This doesn’t have to be it. This doesn’t have to be us,” she said. The moon above cast a shadow over his face, but she didn’t need to see his eyes to know he was the man she once loved. The man she left at the altar when she saw her freedom drifting away with the chime of the wedding bells.

He held the knife to her chin. She flinched, slashing her jaw.

“We could’ve been happy. That’s all I ever wanted for you. You did this to yourself.” He slammed the trunk shut.

—Nortina

Written for Finish It! hosted by Author S B Mazing