Apocalipstick (Hell in a Handbag Book 1) by Lisa Acerbo (the best e book reader txt) 📗

“Are you awake?” Tundra slapped her.

Jenna couldn’t hold back the gasping cry.

“There’s nowhere to go. She’ll never find her way back to the inn from this shack,” another male voice, this one belonging to David, said. He was much too close.

Cold fingers caressed her neck and arms like worms across a corpse.

“I can’t wait to have a taste. What I could do to you.” He bent and sniffed her skin and her hair. His mouth traveled to her ear. “Human fear smells so yummy.”

Jenna screamed into the void only to choke back her fear.

“Get ready for your worst nightmares to come true.” He moved away, laughing.

Her mind worked feverishly. She’d have to find a way out or be dead soon. She might be able to wrestle free from the ropes that bound her arms, but she couldn’t defeat the three New Racers, especially without a weapon. Even with a weapon, it was doubtful.

Her only hope would be to find a time when they all went back to the inn and run. Or pray Caleb would search for her. Time moved in and out of nightmares. When she heard voices once again, Jenna could not tell if minutes or hours had passed. She balled herself into a fetal position, the cold consuming her.

“Glad you’re finally awake.” Tundra yanked the sack off and met Jenna’s eyes. “You thought you could stop me. You and your cute boyfriend. I’ll be getting me some.”

Jenna remained mute.

“I can’t wait to suck you dry,” Tundra continued. “You’ll be as withered as an old hag. I’ll drink the last drop of your blood and let Gunnar and David bury you somewhere in the woods where even Streakers can’t find the body, but first, Gunnar and David will have some fun with you. I’ll be back for the final drink.”

Jenna stared.

“Nothing to say for once.” Tundra laughed. “Maybe we’ll keep you for a day, maybe a month. Depends how cooperative you are, and how much you scream. Do be careful about screaming too much, you don’t want to attract Streakers when you can’t fight them off. Though, I think David likes to make his humans scream. You’ll tell me all his dirty little secrets, won’t you?”

Tundra placed a gag in her mouth, patted her head, and left. Thirst began to override her thoughts. David’s laughter filtering in from the other room.

How long have I been here?

“She’s mine first,” David said. “I’ll come get you when I’ve had my fill.”

David entered the bedroom and removed the gag.

Jenna sucked in air, at the same time, choking back sobs. She kicked out, but her bound legs merely grazed David’s thighs.

For the first time, the nondescript bedroom in the dilapidated house, registered.

When her eyes met David’s, his glare was hard and cruel. Despair settled in, rooting deep within her.

“Humans,” David said. “You all believe you’re tough. But wait until I start this little party. I’ve had to be gentle with our three companions to make them last, but Tundra doesn’t care about you so much. She hasn’t set any limits on what I’m allowed to do with you. Your friend Lilly was so hard to resist. I just wanted to chew on her flesh so bad. With you, I don’t need to resist, do I? As long as I don’t kill you, anything is fine.”

Jenna swept the dark, dank room with her eyes for a weapon. Trash, an empty pack of cigarettes, a book of matches, discarded magazines, a chair, and the rickety bed. Her mind raced searching for ideas. The surrounding houses around the inn were few and far between, with thick forests sheltering each from the neighboring homes. The dejected, deserted house met her equally despondent mood. No one would rescue her.

“People will notice I’m gone,” Jenna spat. “You shouldn’t do this. They’ll find me and kill you.”

David grabbed her arm, dragging her into a sitting position close to him. Reeking of tobacco and evil, he pawed her. “Screw them all. You’re mine, bitch.”

“Let me go. I’m sure if you change your mind now, everyone will forgive you. We could go back to the way things were. It would all be fine.”

David ignored her. Instead, he flicked a strand of Jenna’s dark hair behind her ear. His hand pressed against her face, and she shuddered. Fury caused her vision to blur and then clear.

“Where to start?” David asked. He bent and dragged Jenna’s legs closer to him. “Much better.” He cackled and unknotted the ropes securing them.

“You could start with a nice cup of coffee, maybe three eggs scrambled.” She kicked out with her free leg.

He grabbed it, painfully tightening his hand around her ankle. “You’re the only food here.”

“You’d be surprised what I can do with limited ingredients. Maybe you want to let me free and show me what’s in the pantry.”

“I’ll show you something alright.”

“Just be prepared for me to bite it. I’m that hungry. No. I’m that angry.”

Pandemonium erupted in the next room. David planted his hands on her calves, confining her more tightly than the ropes had.

“Where is she?” Caleb’s voice echoed through the house.

“Here! In the bedroom!” Her horse scream filled the room.

David grabbed a serrated knife and headed to the door but didn’t make it to the entrance.

Caleb, face transformed by fear and anger, entered. His eyes had turned demonic, pupils and irises black-red void contrasting against his ghostly translucent, skin. He pounced liked a rabid wolf, ramming David in the chest with a fist and grabbing his other wrist.

Jenna heard the crunch of bones. The knife clattered to the ground.

Caleb picked up the knife and hacked at the other man’s chest. Ribbons of flesh mixed with blood on the floor. Every footstep they took, puckered with the liquid gore. The man she loved raised the knife and sliced.

David wobbled, his hands flying to cover the spray of blood weeping from the wound.

The dark liquid poured from his neck, but with fierce resolve, the New Racer slammed into Caleb’s shoulders, forcing him