They Lie in Wait

"I wouldn't do that."

The voice called from the darkness and I immediately turned to try and find the source.

A dozen questions ran through my mind, but my tongue asked the most present one. "Why not?"

Deeply male, the voice responded from an indistinguishable direction. "It's the only thing keeping them at bay. The demons fear the light."

I sensed movement as he spoke, large masses were moving around the light, silently circling. It wasn't just empty darkness beyond the boundary. The monsters were the darkness, shifting and swirling like shadows given life and density.

"Who are you?" I asked next, completely confused.

"Your hero, I suppose." I could hear the sarcasm and it made me even more suspicious.

"So you lit the torch? Why aren't you in the light?"

"They don't want me."

"Are you going to just keep being cryptic until this torch burns out?" I didn't have the patience for whatever game this was and I'd much rather just get to the end of this exchange, whatever the end may be.

The voice chuckled, amused by me, and I couldn't help but feel like a mouse getting played with by a cat.

"If you would like to stay alive, I can show you to a place safe from the demons."

"Yah, no offense, but I'm not very inclined to just follow a mysterious voice in the dark." I pulled the torch from the ground and held it in both hands, looking around to try and pick a direction.

"That was what got you into this trouble in the first place, isn't it?"

How did he know that? Who was this guy?

When I didn't answer he offered again, "If you follow me, I can promise that you won't be killed by demons tonight."

It was probably a trap, but I saw few other options. I could walk around in the dark until this torch burned out and I got killed. I could walk around and hope to stumble upon other humans who may or may not be friendly. Either way they would probably get killed by the monsters before they could help me. Or I could take a chance and follow a stranger who seemed to have saved my life, at least momentarily.

I made a decision. "Lead the way."

...

My confidence in this plan had never been very high but the longer we walked the less sure I became. He only spoke to correct my path, ignoring any other questions I asked. I didn't know where we were. It must be far from the compound because in over an hour of walking I hadn't seen a single tree or defining characteristic aside from dirt.

The monsters remained close, obscuring anything that may be outside my little sphere of light. I could hear them moving and their inhuman breathing. It was an eerie sound similar to the wind through our forests' hollow trees. It made me wonder how many times they had been just outside our compound and we hadn't known.

My torch was running low and my sphere of light gradually became smaller. The shadows got closer and I felt the air shift as they moved around me.

"How close are we?" I nervously asked the voice in the dark.

"Not much further."

"I'm not sure this light is going to last much longer." I heard the fear in my own voice as I said it, hating that I wasn't braver.

"We're almost there."

He was ahead of me, his voice further away than it had been a moment ago. I sped up, afraid I might lose him. The creatures hissed at my sudden change in pace, quickly moving to stay out of my dimming light.

"This way," he called from my left. I course corrected but a sinking feeling filled my stomach as his voice sounded even further away.

"Wait!" I shouted. "I can't see you!"

There was no sound but the pounding of my feet, my heavy breath, and the whispers of creatures all around me.

The torch was dimming rapidly and I ran blindly in the direction I thought I had last heard the voice. I shouted for him but didn't hear a reply. The creatures' whispers grew louder, closer as the darkness closed in.

My breathing became rapid. Why had I been so stupid? Of course it had been a trick! All that just to draw out my suffering. I screamed my frustration into the dark.

The torch finally and suddenly burned out. Shadows closed in, suffocating me under their weight. I felt them pushing against me, around me, and I realized they were fighting each other. One of them collided with my back, sending me sprawling to the dirt. They continued fighting on top of me, occasionally one of them getting a grip on me and trying to pull me away, then getting torn away.

Their grips were bruising and they were heavy, crushing me underneath them. I curled up on my side, my arms over my head to try and protect myself. Something hit my head hard, and something sharp sliced over my arm. I screamed in fear, pain, bewilderment.

A roar rumbled through the chaos, shaking the ground and making every hair stand on end. Suddenly, I was free. The weight was gone and a hand, a human hand, lightly touched my shoulder.

My eyes opened and I wildly searched my surroundings, still shielding my battered body. What I saw didn't make sense.

A fireplace was lit, warming a cozy room that looked like a living area with couches, shelves full of knick knacks, and a coffee table scattered with papers and books.

"What the..." I looked around with wide eyes until they finally landed on a man leaning over me. I cried out, backing away as quickly as I could while facing the stranger. I didn't make it far before my arms collapsed and I cried out again, in pain this time. A large gash ran from my elbow to my shoulder, bleeding through my jacket and burning through my muscles.

"Careful, easy now." The man remained where he was crouched, hands up in a placating position. "You're safe now."

"I... I don't understand... how did I get... I mean I was just..." I couldn't form a sentence, still high on adrenaline and fear and so very confused.

"You were knocked unconscious when the torch went out. I managed to get you out while they were distracted fighting amongst themselves. You're hurt." He motioned to the arm I was clutching.

Struggling to breath I finally steadied enough to form a full sentence. "Where am I?"

"You're in my home. You're safe. Let me see the wound."

He moved toward me and I flinched away, whimpering pitifully. Fuck! Why was I such a coward! Get it together, Star! He stopped his approach, looking at me with a curious expression.

"You're safe, I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Amon. What's yours?"

"Star..."

He slowly extended a hand to me, still keeping a distance. "It's nice to meet you, Star."

Through the fear and confusion, this simple greeting prompted me to move out of habit, reaching out my own hand to shake his. Red caught my eye and I stopped short, staring at the blood covering my hand.

"Right," Amon noticed the blood, "You're hurt and I have the supplies to help you. Do you mind if I take a look?"

When I didn't say no, he slowly approached again. This time I didn't back away, though I remained tense. He gently pushed my jacket off my shoulder and I winced as the fabric was pulled away. Looking down, I immediately regretted it, but it was too late.

Combined with everything else, seeing the wound was too much and I felt my head go fuzzy. Distantly, I felt myself falling but I didn't hit the ground. Everything faded and my mind finally went quiet.

...

I came to in the same room as before, laying on a couch now with a blanket over my legs. I tried to move but groaned at the throbbing ache throughout my left arm.

The fire warmed the cool room to a comfortable temperature and provided enough light to see the whole space. It looked like a cabin, large enough for a few people to live in comfortably. One door opened to what looked like a bedroom and another was closed to what I assumed was the outside. A staircase was on the far side of the room, beside a good sized kitchen.

"Oh good, you're awake." The deep voice was followed by a shirtless man, Amon, who was exiting the bedroom. I couldn't help but acknowledge the attractive cut of the man. He was objectively handsome, though not quite to an intimidating level. He had olive skin and a body that spoke of survival.

As he pulled on his shirt I admired the flex of his muscles. I shook my head. What the hell was I thinking? I didn't know this man and I was still very suspicious of him. Now was not the time.

"Where am I," I asked, not intending it to sound like the accusation it came out as.

"Yes, hello Amon. I am feeling better, thank you for mending my arm and rescuing me from the scary demons. Are YOU ok?"

"I'm sorry, it's just... are you ok?"

His joking threw me off and he chuckled as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Yes, Star. Nothing I couldn't walk away from. How are you feeling? Hungry?"

"Um, not really. Just sore."

He brought me a granola bar and a bottle of water then sat across from me in another chair by the fire.

"Try and eat anyway. Your body needs it."

I looked at the granola bar, a little suspicious of anything that was still in a wrapper after all these years. I sniffed it and didn't see or smell anything off so I took a nibble before drinking the bottle.

"Amon, where are we?" I tried again, sounding less accusatory.

"We are in my home," Amon answered, "Like I said."

"And, where exactly is your home?"

"I think it used to be a nature preserve? Not much of anything around here any more, though, except some abandoned cabins and dried up lake beds. I didn't settle here until a few years ago."

"You know what I'm going to ask, right?"

He looked at me blankly.

"How did you get me here? Without the light?"

He smiled and shook his head. "It doesn't matter, you're safe now. They can't get you here."

"Why not?" I was sounding accusatory again but I didn't care. The more we talked the less I trusted him. I needed to get out of here, get back home.

"It's... outside their territory."

"What does that mean?!"

He thought for a moment then leaned in, placing a hand on my knee. "It's hard to explain, Star. You just need to trust me."

I looked down at the hand, my whole body going tense. "Why would I trust you, Amon? I don't know you."

"I saved you, risked my life to pull you out of there"

His hand moved up to my thigh, kneading it, sending shock waves up my spine. I put my hand over his, stopping his assent.

"Thank you for that, really, but I need to get back home. Do you know where we are in reference to the old prison?"

He leaned in closer, moving his other hand to my cheek. I froze up, heart pounding. "It's not safe to go back there, Star. And I've been so lonely. I can take care of you Star. Stay here and let me take care of you."

I unfroze, ripping myself from his grasp and hurtling over the couch. My arm was on fire with pain again but I didn't stop, making for the door that I guess must lead outside.

"Star! Don't!"

He was right behind me but I was fast and had surprised him. I yanked on the door handle and the door opened to the cool dark air outside.

"Stop!" His hand wrapped around my wrist but I threw myself forward and out of his grip, into the dark.

As soon as my feet left the threshold the ground fell away and I fell, my breath leaving me so I couldn't even scream. The world spun and then I wasn't falling anymore.

I sat up, gasping for air, no longer in the warm cabin, but laying on a cold stone surface. I was in the dark again, my arm still throbbing, but the rest of me didn't feel like it had fallen and landed on stone. It felt whole, but weak... so very weak.

"You're awake." That same deep voice echoed around me. Amon, but not Amon.

"What is this," I rasped, too weak to stand, falling back onto the raised stone I had been laying on when I tried.

"It was supposed to be pleasant," the voice spoke, sounding confused, intrigued. "No one has ever pulled themselves out like that... They always succumb... always."

"Please," I whispered, "please just let me go."

"Your mind is strong little human. I'm going to enjoy draining you. But maybe we try this a different way..."

The darkness swirled, gathering in front of me to solidify. Amon, but not Amon, stood in front of me. His body was made of shadow and his eyes were a dull red glow in a shroud of darkness.

"What are you?" I couldn't move as he approached. I couldn't even summon the energy to lift an arm.

"Don't worry, Star," his voice sounded almost human, but something was off that I couldn't quite place. "You will feel nothing but pleasure. I'm not like the others, I don't want you to suffer."

"Please... don't." Tears wet my cheeks, knowing this was the end.

His shadowy hand touched my cheek and I was shocked how solid it felt, how real. "There, there, just relax and it will all be over soon."

He laid me back down on the stone, gently running his hands over my prone body. He was neither warm nor cold, just solid. My clothes were pushed aside as he manipulated my body with ease.

The longer I laid there, the weaker I felt. It was as if he was drawing my energy from me, leaving me just on the verge of unconsciousness.

His hands ran over my bare skin, tracing my legs, arms, and shoulders in a sort of massage. "There we go," he purred, that inhuman quality vibrating his words in a hypnotizing vibrato. "Just relax, stop fighting it. Let it feel sooo good."

When his fingers touched my breasts, I would have arched into it if I could have. His touch radiated throughout my body, making me clench deep inside myself.

There was nothing I could compare it to. Not quite pleasure, but mind numbingly intoxicating. My body craved more and I lost all train of thought.

His hands caressed my breasts, pinching my nipples until they stood taught in the cool air. Fingers trailed down my ribs, sensitive and ticklish, made worse when I couldn't move to stop him.

He touched every part of me and I was soon moaning at the sensation. The insides of my arms, the crook of my elbow, gentle brushes behind the ear and down the neck, down my legs and over the arched soles of my bare feet.

My body was buzzing when he spread my legs and brushed his fingers over my center. I could feel how wet I had become and the gentleness of his touch made me want to scream.

"That's it, little star, forget the pain, forget the suffering. Allow me to give this to you. Let me in..."

He slid two fingers into me and I cried out. The thick fingers stretched me open, and my walls contracted around them, spasming on the verge of climax. When he held them still inside, I couldn't hold back any longer. The need was too strong.

"Please, don't stop, I'm so close."

He smiled, the swirling darkness twisting his face grotesquely. Fear only made my body clench around him as he started to move, massaging deep inside of me, forcing an orgasm to surface. It didn't take much before I was crying out, my exhausted body using the last of its energy to clench and release, throbbing as pleasure rippled through my nerve endings.

He didn't stop, drawing out the pleasure, pulling every last wave from me.

Just when I started to come down, he pulled his fingers from me, replacing it with something larger. He thrust himself steadily into me until his hips met mine.

Without giving me time to recover, he started thrusting. One orgasm turned into another. It was as if every surface area we touched was on fire. The second orgasm tore through me, stronger than the first, and more painful.

He still didn't stop, taking my breast in one hand and using his mouth on the other. His other hand snaked around my hip to touch my clip. That was when it screamed.

Electric energy pulsed through me, blindingly strong. My clit burned under his attention and my body struggled to take the pounding on a cock that felt like it was still growing inside of me. Each thrust tested the boundaries of my sex. I screamed, feeling myself start to fade away, unable to withstand the intensity.

"Almost there, my star, don't leave now. You'll miss the best part." His voice echoed through my head and I couldn't fully comprehend the meaning of his words.

I fought for consciousness even though all I wanted was for this to reach its peak and come to an end. Vaguely, I heard myself babbling, "please, please, no more, don't stop, please."

His hands were covering me in overwhelming sensation, in too many places at one. Hands on my breasts, pinching my nipples, gripping my ass, and torturing my clit all at the same time.

I felt my body struggle to build up enough energy to reach its final climax but it was forced forward nonetheless. Finally, I began to tip over the edge, choking on my own scream, my entire body burning.

Blinding light filled my eyes and at first I thought it was just me. As I rapidly came down I realized Amon's tortuous touch had left me and a moment later I felt a softer hand take my shoulder, shaking me.

My eyes struggled to focus and my mind was running seconds behind.

"Star! Star, can you hear me?!"

"Is she alive?"

"Yes, barely."

"STAR! Stay with me!"

Then, blissful sleep.

...

It was two days later that I woke up in the compound infirmary. Three more before I was able to hold a conversation.

They found me in a cave a few miles outside the fence. Ben had tried to run after me right away, but the guard on duty had held him back, thankfully. The scouts gathered shortly after and brought Ruffus, their 5 year old beagle-mix, to try and track me down.

Adrian, the scout leader, tried to make him stay back but Ben insisted on going with them, impressing everyone with how quickly he was able to move despite his limp. It took nearly 48 hours for them to find me and they almost missed me. If it hadn't been for my screams they would have walked right past the hidden cave entrance.

When they arrived they lit their flare and the monster had fled, leaving me naked, bloodied, and drained.

When I finally woke I was in and out, delirious and feverish. The monsters haunted my dreams and Amon lingered in the shadows. Every time I woke I swore I saw him in every dark spot or movement in the corner of my eye. Ben stayed with me through the worst of it.

"Is the girl alright, the one you saved?" I asked a week later, mostly lucid and finally able to focus on more than my own hallucinations.

Ben looked down at his food a moment before answering. "She didn't make it, she was already too far gone."

"Oh, I'm sorry... Did you know who she was?"

He shook his head, still not looking at me. I knew he felt guilty. "It wasn't your fault, Ben. She was already out there-"

"It was my fault, Star, that you got taken by those... things. It was selfish, I know it was. I shouldn't have-"

"You did what anyone else would have done."

"No, I was reckless." He buried his eyes into the heels of his hands.

"You could have died," he whispered. "When we found you, I thought- You looked- I'm so sorry, Star."

His shoulders shook and I leaned out of the bed, taking his shoulders in my hands and forcing him into my arms. Ben, my kind and loving Ben.

I hugged him fiercely and whispered to him, fighting against my own tears. "But you did save me. I'm here now and you don't need to keep beating yourself up over it. I'm ok, I'm going to be ok. I'm here..."

He moved his arms, wrapping them around my waist and burying his face into my stomach. I ran my fingers through his hair. We sat there for a long time, not speaking, comforting each other. It wasn't until Franklin, our makeshift nurse, came in with breakfast that we realized we had fallen asleep.

...

Two weeks later, I snuck out of my room, tiptoeing down the hall to the last room on the right. I didn't knock, pulling it open just enough to slip in before shutting it quietly behind me.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Ben whispered from the small bed that filled half the room.

"Not for the reasons you think," I smirked, jumping on his bed, landing on my knees, straddling him.