35: Won’t spare you next time

ASHLEY

“Axel…” I mouthed as I stared up at him, wide-eyed.

Axel stared back at me. His eyes mirrored the contempt he felt for me. I retreated from him, while I still sat on the floor. His chest rose and fell, as he let out a gush of air from his lungs.

I watched as his eyes traveled all over my body. He looked at my wounds closely. His eyes flooded with satisfaction when he saw how much my body was bruised.

“You could have gotten me killed,” I said, trying to cover my wounds from him.

“Why do you think I pursued you? Huh? Why!”

His thunderous voice echoed through the forest, causing me to shudder. I swallowed, my eyes still on him. I thought of everything Anita told me earlier. Axel wanted to kill me.

But why did he want me dead?

I suffered so much maltreatment from him, yet I did not report him to his father. I did not even mention anything to my mother. What exactly was the problem?

I needed to know what this was all about. I let out a gasp, gathered my courage, and asked him.