The forest trail was a graveyard of better days, a winding scar through the outskirts of a city that had long since choked on its own decay. Overgrown vines snaked over rusted husks of cars, their shattered windows glinting like broken teeth in the dim, gray light. The air hung heavy with the stench of damp earth and rot, and somewhere in the distance, feral dogs howled like they were mourning the end of the world. Ellie trudged along the path, her boots crunching on gravel and glass, her senses dialed to eleven. Her short, messy bob bounced with each cautious step, and her sharp green eyes flicked to every rustle of leaves, every twitch of shadow.
“Great idea, Ellie,” she muttered to herself, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Wander off into the creepy-ass woods alone. What’s the worst that could happen? Oh, right, everything. You’re a goddamn genius. Should’ve just painted a target on my back and called it a day.”
She adjusted the worn backpack slung over her shoulder, her fingers brushing the hilt of the jagged knife strapped to her thigh. The weight of it was a small comfort, but not much. She knew better than to think a blade could save her from every kind of trouble out here. Still, she wasn’t about to roll over and play dead for anyone. Not after everything she’d clawed her way through to survive.
A sudden snap of a twig to her left made her freeze, her breath catching in her throat. Her hand hovered over the knife, muscles taut, as she scanned the underbrush. Nothing. Just the wind. Or so she told herself.
“Get a grip, drama queen,” she hissed under her breath, forcing her feet to move again. “It’s just the woods being creepy. Not like some jackass is gonna jump out and—”
Her words cut off as the ground beneath her gave a sickening lurch. Before she could react, a crude net—woven from frayed rope and spite—snatched her off her feet with a brutal yank. She yelped, flailing as the world spun, and suddenly she was dangling upside down, swaying like a pissed-off piñata in the middle of the trail.
“Son of a bitch!” she roared, her voice echoing through the trees as she thrashed against the ropes. “Who the hell sets a trap in the middle of nowhere? What is this, amateur hour?!”
Her answer came in the form of laughter—grating, guttural, and way too close for comfort. Three figures emerged from the underbrush, their grimy faces split with leers that made her skin crawl. Scavengers. Of course. Just her luck. They were a ragged trio, clad in mismatched scraps of leather and denim, their hands clutching makeshift weapons—a rusted pipe, a jagged machete, and a club that looked like it had been ripped off a playground. Their stench hit her before their words did, a mix of sweat and desperation that made her gag.
“Well, well, what’ve we got here?” the tallest of them drawled, a wiry bastard with a crooked grin that screamed trouble. His eyes raked over her with a hunger that made her stomach twist. “Looks like we caught ourselves a feisty little rabbit.”
“Oh, wow, original,” Ellie snapped, glaring daggers at him even as her heart hammered against her ribs. “Did you come up with that all by yourself, or did your two brain cells have to team up? Let me down, you brain-dead dickwad, before I make you regret waking up this morning.”
The other two chuckled, but Crooked Grin just stepped closer, his boots crunching on the debris as he tilted his head to study her. “Big talk for a girl who’s trussed up like a holiday roast. You got a mouth on you, don’t ya? I like that. Makes things… interesting.”
“Keep dreaming, creep,” she spat, twisting in the net to keep her eyes on him. “The only thing I’m interested in is seeing how far I can shove that smirk up your ass. Cut me down. Now.”
“Boss, she’s got some fire in her,” one of the others—a stocky guy with a patchy beard—grunted, his leer widening as he hefted his rusted pipe. “Bet we could have some fun taming that.”
“Taming?” Ellie barked a harsh laugh, her freckled face flushing with fury as she strained against the ropes. “Buddy, I’ll chew through your spine before you get within arm’s reach. Try me. I dare you.”
Crooked Grin waved a hand at his lackey, silencing him with a smirk. “Easy, boys. No need to rush. We’ve got all the time in the world to… get acquainted.” He pulled a knife from his belt, the blade glinting dully as he stepped forward and sliced through the net’s anchor rope. Ellie hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her, but she was already scrambling to her feet—only to be yanked back by rough hands. Before she could throw a punch, they had her wrists bound with coarse rope, the fibers biting into her skin as they dragged her upright.
“Get your filthy paws off me, you walking garbage heaps!” she snarled, her lean muscles straining as she fought their grip. Her eyes blazed with defiance, even as a flicker of fear gnawed at the edges of her mind. She wasn’t about to let them see it, though. No way in hell.
“Keep squirming, sweetheart,” Crooked Grin purred, stepping close enough that she could smell the rot on his breath. “Makes it more exciting. I like a challenge.”
“Oh, I’ll give you a challenge, you slimy piece of shit,” she hissed, her voice low and venomous. “How about I carve my initials into your face? That exciting enough for you?”
He laughed, a sharp, barking sound that made her blood boil, and gestured to his men. “Bring her to the clearing. Let’s see how long that mouth of hers keeps running once we’ve got her all to ourselves.”
They dragged her through the underbrush, branches snagging at her clothes as she stumbled over roots and rocks. Her mind raced, cataloging every detail—their grips, their weapons, the layout of the trail. She needed a plan, and fast. The clearing came into view, a small patch of open ground surrounded by looming trees, and the air seemed to grow heavier, darker, as their intentions crystallized in the way they looked at her.
Crooked Grin shoved her to her knees, his hand gripping her chin with bruising force as he forced her to meet his predatory stare. His crooked smile widened, his eyes glinting with something ugly and dangerous. “You’re gonna learn to play nice, rabbit. One way or another.”
Ellie ground her teeth, her jaw tight against his grip, her green eyes burning with a mix of rage and raw, unyielding defiance. She didn’t say a word, but inside, a vow seared itself into her soul: these bastards were going to regret ever crossing her. She’d make damn sure of it.
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