CHAPTER 41: A COLD WINTER NIGHT

Braelyn’s POV

The night was colder than usual. From a distance, I could hear the engine humming. I wanted to stay longer, but time was against me.

The road usually buzzed with laughter, Christmas was close and the atmosphere always had a romantic feel. I wasn’t bothered by that, my feet sank into the snow as I jogged down the road, then took a turn through the path running in the woods.

The main road was probably safer but it was too far, and the hostel gates closed in ten minutes. I couldn’t risk it.

My best bet was this old service lane behind the racing club, the one lined with frost-bitten trees and a single flickering lamp halfway through. My breath fogged in the air, white and fleeting. I clutched my helmet against my side, half-running, half-stumbling over the slick pavement.

The air bit my cheeks, and my fingers were numb even through my gloves. "Just a few more minutes," I whispered to myself glancing at the time on my wrist watch. I cussed myself for being carried away, I said too long.

Deep down the path, there weren’t any lamps again but I wasn’t nervous. This wasn’t the first time I took this shortcut. I counted in my head until I heard it.

A faint laughter. My heart skipped a beat. I froze for a second, someone was behind me. I didn’t think much about it, but I still increased my pace. It was late, and the realisation I was a single girl on a desolate path dawned on me.

The footsteps drew closer, and my heart started to hammer. I picked up the pace, half running, and they were definitely following me.

Shit, I cussed then bolted off. The laugh got louder. I managed to steal a glance over my shoulder. There they were, 5 silhouettes blending with the darkness running behind me. They were laughing and enjoying the chase.

That laugh told me one thing,

Run Braelyn. They are psychos.

They were all wearing similar jackets, under the faint moonlight, I recognised that familiar logo which breathes chaos all over campus. Yellow jackets with red embroidered logos. The crimson fangs

Talk about being unlucky. It just had to be the most notorious racing gang that loved trouble more than trophies. I did my best to escape, but before I knew it, I was surrounded.

"Hey, hey... if it isn’t the golden girl herself," one of them drawled half laughing. He seemed drunk. His breath fogged in the air as he grinned, stepping closer. "Didn’t think we’d see you alone tonight."

I swallowed hard, forcing a polite smile even though my pulse was hammering in my throat. "It’s late. I should go..." I tried to act cool to avoid trouble the best I could.

"Aw, come on," another one cut in, tall and broad-shouldered, his gloved hands buried in his pockets. "What’s the rush, sweetheart? We just wanna talk."

Talk. The word made bile rise in my throat. I shifted a step back, my boots crunching softly against the snow. A dead streetlight buzzed and flickered on weakly above me, throwing the scene in and out of shadow.

What did they want from me? Although I was from a good background, I kept my identity under wraps to avoid unwanted attention, and I am sure I haven’t avoided anyone I wasn’t meant to ..

Under the flickering light, I finally saw him. The one with the messy blond hair and dead brow eyes. I recognised that face even under the dim light. Ethan.

The racer I’d beaten two weeks ago in front of half the campus. The one who’d sworn I "stole" his win. He could not accept a girl who won him.

Shit, my stomach sank. He was a member of this troublesome gang. Dear Lord knew that I wouldn’t have raced him if I were always.

"Well, well," Ethan said with a lazy tone, a smirk curling on his lips. "Didn’t think we’d cross paths again, princess. Still think you’re too good for the track?"

Freaking liar, I was certain they had been stalking me all day.

"I don’t want trouble," I said quickly, clutching my bag tighter. "It was just a race. It’s over."

He tilted his head, pretending to think. "Oh, it’s not over. You embarrassed me." His eyes narrowed, and the fake amusement melted into something darker. "You owe me a rematch."

"I’m not racing tonight, the hostel gates close soon."

He stepped closer, his boots crunching through the snow. "Oh, I didn’t mean that kind of race."

The other boys snickered. My stomach twisted painfully. Panic surged up. I drew in a deep breath and, in a display of strength, I shoved the guy in front of me, sprinting off like my life depended on it because it did.

The wind tore through my hair, my breath turning ragged as I sprinted down the path. But the snow was thick, fresh from the evening storm. My boots slipped. My knees burned when I hit the ground, palms sinking into the cold, wet layer.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

They were taller and faster to my disadvantage. Their shadows loomed closer until they circled me, blocking every escape route. The smell of gasoline, smoke, and alcohol hit my nose as they closed in.

I tried to stand, but one of them kicked my helmet out of reach. It rolled into the ditch with a dull thud. My pulse raced so fast it rang in my ears.

Ethan crouched in front of me, his grin sharp and cruel. "You should’ve stayed on the safe side, sweetheart," he murmured. "Now you’re in our lane."

Their laughter echoed around me, blending with the whisper of the wind. My feet were numb, and I couldn’t move. Ethan grabbed my hair and the pain shot through my skull, his eyes turned darker.

"How About we have some little fun?" His gaze dropped to my cleavage. His friend drew closer, my only problem now wasn’t getting locked out.