"Oh, Jesus!" I gasped.

I jumped sideways, reaching for the nearest tree trunk to steady myself. I grazed my hand slightly across the bark, wincing as I did.

"Fuck, that hurt" I breathed to myself, still glancing everywhere but at the mysterious voice now in front of me instead of behind.

"You okay?"

I looked up to see a guy I didn't recognise. He had dark hair just like Mason, but it wasn't him. His eyes weren't as dark either, more of a bluish tone.

"Seriously? Does everyone go round sneaking up on people?" I was yelling, still gripping the tree behind me.

"Not sure, I don't usually. Just thought it was a little strange."

Huh?

"You thought what was strange?" I asked, confused.

"You know," he started walking towards me. "A young girl, pretty, and walking through the woods on her own" he was less than a centimetre from my face now. "A really pretty girl"

I gulped. He was handsome, real handsome, and the way he said that made my blood run south.

He all of a sudden burst out laughing, a massive chuckle filling the space around us. "Did I scare you?"

Unable to speak, I stood still and didn't reply for a while. "No, I just"

He raised his eyebrow waiting for a response. "Hmm, I did scare you. Come on" he carried on walking in the direction I was heading, gesturing for me to follow.

When I stood still, an astonished expression on my face, he looked at me like I was stupid.

"Well? Come on." He threw his keys in the air catching them, then waving them by the side of his head.

No way was I getting in a car with a stranger. No way. Was he even at the bonfire? I didn't see him.

"No way, I'll sort an Uber. I don't know you" I answered, walking past him. I finally could see an entrance but he was following me. He was as bad as Mason. Just not as hot, doesn't make your body ignite like a fire, and his lips aren't as soft - or so I presume. But he was definitely infuriating just like Mason.

"I don't feel comfortable putting you in a taxi-"

"Well good because you won't be. I'll be putting myself in one" a sarcastic smile played on my lips as I looked back at him. He was shocked to see I'd answered him back with such a response. But I didn't care, I wasn't getting in his car.

"I'm not going to hurt you"

"Ha!" I scoffed. "Thats what all murderers and creeps say isn't it?"

"Okay, you have a point. But I'm not a murderer or a creep" he shrugged.

"Another thing they might say"

He laughed, chasing after me down the small road we'd come out on. "Look, I just don't want to see you get hurt. Okay?"

He looked genuinely concerned as he came up beside me. I'm sure if he wanted to hurt me he would of done it already, but then he could have some weird fetish or be a strange serial killer. You know the ones that have everything in a particular way? Maybe his didn't include 'kill girl in the woods'. Okay, seriously Victoria? What have you been watching?

"You okay in there?"

Isn't that like the second time someone's asked me that because I've zoned out?

"I'm great, look I appreciate the concern but I'm okay. Really. I'm just gonna sort out an Uber"

"At least let me wait with you" he begged.

"Okay" I'm sure he wouldn't hurt me with all these cars going past.

I found the app, already downloaded on my phone, and used the gps to search my location. I almost screamed when my phone read no service at the top right hand corner. This wasn't happening to me. "Ergggh"

"Problem?" I still hadn't got this guys name.

"Yes. I have no service- what's your name?" I blurted, mid-sentence.

"Hunter. Let me drive you. My cars just over there" he pointed to the red Citroen C1 and I was glad I knew someone that didn't have some flashy car. Not that it made my situation any better, I couldn't afford one at all.

I glanced back over at his small, perky little car, then back at him. He was wearing a denim shirt over a white t-shirt, styled with black jeans and boots. He didn't look dangerous. The old me would never have stood here and overanalysed someone's dress attire, car etc. The old me would of jumped in, oblivious to all possible consequences and scenarios I had circling round my head. But it seemed this was my only option.

"Okay, if you're sure. But I'm dialling 911 if you so much as freak me out or touch me" I warned pointing my finger in his face. He laughed which at least meant I humoured him.

"Come on princess let's go"

My face screwed up. Joke or not, I hated that pet name. "Do not call me that, ew"

His laughter continued all the way to the car and he only stopped because he had to concentrate.

"Okay, so where are we going-"

"Victoria"

"Right, Victoria. Pretty name for a pretty girl" He winked, before turning onto the road. "Which way then?"

"Errr, I'm not sure" I said, suddenly realising I only knew the address. "I know the address, if that helps"

"Go for it"

He looked at me like I was mad. As soon as I told him the postal code, he said I could of just told him I lived in the dorms. Apparently he does too. I rolled my eyes at my stupidity and concentrated on the road ahead.

He was cute, witty, great to talk to, but he wasn't Mason. Which bugged me. Why did I care so much about Mason? He'd played me like a violin.

"You know that guy over there?" I didn't realise we'd pulled up until Hunter spoke. He pulled into an empty space waiting for my answer.

"Who? What guy?" I turned my head, left, right, backwards, but couldn't see anyone.

"Him" he pointed in front of us to the black Audi, where a male was leaning against the side.

Mason.

I gulped. Shit. What was he doing here? He didn't live here.

"I take it from that reaction, you do" he turned sideways to look at me. He really was good looking.

"It's... complicated" I cringed at myself. How many times did you hear people say that when they didn't want to talk about something? Ergh.

He chuckled. "Want me to walk you in?"

I considered his proposal. On the one side, I really wanted him too; I'd feel safe, he couldn't confront me, and I'd get to my room without any issues. But on the other hand, there was risk of him refusing to leave me alone either way.

I exhaled and shook my head, no. I'm sure it would be okay.

"I'll be fine, thank you though. And thank you for the ride. I guess you're not a serial killer after all"

"I only said I wasn't a murderer. I never said anything about a serial killer, they're two different things you know?" He joked.

I laughed with him before getting out his car.

Just my luck that it would start to rain as I shut the door too.

I paced over to the entrance doors, keeping my head down as I did. Only, it was too tempting not to look. So I did. Just for a second. My eyes peeled away as soon as I noticed the slight movement of his head rising. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I upped my pace, relief flooding me when I noticed I was seconds away from the door. Just a few more steps and-

Woosh-

I lost my footing. My left foot slipped across something hard below me, lifting into the air. I was balancing on one foot, while slowly heading towards the floor. Oh no. Reflexively my arms shot forward to catch my fall. My eyes shut in anticipation for the blow, until two arms grasped at my arms and flew me backwards into something hard. Someone hard.

"Victoria? Are you okay?"

Mason.