Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 28

The tips of Zack's ears flushed red. He frantically looked away, his eyes darting everywhere but at her.

Willa's heart sank.

She couldn't tell if she was just being paranoid, or if last night's kiss had genuinely sparked something real in him.

She needed to find a time to sit him down and end this. The fake relationship act couldn't go on any longer.

The trail grew steeper, the path turning into a treacherous mix of loose gravel and slick mud.

Willa's stamina began to fail her. Her breathing grew heavy, her legs felt like lead, and black spots danced in her vision.

"Willa? You look incredibly pale. Let's take a break," Zack said, his voice laced with panic as he grabbed her arm to steady her.

"I'm... I'm fine," Willa forced herself to shake her head. "I just need to catch my breath."

Up ahead, Louis stopped and turned around. He pointed at the steep incline just below them and shouted, "Watch your step right there! It's super slippery."

They slowly made their way to the tricky section Louis had warned them about. Zack stepped up first, making sure his footing was secure, before turning around and holding both hands out to Willa. "Here, don't panic. Hold my hands, and take it one step at a time."

Willa nodded. She took a deep breath, placed her hands in his, and lifted her foot, carefully searching for a solid place to step.

But just as she put her weight down, her boot caught on something slick. Her foot completely gave out, and her hands ripped violently out of Zack's grip as gravity dragged her backward.

The scream died in her throat. Her mind went completely blank save for a single thought.

It's over.

Time seemed to stretch and warp. A voice, raw and completely unhinged, ripped through the air behind her.

"Wills—"

Was that Randal?

Before she could process it, she slammed incredibly hard into a solid chest.

Thick arms locked around her like a vice. The terrifying sensation of freefall swallowed them both as they plummeted down the steep embankment.

Willa's head spun violently.

In the chaos of the tumble, she felt another hand blindly grab at them from above, marginally slowing their violent descent.

After a series of sickening thuds and grunts of pain, they crashed into a dense patch of thorny bushes and finally jolted to a stop.

"Randal..." she breathed out weakly.

Randal's pupils contracted. He tightened his grip even more, crushing her against his chest.

"Willa!"

"Randal!"

The panicked screams from Zack and Miles echoed from the top of the ridge, shattering the fragile illusion.

Randal snapped back to reality. He instantly uncoiled his arms, shoving Willa away from him.

Without his support, she slumped back against the dirt.

He stumbled as he stood up, his balance shaky, clearly nursing several injuries from the fall.

It was only then that Willa saw his left hand hanging limply by his side. The back of his hand was a mangled, bloody mess of torn flesh and mud, completely obscuring the old, faded scar beneath it. The sight was absolutely horrifying.

"Your hand..." Her voice violently shook.