Breathe

By Dax Varley

Hayden McKaley sneaks out past bedtime, never expecting the worst. She wakes the next morning in a strange house, her ankles and wrists bound.

Her captor—a man wearing a Yoda mask—is mourning his son, a boy so fixated on Hayden he'd created an art journal of his obsession. But this diary holds more than flattering sketches and endearing love poems. It tells of a boy's bent mind, his appetite for self-injury, and an addiction to playing The Game.

Now his grieving father seeks revenge.

The man's vengeance is simple—agony and pain. Can Hayden unmask the beast and escape his endless torture? Or will she end up like his son?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dax Varley
• Release date: Feb 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386457596

Book preview

BREATHE

DAX VARLEY

Also by Dax Varley

Sleepy Hollow

Return to Sleepy Hollow

Bleed

Sinful

Spellbound and Determined

Nightmare House

Lost Girl

Second Sight

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Day One

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Day Two

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Day Three

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Alternate Ending #1

Alternate Ending #2

About the Author

Chapter 1

Can you hear me, Hayden?

Dr. Taylor’s voice always sounds deep and calm, like Professor Snape’s, but today it’s especially soothing. Yes, I answer.

Good. Just relax. Ignore all else and listen only to my voice.

That’s easy. It’s so hypnotic I float.

"Now, Hayden, let’s again go over that night."

I panic, feeling his voice fade.

Hayden, he says with urgency, stay with me.

I have no choice. It’s impossible to resist his command.

Relax, he says again. Just breathe, I tell myself. But I find that I can’t.

We need to discuss that night.

No, I blurt.

Hayden, he says, his voice pure honey, keep in mind, if you cooperate, this could be our last session.

If only that were true. Do you swear?

I swear. If you tell me what I need to know, there’ll be no reason for you to come back.

I feel light again, even though it’s a promise he’s made before. Maybe this time.

Now, he says gently, start at the beginning, and, hopefully, today, you can make it to the end.

Agitation ripples through me. Easy, he says. I’ll be here with you every step of the way. Okay?

Okay.

Now, tell me what happened. From the beginning.

The beginning? Oh yeah, the text from Sarah...

Chapter 2

We’re going to the midnight showing of Brain Damage. Meet me at the AMC at 10:30. I want to beat the crowd. And don’t you dare wuss out on me. Wuss out? Like that would happen. I’d been counting down to that movie for weeks. I didn’t think I’d be seeing it so soon though.

I texted back: I’ll be there, so don’t you wuss out.

Her: No way.

I dropped my phone on the bed and planned it out. I couldn’t just waltz out on a Thursday night—a school night—or Dad would pop a vein. But it’s not like I hadn’t snuck out before. I changed out of my sleep sweats, reapplied my makeup, and turned on the white noise machine to fool the folks. In the darkness of my room, I raised the window and crept out.

I drove to the AMC in record time, but holy crap! Was this a movie or Mardi Gras? I’d seen fewer people at airports. Given no choice, I parked way out in Egypt and killed the engine. So much for beating the crowd. Where are you? I texted to Sarah before getting out.

Where are you? she texted back.

I gave her the precise location, which felt closer to the highway than the theater. Stay there. I’ll come find your car.

What about tickets?

Got them.

Yes! I waited, the seconds ticking. Seconds that turned into minutes.

Where are you? I typed again. Where are you? she returned. I don’t see your car. I’m parked next to a blue Subaru. Another minute fell away.

My phone dinged. I still don’t see you. Can you get out and wave your arms. Jesus, we could’ve found each other faster in the crowded theater. K. I opened the door, stepped out, and slammed it shut. Just then, someone came from behind, wrapped an arm around my neck, and squeezed. What the... At first I thought it was Sarah trying to scare me. No. Too strong and masculine. I clutched at the arm, fighting back. That was when the person jabbed a needle in my neck. The prick of it burned like a wasp sting, then heat trickled through my veins. I kicked out...

Once...

Twice...

Then the parking lot melted away.

DAY ONE

Chapter 3

My eyelids slowly lifted. I blinked, trying to focus. My head throbbed and my stomach protested. Where am I? When the daze cleared from my groggy brain, I remembered. The parking lot.