“Faster Claudia faster.” My mind screeched as I sprinted as fast I possibly could thought the ceaseless ocean of pine trees. Along the floor tentacles of tree roots mocked my steps and threatened to wrap themselves around my ankles as I ran deeper into the forest. “You must not be caught again” I repeated over and over inside my own head. “You‘ve come too far to lose it all now.”

My lungs burned inside my chest and with ever step this internal inferno intensified. But I had already been murdered four times, only to resurrect in the comfort of my plush duvet intent on proving that I could be the one to change him. That I could be the girl to tame the beast that was Klaus.

Running and running and running I could it be killed again but I could feel my pace slowing as my legs became weak and eventually the malignant tree roots decided that it was time to take advantage of my state of exhaustion. Before I could even contemplate what had happened I felt myself collapse onto a hostile bed of pine needles and roots.

Then he was there above me, straddling my body like a lion about to consume his prey. Above my head my hands were pinned to the floor and my legs thrashed about under his vast weight in a desperately pathetic attempt to escape.

“You’re mine girl, all mine. You ain’t never gonna escape you hear me.” I nodded frantically pleading for my life and begging him to let me live. Suddenly, that masculine dominance that my body had so fiercely craved the night before, had become a source of perilous fear. “Now,” he said calmly, holding both my hands in one of his and placing the other violently around my throat. “I ain’t gonna kill you, not yet anyway. You’re just too fun to play with. No, I ain’t gonna kill you but if you ever try anything like this again I will not hesitate. Is that clear?” I nodded with all the vigour I could muster and stood up. “Now get the fuck up and get back to the car. It’s playtime lil girl.”