And I’d keep doing it, if only his boot didn’t find my stomach.
Blinding pain.
I hate it as much as I hate him because it smothers my resistance.
The next few minutes are a blur as he drags me through the house and out into the rain.
We almost trip over the limp, groaning body of Joseph Babin. He’s alive, but who knows for how long.
Even with my stomach in sick knots, churning, I don’t give up.
Raw, animal instinct takes over, fear and adrenaline swirling in a lethal cocktail until I’m acting on sheer impulse without any higher thought.
He’s taking me to the cellar, into the damp and darkness.
No!
I bite his arm. Claw at his hands.
Attack, attack, attack like a crazed wolverine, wherever I can find some skin to bruise or bloody.
I’m on the ground now, barely avoiding his feet as he tries to crush my skull.
Writhing.
Screaming.
His boot slams into my ribs and presses down, knocking the wind from my lungs.
Only when I’m truly cornered, that’s when I start begging.
It’s not a conscious decision, but it’s inevitable as he reaches down, growling, and starts lugging me toward the storm shelter again. I wonder if he saw me emerge earlier or if he found it when he came creeping around.
“Enough,” he snarls, digging his fingers into my arm.
Galaxies of nerves light up in agony.
“Stop, please!” I strangle out into the storm. My wet hair slaps my face, the wind tossing it into my mouth as I try to breathe. “Please, just let me go.”
“Shut the fuck up, little girl,” he snarls as he releases me with one hand to reach down for the shelter doors.
I take the opportunity to buck free. He curses as he catches my arm and swings me back around.
I collide with his leg.
Copper explodes in my mouth. I bite my tongue.
Between the blood and that savage kick to my belly earlier, I’m going to be sick.
Holy shit, can thisgetany worse?
“Knock it off. Get down there,” he orders, pushing me toward the steps.
Oh, God.
They’re still slick from the rain, and I almost slip, catching myself against the damp wall.
It’s the first time he’s let me have any space.
