The bangs coming from my bedroom door are muffled now as I flick on the light and start throwing open the cupboards and drawers, desperately searching for something, anything, that can help me. It’s futile. The only thing that can help me now is my phone, which is locked behind two doors in the hands of a fucking psychopath. I keep searching anyway.
My fingers are trembling so hard it takes me three attempts to unzip my makeup bag. The loudest bang yet comes just as I wrap my fist around a pair of nail scissorsand I jump back so violently I slam into the shower screen door.
The handle on the bathroom door rattles; a whimper rips up my throat.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I scramble to my feet, my back against the wall.
“You gonna make me break this one down too, Gia?” His voice turns my blood cold. “This is all very dramatic, you know.”
“You fucking psycho!” I half-scream, half-sob. “Leave me alone!”
Bang.
My breathing is so erratic my head spins. I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin.
“Please, Daniel,” I plead through tears. It’s no use.
Bang!
“Just leave me alone.” My voice is barely audible over my sobs now.
BANG.
The door flies open. Daniel stands in the frame and rakes his eyes over me. Assessing for hazards, since I surprised him by kicking him in the balls. He never would have expected that from me. I’m hunched forward, my fists resting against my thighs as I eye him with every ounce of loathing I can muster. Then I draw on that loathing and force myself upright, taking deep breaths to try to force the sobs away. No matter how terrified I am, I won’t go down without a fight.
I forgive myself for not fighting back the first time.
But not this time, no matter how futile it may be.
“Come on, Gianna.” He coaxes me, signalling toward the exit with a cock of his head. “We’re going now.”
I don’t move an inch.
“Don’t make me come over there and get you.”
I force air into my lungs as I stand my ground.
“Fine.” He sighs. “We’ll do it your way.” He starts moving toward me, but I don’t miss the hand he strategically places over his groin. I brace myself. When he reaches out to grab my arm, I aim for the second place Zayn told me to go for to incapacitate a man.
I lunge and drive my fist into Daniel’s throat. He sees me coming at the last second and tries to dodge my attack, but I still manage to land a hit that has him falling back against the bench.
Then I fucking run. My high heels are slippery against the bathroom tiles, but I don’t let my feet land long enough to have the chance to slip.
“You can’t fucking escape me, bitch.” Daniel’s voice is hoarse from the hit to the throat.
He’s chasing me, but I don’t turn to see how close he is. I sprint back through my bedroom, past the splintered door, and hit full stride when I make it into the hallway, expecting him to catch me at any second.
Blood thumps through my veins so frantically all I can hear is whooshing in my ears. The front door is seconds away. Opening it will cost me time, but I have no other options. If I can just get it open, I’ll scream loud enough for the neighbours to hear.
I reach the door and yank on the handle at the same time Daniel fists the back of my dress. He jerks me back inside, but with my hand still on the door, it only forces it open wider.
Daniel’s palm over my mouth silences me as he slams me back against his chest.
Lucky I don’t have to scream. Because standing on the other side of my door is Zayn.
38
