“Speak for yourself,” the other laughs brusquely.
The tall guy lurches forward. I throw all of my weight behind a desperate punch, but he blocks it to the side while his friend grabs me from behind, holding me tight.
My eyes dart to Matty. “Go!” I yell. “Get the hell out of here!”
But he stays there. He looks terrified and frozen as his eyes burn into me.
One arm wrenches painfully behind my back. When the shorter man steps in front of me, I try to free myself, but I’m trapped in his friend’s grip. I kick wildly and force him back, but soon enough, he finds the right angle for his attack, and I’m thrown to the ground.
There’s a boot on my back, and the breath is knocked out of me. With my face slammed to the concrete, I can see Matty, horrified in the shadows and obviously trying to look for a way to fight back.
“Get away,” I try to grunt. It doesn’t matter what happens to me; he just needs to save himself.
He’s the one with the future. He’s the one with a whole life that needs living.
The man slams my hand to the pavement. “Almost done,” he growls, stepping on my wrist.
I don’t know what he means, but a moment later, it all becomes clear with a lightning bolt of pain. I watch in helpless horror as his boot comes down hard on my hand, stomping my fingers. A sickening crunch sounds in my ear, and behind it, I hear Matty, screaming my name.
I hear myself screaming, too, and then the full pain comes rushing through me.
My body falls limp to the pavement, and the men walk away, leaving me there on the dirty ground, broken.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
MATTY
Hot tears burndown my cheeks. I’m frozen in place, watching as Stone’s face contorts in pain. I want to force the men away, but I can’t even gather enough strength to yell. I just press my palms back to the brick wall, terrified and stuck.
When the men finally hurry off, the spell breaks. I dart forward and fall to my knees, then take Stone’s face in my hands and pull him gently up.
“Stone,” I gasp, my heart wrenching. “Are you okay?”
“Hand,” he grunts. “Broken.”
He pulls himself up while ice courses through my veins. It’s just like when I was a teenager. I’d get jumped by my bullies after school, and there was no one to go to. Even if I told my parents, my dad would just lecture me for being a sissy.
I was alone then, and trying to figure out how to help Stone, I feel alone now, too.
“I’ll call the police,” I manage, my voice breaking as I grab my phone from my pocket.
“No,” Stone grunts as he uses his left hand to push himself to his knees. “No cops. They always just give me more trouble.”
My stomach twists, and I almost freeze again. I want him to be the one to save me, to be there for me when no one else is, but then what happens if he’s the one who needs me?
How am I supposed to be stronger than him?
“What… what do we do?” I ask, crying as my eyes dart between Stone and the dark corners of the alley.
He pulls his keys out and hands them to me. “Here,” he winces. “Can you drive me to the hospital?”
“I think,” I answer. “I mean yes. Of course.”
My cheeks burn with humiliation. I’m dizzy, like a tornado is tossing me between my past and this horrible moment. Wiping the tears away, I force myself to move instead.
I force myself to pretend.
“Come on,” I say, taking his elbow with my shaking hand. “Let’s get you some help.”
