in the lock. It flew open the second I made it to the bathroom and I raced across the pristine tiles as the creep chased after me. I threw the next door wide, rushing into Kyan’s room, my gaze set on the window.
My heart thumped madly as I jumped onto the bed, hurrying over it and hopping down on the other side, reaching the window. I fumbled with the catch, my fingers shaky and it cost me too much time. Merl wrapped a hand in my hair and yanked me backwards, tossing me onto the bed. I screamed as he dropped over me, the scent of tobacco and body odour filling my nose. His hand latched around my throat and he pressed his full weight down to keep me in place as I thrashed wildly beneath him.
“Does Kyan Roscoe know how to fuck as well as he fights?” he purred as I thumped and kicked and scratched, his grip so tight, my vision was already fading. “I made a pretty penny on you two that night at the pit. But I’ve been fighting since you and your boyfriend were just a babe, sweet girl. You can’t win this bout.” He curled a finger in my hair, admiring it.
Sickness swirled in my stomach as I started to black out. But I couldn’t give up. If darkness claimed me, this man was going to do unspeakable things to me. And I couldn’t – no, I fucking wouldn’t let that happen.
An answer came to me and I stuffed my hand under Kyan’s pillow, my fist closing around the huge ass hunting knife he kept there.
I slashed it toward my attacker, slicing it into his side and he roared in pain, releasing me in an instant as he reared back.
I was up like lightning, dragging down lungfuls of air as I slid off the bed, stumbling into the nightstand as I fought the dizziness his attack had brought on.
Come on, move, Tatum, move!
“You fucking bitch!” Merl’s voice carried to me as my ears rang and everything faded in and out of focus.
I have to move.
Have to run.
The world started to sharpen again and I ran for the door just as he got off the bed, clutching his side. I just saw the flash of murder in his eyes before I fled out of sight, sprinting down the hall as fast as I could and tearing back into the lounge.
My eyes locked on the exit, but before I got there, a fight broke out. Punches were thrown and toilet paper went flying as an all-out riot filled the doorway, shouts of rage and desperation tearing through the air.
“I’m coming for you, whore!” the booming voice of my attacker turned my blood to ice.
There was no way out. No fucking way.
Except…shit!
I turned towards the crypt, powering across the room and taking the steps two at a time as I threw the door open and ran down down down, tearing through the gym as my lungs laboured in my chest.
Just keep moving. Never stop moving.
I sped through the archway, passing the prayer rooms where all of the food had been stockpiled, sprinting past them to the gate on the other side of the space. Saint had said the tunnels would lead me all the way out to Sycamore Beach. It was my only hope.
The keys hung on the wall and I snatched them from the hook, trying the first one in the gate. I jiggled it in the lock, but it didn’t give and I swore as my hands shook even harder.
Yanking the key out, I tried the other one, knowing I was wasting precious seconds.
“Well lookee here. I’ll kill some time with you, blondie, then keep all this food for myself.”
I glanced back at Merl as he strode toward me with a hungry glint in his eyes.
With my hands shaking like crazy, I forced the key to turn.
The gate swung inwards and I leapt forward, turning back to shut it with a yell of hope. His huge body barrelled into the metal gate and I was forced back as I couldn’t hold it.
I fled, terror bouncing through my limbs as I tore off into the darkness, hearing his boots thumping along behind me.
I ran harder and faster than I ever had in my life, but he kept coming after me.
I clutched the knife tighter in my grip and sprinted into the pitch black, praying I wouldn’t stumble or fall or find myself at a dead end.