Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,62

my lungs and pushing my hips into the hard floor. Warmth oozed down my scalp and neck.

It took a few seconds to realize it was his blood saturating my hair as he held my arm in place and injected the contents of the syringe.

“Bitch,” he spewed in my ear. “I should fuck you.”

Though I used all my strength, he was stronger. I kicked and twisted, yet he rolled me to my back with ease. Straddling my waist, he pinned my wrists above my head, holding them with one of his hands. Evil and hatred emanated from his gaze as he wiped the blood coming from his nose. I had no idea what I’d done to deserve the loathing he displayed. Maybe nothing. Maybe simply by being.

“Stop,” I screamed as loud as I could.

“Would you rather take me in your ass?” His lips curled in a menacing sneer. “Say the word, bitch, and I’ll roll you back over.”

My heart raged against my breastbone, and white spots appeared before my eyes. I continued to scream, uncertain if anyone could hear or care.

As he gripped the waist of my pants, I thrashed as much as possible. At the same time, I searched for moisture, conjuring up all the saliva I could, and spat in his face.

My head reeled as his hand contacted my cheek.

I gasped for breath as I continued to fight.

The blows continued.

Sometime during the assault, he’d freed my hands. I could use them to shield my face, yet I couldn’t get free. A punch slammed into my stomach seconds before he grabbed my waistbands and pulled down my pants and panties in one fluid movement.

I screamed again, kicking as he reached for his belt and loosened the buckle.

“I’m so sorry, Reid.” It was my thought as I faced reality.

I couldn’t fight anymore. There was no place for me to go.

It was at that moment I heard Jet’s name.

His jaw tightened, the cords in his neck pulling taut, as his gaze went from me to over my head.

In hindsight, I should have done something, anything, but my energy was gone.

Jet fastened his buckle and stood. Before he was fully erect, he leaned over and spat.

I closed my eyes as his saliva and whatever else he’d conjured forward landed upon my face, combining with his blood.

Breathing heavily, I lay frozen upon the floor until the door closed.

During the ordeal I hadn’t cried.

I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t, but that was before.

As I reached for my panties and slacks still on my ankles, the tears came. The sheer terror combined with humiliation and exhaustion. My entire body trembled to the point of convulsions. Now fully clothed, I crawled toward the bunk bed and wiped my face with the blanket. Then up to my knees, I folded my arms and lowered my head to the bunk, uncertain if I had the energy to stand.

My eyes closed as sobs resonated from my chest and then it began.

The small room filled with the awful high-pitched squeal as the light above was lost to flashing coming from a small casing high above. I searched for reasons—perhaps the building was on fire.

No one came.

Over time, I made my way to the small sink and washed the blood and spit from my battered face. I tenderly touched the swollen flesh. My eyelids, cheeks, and lips were all enlarged and sore to the touch. I leaned forward, fighting dizziness, and washed the blood that I could from my hair. My scalp too was painful. Finally, I climbed back into the bed and covered my head.

With my eyes covered and closed, the strobing light was diminished, yet nothing could lessen the ear-piercing squeal.

The screech didn’t stop.

It hadn’t.

I was uncertain of how much time had come and gone.

My only source of water was the faucet on the small sink.

Food was gone.

Araneae was gone.

The woman was gone.

Even Jet was gone.

I was trapped in a gray box as the light strobed, as the alarm continued its scream.

I tried to sleep. I prayed to sleep.

There were moments, I couldn’t be certain of how long, that reality slipped away and I was somewhere else.

Were they dreams?

Were they wishes?

Was it the afterlife?

I couldn’t be sure, but as time dragged on in this incessant hell, I also prayed for that.

If I stopped drinking water, would death come sooner?

Thoughts were difficult to link together.

Rational thought left me as I slid deeper and deeper into despair.

Memories returned of my life.

Maybe I was dying. They say that your life flashes before your