Page 133 of Finish Line

Three shadowy figures—Big Guy, a medium-sized guy, and the third person, who could be a guy or a girl because they’re smaller and thinner—circle me. I glance at the other bunks, confirming my suspicion that my roommates aren’t in their beds.

Fuck, I’m outnumbered.

“Didn’t you put shit in her food?” the medium-sized guy says.

I don’t recognize his voice from the ones I heard today.

“I did,” replies the small one, confirming that Small One is a girl. The voice is too high to be a guy, plus girls served me my food.

They tried to drug me. Oh, they’re going down. I drop into my fighting stance.

The medium-sized guy comes at me with a right hook that I block. But I can’t counter in this small space. This time, both guys come at me. Big Guy swings. I block, but Middle Dude takes out my legs, making me tip to the side.

Big Guy grabs me by the hair and slams my head against the side of the top bunk.

When he lets go, I collapse. I hold my head and try to shake it off, but stars cover my vision.

Big Guy moves behind me and takes my hands, holding them together above my head as the Middle Dude straddles me, sitting on my thighs. He sits back far enough to expose my whole upper torso and takes full advantage, throwing punch after punch against my stomach and ribs.

I wiggle and thrash as much as possible, causing him to miss me and punch Big Guy instead.

Grunting, Big Dude snaps at Small One. “Grab her legs.”

I have little range on my legs, but it’s enough that when Small One bends to grab me, I kick up and connect with her nose.

The sound of bones crunching fills the room, and she screams. “She broke my nose!”

“We need to hurry,” Big Guy says.

Middle Dude leans down. “We wanted to welcome you to Milestones. Oh yeah, Roger wants you to know he’s coming for you.”

He punches me in the face, and I black out.

“Shelby,” a voice I don’t recognize says as they shake my arm.

I bolt up to a sitting position with my fists up and ready. Following my abrupt return to consciousness, the person yelps, and a small thud is heard.

Light shines from the window, making me squint.

“Augh fuck, that hurts.” I grab my side, pain radiating along my torso from the hits I took last night and my sudden movement. “What time is it?”

“Just after seven. Can I clean the cut you have on your head?” Laurie sits a few feet from me.

I reach up and touch where Big Guy slammed my head against the bunk, hissing at the sting when I touch it. I nod, and she grabs an alcohol pad from somewhere in the room.

“Laurie, you shouldn’t be helping her. They’ll find out,” one of my other roommates says.

“I don’t care, Milly.” Laurie turns to me. “I’m sorry I left and let them do this to you.” She reaches out and dabs my cut with the alcohol pad.

I hiss and jerk away from the sting before holding still again. “Don’t be. I understand why you did. I wouldn’t want someone to be hurt because of me.”

I let her finish cleaning my cut before I try to stand, groaning from the pain.

It takes me a minute, but I stand. “Did I miss my time in the shower?”

“Yes, but you can use mine, if you want.” Laurie smiles. “It’s in about ten minutes.”

I won’t take her slot, especially when she has to go to school, and I’m going to lie around today.

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