Page 19 of Finish Line

For the tenth time, I trip over a root, falling to the ground hard, my arms too weak to catch me.

I have to move! I’m not far enough away, barely a hundred yards into the woods.

I force myself to move, but I don’t see the hill until it’s too late. I roll down it.

Evan beat the hell out of me, and tumbling down this small hill isn’t helping. My ribs are killing me, but I force myself to get up once again.

I don’t know how far I have gone when I fall.

This time I can’t budge… I’m so exhausted…need to sleep…

My eyes flutter shut. I crawl on the ground, dragging myself until I find somewhere to lie that has a little bit of cover.

I pull leaves on top of me to keep me warm and hidden before passing out.

“It says she’s around here,” a voice says from nearby.

I don’t move. Now that I’m free, I’m not going back.

“Shelby?” a male voice calls out.

That voice, I know it. I try to move, but every muscle hurts.

“Nick,” I say in a raspy voice.

“Shh. Everyone shut up!” Nick yells.

I raise my hand, breaking through the leaves. “Nick.”

“Found her,” he bellows before he crashes through my leafy hideout.

As he brushes the leaves away from my naked, shaking body, his eyes widen with shock. “Shit, someone give me a jacket or a shirt!”

A jacket suddenly covers my body, then someone picks me up. I try to open my eyes, but they won’t budge.

“You’re safe now, Shelby. I got you,” Nicks says, hugging me tightly against his body.

Hands touch me, and I jolt awake screaming. I try to back up, but strong arms grab a hold of me.

“Don’t touch me!” I scream.

I can’t see anything; a bright light blinds me. Something beeps like crazy, causing my ears to ring.

“Ms. Winters. You’re in the hospital,” a male voice says.

I don’t recognize that voice. “Don’t touch me!”

I thrash around, getting tangled in something.

“I’m just checking your vitals. Please calm down, or I will have to sedate you.”

Oh, hell no. No one is going to sedate me.

“Get out!” I scream at him.

Something blurs in my peripheral vision, causing me to flinch back again and almost topple off whatever I lie on. The blur clears as my eyes finally adjust to the light, focusing on Nick and Cin.

“What’s going on here?” Nick demands.

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