Page 86 of Darkness

Alpha rushes around to my side and slams his boot into my ribs. My body flips onto my back, and I groan, coughing and spluttering as he lands another kick to my flank. Rolling onto my side, I bring my knees up without thinking. I have merely a second to catch my breath before I’m hauled up using the back of my shirt by Hurricane. As he holds me upright, Six stands in front of me, fist clenched. I tense as Six’s fist lands straight in my nose. Blood trickles, and pain radiates through my face more than I thought it would. I think the fucker might have broken my cheekbone.

Eva’s cries grow louder, distracting me for a moment, her eyes glistening with tears as Void holds her tightly. Ivy is on one side and Trix on the other, trying to soothe her, but nothing is working. She sobs as another fist smacks straight into the side of my head, knocking Eva from my vision and rattling my mind.

Hurricane hands me to Six to hold, then Sin takes over the beating.

Hit after violent hit, my body goes numb as it rocks to and fro with the ferocity of their actions.

Punch after punch.

Kick after kick.

Blow after blow.

President after president.

My head is foggy like I’m fading in and out. My body wants to give up this fight. As I lie starfished on the floor, I’m sure I have a concussion. I lost count of how many have laid into me and, more importantly, how many are still to go. My body aches so fucking bad I can barely breathe. I roll onto my side and clutch my ribs as I cough up blood.

A slap across my face makes my eyes shoot open. I blink a couple of times through swollen eyes. Hawk kneels over the top of me, sporting a tired expression. Rivulets run down my face. Blood? Sweat? I don’t know.

Hawk lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “You look like shit, brother.”

I stifle a chuckle, which turns into a cough, then morphs into a moan. “Am… I… still… pretty?” I manage to murmur.

“Yeah, you pussy. It’s just a scratch.”

“You haven’t… had… your shot yet… have you?”

Hawk grimaces. “Last one, brother. Think you can manage one more?”

“Do your best, Hawk.”

“Oh, there was never any doubt about that. I just needed to assess how hard to go.”

I tense. “I owe… you a punch. Don’t… hold back.”

He doesn’t want to do this. Not really. I can tell by his eyes. I’m sure none of them do deep down, but rules are rules.

“You got it, brother.” He pulls his fist back, and I clench my teeth as he slams it straight into my stomach. I let out a gasp, trying to catch my breath as another one smacks into my nose almost immediately. This time, a crunch really reverberates through my face, and I’m sure there’s a lot broken. I gasp and wheeze for breath, but he doesn’t hesitate to slam his fist straight into my eye socket. My head slams back onto the concrete floor, and darkness swarms around me.

I found my way to the light with Eva.

Now, I’m unsure if my brothers have sent me straight back into the dark.

Permanently.

EVA

My heart breaks at the sight of Nycto unconscious and bloodied on the floor. I want to run to him, to help him, but Void is stopping me from doing anything.

Hawk stands, wiping his bloodied hands on his jeans as everyone looks down at Nycto.

“Is he alive? What are you waiting for? Help him!” I yell, seeing as they’re all standing around like lost fucking puppy dogs.

Torque smirks then tilts his head at me. “You heard the Old Lady. Help the man.”

Nerve rushes forward at the same time Hawk and some of the other men who were beating him do. They lift him onto a table as Nerve flashes a tiny flashlight into his eyes.

I struggle in Void’s grip, pushing him off me. “Eva… Eva, stop,” Void calls out as I break free.

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