Page 87 of Holy Sinner

“You stupid bitch. I asked you out for one fucking reason and you can’t even do that.”

One fucking reason.

Tears welled in my eyes. I backed away. My heel caught on one of the balcony floorboards but I kept going. “I want to go home now.” I stepped into his room and kept walking, but I never made it past his bed.

“You’re not going anywhere until I get what I want. You’ve been fucking teasing me for weeks.” He grabbed me and spun me around to face him. “I’m getting what I want, you slut.”

I slapped him. I’d never raised a hand to anyone, not even when my mother took her frustrations out on me but I guess I am my mother’s daughter because the slap hit him square in the face. I gasped at the pain that shot up my arm but there wasn’t time to process what I’d done.

Mark grabbed my hair and threw me on the bed. “You think you’re going to hit me and get away with it? After I brought you here to my house? I should have fucked you in the car.”

Fear and adrenaline spiked, mingling in my blood and I prayed that it would end. That I’d wake up in my bed and this would be a nightmare. Mark was stronger than me but strength wasn’t everything. Not when desperation is in the mix. And I was desperate. I was desperate to get away and to go back to my room, back into my predictable routine where I wasn’t noticed by boys and things like this didn’t happen.

The world as it had been. The world where my mother was right. What was I thinking, that I got to have a fairytale night?

That wasn’t meant for me.

I should have known better.

I brought my knee up and slammed it into Mark’s balls as hard as I could. He fell off of me with a groan.

“Fucking cunt!”

I rolled off the bed and hit the floor so hard that I bit my tongue. Blood filled my mouth and I ran. I didn’t know where I was going, but the direction didn’t matter so long as I was moving. It was only when my heel hit the edge of the balcony and I almost went to the ground that I realized I hadn’t run towards the door.

When I turned around to make a run for his door, it was too late. Mark was there.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Kit. Get on your knees.”

“No, stay away from me.”

I backed away from him, hands shaking while the stupid stars I’d been gazing at just minutes before blazed overhead. Oh god, how was this happening? This couldn’t be real. Why was this happening?

“Let me go, Mark.”

He stepped out onto the balcony and the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t going to let me go. “Not before we have fun.”

“I’m not having fun. I want to go home!” I shouted the last word at him and when I saw his eyes go wide and he looked around like he was afraid someone heard, I knew what to do.

“Help me!” I screamed as loud as I could and Mark practically went purple. If I was loud enough, someone would hear me, even if they were inside. The houses were too close for someone not to hear me.

“Someone help me!” I stumbled back, playing for time because Mark was coming closer. A dog started barking next door and a light flashed on. I was going to get away from him. Someone was going to come look, that light was them, about to come to the door, I just had to stay away from Mark long enough for them to figure out where I was and what was happening.

I sucked in a deep breath to scream but Mark was faster. He lunged at me. “Shut up,” he hissed and wrapped his hands around my neck to choke me. I spluttered and twisted away from him but I couldn’t get free. I kicked his shins as hard as I could and Mark wobbled again. Maybe he’d had more than the four beers I’d watched him slam. He leaned close, hot breath against my cheeks and I smelled more than beer. It smelled like whiskey. I kicked him again and scratched his face.

“Fuck!” He jerked away but tried to keep hold of me. That’s when I threw myself forward. I had to get him off center to break his hold. We hit the banister with a crack and I slammed my hands against his chest as I threw myself backwards. Mark’s hold broke and I fell back onto the balcony with a cry. I’d hit my head and was too dazed to move.

Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up.

My brain screamed at me but it was tough to get my body to obey. I had to get away or Mark was going to find me. He was going to hurt me. I had to move. I had to. I forced my body to move and my legs obeyed but when I finally staggered to my feet, I realized something.

I was alone on the balcony.

The dog was still barking and the light was off now.

I opened my mouth to call to Mark but nothing came out. My throat hurt from Mark trying to choke me but I didn’t stop trying. “Mark?” I called out softly.

There was no answer. I took a step forward and then another until I was at the balcony and when I looked down it was Mark that I saw. His legs were bent at a weird angle and his head had cracked open from where he’d slammed into the concrete. Blood made a dark halo around him and I wasn’t sorry that he was dead.

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