Page 3 of Hook

My intense and sudden elation quickly turns to mind-boggling fear when I hear the loud beeping sounds of a truck backing up followed by my car jostling a few times and finally the front half of it being lifted off the ground.

It's worse than I thought. They weren't going to kill me right here. Whoever was outside was going to take me to Lance so he could do it himself.

I want to scream. I want to run out of the car and beg for my life but I can't move.

I've never felt more hopeless than I do right now as my car is lifted and dragged away with me still huddled under a blanket on the floor of the backseat.

My life is over.

I grab hold of the tire iron in my hand and squeeze tight. I know what the end is going to be but I'm not going to go down without a fight. Lance is going to get his one way or another.

Remembering all I've learned from the crime shows I watch, I do my best in trying to commit to memory the different twists andturns that the car makes but I can't keep up. I don't know why I'm doing it, it's not like I'm going to be able to leave wherever this person is taking me anyway.

Hope. It's a crazy emotion.

Even just a slither of a chance that I might make it out alive has my mind going in circles. Trying to think up a plan or a bargain I can make to save my own life.

I know Lance isn't going to want anything in exchange. I'm his ultimate prize. The fact that he really thinks I was supposed to wait for him like a good little puppy says it all. He thinks he owns me. Thinks I'm nothing more than his prized possession.

Never again.

I calm my breathing, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment as the car comes to a stop and I hear the door to another car open and close. This is it.

I have to get ready.

Quickly I wipe my hands against my legs to dry the sweat coating my palms, before I grab for the tire iron again.

The steps get closer to the car and I feel the front end lowered to the ground. Steps come closer still, closer to my door. Closer to me.

The lock disengages on the door right above my feet.

It opens.

Cool air blows in and the blanket is slowly pulled away.

It's now or never.

If I'm going to live, I'm going to have to fight for my life.

Internal warrior princess activate!

"No!" The scream that pushes up and out of my throat is so loud I'm sure people hear it on the other side of town.

Jumping out feet first, I kick the person right at the opening of the door.

"What the fuck?" A deep voice grunts as they stumble back.

I don't wait for them to get back on guard. I raise the tire iron over my shoulder and swing wildly. I'll kill to stay away from Lance. I'll do whatever I have to.

Swinging again, I aim directly at the head of the man in front of me.

Centimeters from contact, the man catches the heavy tire iron. He yanks me forward and turns me so my back is to his front as we both wrestle for control of the weapon.

All my fight, all the strength I tried to save up for this moment is all but drained out of me. I can't fight anymore. The man yanks the tire iron out of my grasp but doesn't let me go.

I can feel his breath against my ear as he talks, "Someone's been a bad girl."

Three

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