Page 172 of Visions of Darkness

Beyond our power.

But it was me it wanted, so I forced myself up off that table as he started to stalk back in my direction, and I ran out of the kitchen.

“If you want me, then come and get me.”

I sprinted through the living room, my feet pounding across the carpet toward the door. I had to lure him out. Make him follow. It was their only chance.

I could feel him behind me. Harsh breaths panted from his mouth, his determination steel.

I had to make it out ahead of him.

A scream tore up my throat when a hand pushed me hard at the upper back. It sent me reeling forward, and my arms pinwheeled as I tried to remain upright, but there was no subduing the forward momentum.

I lost footing and flew, and I slammed against the floor.

My elbows took the brunt of it, and a new pain splintered up my singed, fiery arms.

He flipped me over and straddled me.

I wailed, bucking up and trying to get free, wheezing, “No, no, let me go.”

It all felt so similar to that day when they’d taken me to the facility.

When my lot had been cast.

When my fate had been decided.

I’d known then that everything would change. Had known somewhere deep inside that I would meet my end.

And I knew right then that I had.

Now the wholly unrecognizable face of my father glared down, distorted by pure hate. “You ruined everything. It was you. You!” he snarled.

I fought, thrashing my arms and kicking my feet. I whipped my head from side to side when he wrapped his hands around my throat.

He squeezed.

Squeezed so hard it closed off my windpipe, the oxygen locked in my lungs. Nothing could get in or out.

Terror bulged my eyes, and I struggled to get a breath, to war, to do anything to change what I already knew was coming for me.

He squeezed and squeezed, and panic lacerated my thoughts.

My mother. My brothers and sister.

No.

I couldn’t let him do this.

I had to stop him.

I had to fight.

Consciousness began to ebb, flickers of light and flashes of darkness as the world began to fade.

I could feel the life in my veins bleeding out.

Horror slammed me when my mother was suddenly there, yanking at his back and screaming, “Get off her. Get off her! That’s our daughter. Please, oh my God, please. Aria, oh my God, Aria!”

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