Page 16 of Ash

She couldn't breathe.

She couldn't scream.

DO SOMETHING!!

He pushed and she stomped.

Amazed that she could finally marshal her body into doing something.

Her foot stomped on his and they both stumbled, but she managed to pull away, flailing her arms.

She was in the bathroom, her body bathed in chilling air.

"Bitch-"

He grabbed for the edge of the door, but she pulled it in closed it, the fingers on one hand fumbled for the lock as her other hand pulled inward.

The moment the sliding lock sank into place she dropped to her knees, her forehead against the wood.

"Open the door," he hissed through the space between the door and the frame, "I'm not gonna give up."

Suzannah turned, bracing her back against the door, planting her feet on the tile floor. She was prepared to push with all of her might and keep it closed.

She had to.

The door behind her shook and then she felt a sharp smack against the wood.

It felt like someone had kicked the door.

Suzannah wrapped her arms around her knees and held her breath, willing him to go away.

"Please, please, please..." She repeated the word like a prayer. "Please, oh please, oh please."

She didn't know how many times she'd said the words, but then she felt the chill settle into her arms and her feet slipped, stretching her legs out on the floor.

Her gaze moved around the floor under her, searching for something she might be able to grab, but there was nothing.

Not even a tile out of place.

She turned her head to look at the door and chided herself. It was solid wood. She couldn't see through it. How was that going to help?

Listen?

Yes!

Bending her knees, dragging her feet up to brace them against the floor again, she turned her head and placed her ear against the door.

Squeezing her eyes closed, she leaned against it and listened for any kind of sound.

But there was nothing.

Not a single sound on the other side of the door.

And when it stayed quiet, she let out a breath.

Exhausted, with anxiety rolling through her veins, she leaned up against the door and closed her eyes, praying that he was gone.

Chapter

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