Page 61 of Salvation

She clawed at his face and arms, desperate to get free.

“Thought you could fight with me, little bitch?”

She landed a kick at his shins, and his grip loosened just long enough for her to suck in a breath of air.

“Don’t make this harder on yourself, honey.”

She scratched at his eyes, but she could barely see. Her kicks grew weaker, and she wheezed desperately. God, she couldn’t breathe.

“You will die, and the others, too.” Emmett’s face was purple with rage, and his stale breath stuck in her nose.

She closed her eyes, unable to face him any more. If she had to die, she’d shut her mind off to the worst of it.

Don’t die! Fight him!an inner voice cried.

She gave another weak kick, a feeble punch, but he parried both easily.

Don’t die. Hang in there.

She knew she had to be dying, because the voice no longer sounded like her own. It came whispering into her mind from a distance, like an angel in her hour of need.

She allowed herself a tiny inner smile. That’s what she’d think of. An angel.

The funny thing was, she’d always pictured angels as women with fluttery white gowns and wings, but the image that came to her was of Todd.

Don’t die. Not now. Not like this.

Why did the words sound so familiar?

“You see?” Emmett raged on, but his voice grew fainter. “No one can stop us.”

Don’t die.The angel’s voice grew fainter.

How could she not die? She didn’t have any air.

Emmett changed his grip on her throat, and she gulped a tiny breath of air.

Not now. Not like this.

Maybe the angel was right. Maybe she could last a little longer.

Why bother?part of her wailed, ready for it to be over.

Hang on. Just hang on,the angel pleaded in her mind.

She stopped struggling and tried anticipating Emmett’s shakes. He rattled her back and forth like a rag doll, making her sick. But when he pushed her body away from his, his fingers let up a little, and if she was quick enough, she could catch a little air.

“Say it!” Emmett screamed on. “Tell me I was right!”

Hold on…

She tried to, but the world was getting darker. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel her awareness slip away.

“Tell me I am the best—”

Emmett’s tirade was cut off by a mighty roar that ripped out of nowhere, and the ground shook under her feet. The earth seemed to swallow her up, and she crashed into something hard.

Breathe,the angel ordered as the world around her exploded in barks and growls.

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