Page 74 of These Jagged Edges

I open the door as quietly as I can as we slip from the room into what seems to be a packing room of sorts. I can make out a conveyor belt and what looks to be huge round cylinders sitting in the middle of the room. I begin searching for an exit or another door when I hear Trent's menacing laugh coming from the room we just escaped from.

"Evie," Allison whimpers with raw panic in her voice.

I grip the pipe tighter in my grasp. "Stay close." God, I wish there was a way to get rid of these damn chains. I finally find what looks like an exit out just on the other side of the big ass cylinders. Just as we reached the door Trent comes through the one we used to escape. Not waiting around, we slip through the door into the night air.

The place is overgrown but I'm sure if we follow the streetlamps, we'll find our way to the road or someone. Isn’t there an old campground around here? Surely someone still lives in the area. But before we can make our getaway the sound of a gunshot stops me dead.

Fighting back tears I’m flooded with memories of my boys. From their first cries to watching them splash around in the pool with the biggest smiles. They’ve been the greatest blessing of my life. I’ve cherished every single second of being their mother, but I know I can end this once and for all. I just hope everyone else will forgive me for what I’m about to do.

I grasp Allison by her elbows. "Tell Lou there's an envelope taped under my bed with everything she's going to need just in case..”

"Evie, no! Please don't go back in there. Think of your boys! Please, I'm begging you," she cries, trying to pull me with her.

"I am. I canneverlet him get to them. I have to do this.”

"Evie, please!" The tears on her face catch in the moonlight reminding me of the beauty of life and its fragility.

"Allison, you’re a good person. You never had to convince me how much you loved Livvy,” I tell my friend as tears stream down my face. “I’m so sorry you lost yourself and your baby, but it’s never too late. You’ve been a good friend, and I can’t thank you enough for that."

With that, I embrace her tightly before giving her a gentle push and turn around. If that motherfucker wants me, he's going to have to come and get me, because I refuse to let that bastard take my friend as well.

The darkness conceals me as I slink back towards the dark building, despite my body protesting.

"Oh, Posey. Come out, come out wherever you are," Trent taunts.

"Oh Trent, you crazed sick fuck, come and find me," I taunt back.

I hear movement coming up my right side. Quickly I crouch own beside the building, the grainy texture of the brick biting my ass as I sit and wait. I grasp the pipe like a baseball bat. I'm about to ring his damn bell. With only one ear I listen closely as the steps get closer and closer. I count to ten before swinging.

One. Like the one morning, Maddox braided my hair.

Two. My two beautiful boys.

Three. The number of times Maddox has genuinely laughed.

Four. The boys were born at four in the morning.

Five. The number of times I've caught Bash on top of Vic's old shed.

Six. The times Charlie has intentionally not spoken to me his whole life.

Seven. How old my babies are turning tomorrow or hell maybe right now? I don't know the fucking time.

Eight. The number of months since Maddox stormed into my life.

Nine. The time Lou finished off nine jumbo frozenmargaritas and had to be picked up for being drunk and disorderly. Henry was not amused.

Ten. The number of people I call my family.

I swing with all my might and with a sickening crack I connect with Trent. I hear the gun hit the gravel, but I don’t stop swinging.Whack. Whack. Whack.

"I'm going to fucking kill you! You worthless whore!"

"Not if I kill you first bitch!"

I land one blow across his temple, knocking him to his knees. One across the bridge of his nose and blood sprays me everywhere. That's okay because I’m going to wear this asshole's blood like a damn suit of armor, and I’m not stopping until it soaks every inch of my skin.

I swing again when I feel him grasp my ankle and with a hard yank, he pulls my legs from under me. I land hard on my back, knocking the air out of me, giving him just enough time to crawl on top of me.

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