Page 5 of Moose

My Papa’s voice echoed in my head as I tried to think of a way to escape. I would not die here.

The man laughed. “You’re more like your father than I thought. Figured you would be a weak bitch like your mother. She was too innocent for this world.”

I glared at him, keeping my mouth shut before I went off on him. The only thing he was right about was that my mother was weak.

She jumped into a world that she couldn’t handle and instead of becoming stronger; she gave up. She left the man she loved and her child because she wouldn’t toughen up.

And I would never fucking be like her. I was strong, like my father. I would never abandon my child. Looking up at the man, I smiled.

“Might as well kill me, cause I ain’t tellin’ you shit, bro.”

He shook his head as he came closer to me.

“Killing you would be too easy. I want to watch you suffer as you spill all the secrets.”

“I don’t know anything. So torture away ‘cause I know fucking nothing. You’re wasting your time. I ain’t part of the Southside Boys.”

He pushed me onto my stomach and untied my arms. Flipping me to my back, he grinned an evil smile.

“Time to fuck that sass out of you. You will fucking tell me what I want to know. I know you’re the fucking head! Don’t play me, cunt!”

He thought I was weak. That he had to beat me down so badly. Little did he know the darkness that grew in me. That was embedded in me since the day I was born. I was a fucking warrior.

As he reached down to grab my leg, I kicked up at the perfect time, nailing him right in the face. He stumbled back as blood dripped down his face.

“You fucking bitch!”

He ran toward me, but I stayed still. I wasn’t getting out of here unless I killed him. He would find me and hunt me down if I didn’t stop him.

I stood like my Papa had drilled into my head;feet apart, slightly wider than my hips. Rear heel raised, balance. Pelvis under hips, keep tension. Arms up, right close to my body, and left in front of my body. Elbows fucking in. Chin down.

My father's voice rang in my head as I watched the man stalk toward me.

“Chin down, hands up, flower! You’re a fighter, baby. Go out fucking swinging!”

I moved around, not wanting to be a sitting duck. He came toward me and tried to grab my ponytail.

I ducked and thrust my fist out, hitting him in the face again.

“You’re gonna fucking regret this.”

I laughed as he stormed toward me. He was letting his anger take over, which was the biggest mistake.

Always stay calm and collected, my flower. Never let emotions control you.

I moved just before he got me, making him run straight into the wall. He wasn’t as tough as he seemed.

Dazed and confused, he came toward me again. This time, I kicked my foot out, swiping towards him, making him fall to the ground.

I immediately jumped on top of him, landing punches into his face and stomach. His hands were up, trying to protect his face.

His hands reached up to my face, but I quickly pushed them down, then kneeled on them so he couldn’t put them back up.

I had to do it. Kill or be killed, flower.

Moving my hands to his neck, I pressed down and watched as he realized what was happening.

The man tried to get me off of him but I wasn’t letting up. The adrenaline was running through me, filling my body with life as I watched the man below me turn blue.

---