Page 150 of Coerced

As I gave up on the mattress, I heard a cut-off shriek and swung my head to see a demon had lassoed Maddy with one of those poles used by dog-catchers. As Spin and Tara tried to distract the other five demons, Jax and Chance worked to free her without choking her or breaking her neck. Most of the demons were armed with metal-tipped sticks and struck at us with vicious jabs that the mattresses blunted, but couldn’t stop completely. Blood flooded down Spin’s and Tara’s arms and Jax’s cheek, but no one gave up.

And I stood there like a ninny.

I couldn’t think over the deafening noise at the door: Shouts and hisses and a disturbing infrasound that made my insides squirm and my heart thump with dread even though I couldn’t hear anything. Shaking my head, I spun around in search of a weapon. my eyes landed on the workstation - and Chance’s pocket knife.

Well, it’s something sharp, anyway.

I raced over and scooped it up, then turned back toward the fight. All eyes were on the struggle around Maddy. I had an idea. Not my best one, but I went with it. Dropping to my hands and knees, I began to crawl through the throng with the knife clutched tight in my right hand.

Kerry’s always teasing me about my size. Might as well use it. And who knows? It might work.

I dodged legs and feet and talons to wind my way toward the door. Someone - maybe Jax - shuffled his feet quickly, and his heavy boot landed on my left hand. Stars burst behind my eyes as I bit back a scream. Jerking my hand free, I cradled it to my chest and whimpered as my fingers turned red-hot and throbbed. I tried to block out the pain like Kerry did, but only learned that it wasn’t as easy as he made it look.

Freedom was only three or four feet away. I knew I could make it if I hurried. Doing a sort of hop-crawl with one hand, I focused on the gravel I could see on the other side of the door.

Then a pair of brown leather shoes blocked me. Fear choked me. I looked up at Castle, but he was too busy calling out more orders to his minions to notice me.

Stop being such a scared little mouse and do it!

I pried the blade out of the knife, drew my arm back, and drove it through his shoe. He howled, raised his foot, and hopped around - and I made a dive for the door. I thought I’d made it until fingers dug in my hair and hauled me to my feet. I fought, but he grabbed both my wrists in one gloved hand and twisted my arms behind my back.

The largest demon screeched in a language that made my ears hurt.

“I’m not going to kill her,” I heard Castle reply. “Hurt her a little, maybe, but notkillher.”

He shoved me out the door and, as soon as I stepped outside, my power flooded back.

You’re in trouble now, you jerk. Just let me get a finger - one finger! - on your skin and it’ll be nighty-night for you.

From behind us, I heard a door slam shut and the rattle of a metal bolt sliding in place, then Maddy screamed and I realized the demons had brought her outside, too.

“Where are they taking her?” I demanded.

“She’s already dead. Worry about yourself, little girl.”

“No, she’s alive! I hear her! Maddy!” I screamed. “MADDY!”

“Not for long. When they get her back to their lair, the other demons will swarm her. It’ll be a feeding frenzy in seconds.”

His words became images in my mind. I turned my head in time to vomit on the ground instead of down my front.

“Watch it! You almost got that on me!”

That does it. This guy deserves no mercy.

He dragged me along. I did my best to be as difficult as possible, digging my heels in and trying to yank my hands free. When we reached a small outbuilding, he shoved me up against the door and clamped his free hand on the back of my neck.

Pre-vomit bile flooded my mouth again.

“Come into my office, little girl. We need to get better acquainted.”

#

I wobbled a little as I slid between shadows, edging my way closer to the workshop where the others were imprisoned. Close to going into shock, I had to concentrate hard to get one foot in front of the other and not lose my grip on the crate I carried, but I finally made it.

My hand was shaking so hard, I couldn’t grab the bolt at first, but I finally managed to slide it back and push the door open.

“RAHHHH!”

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