Page 19 of Pushed

Chapter Five

Imperial

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“Take it off.” Machi's voice rained down on me as I laid in the bed, lost and saddened by everything I set in motion.

He was right when he said I put myself in this position. I let my curiosity consume me, I let it walk me straight into his hands. It didn't make any of it right or deserved, but it was still the truth.

If I had just kept walking, I wouldn't be here. I would be home, waking up in my apartment with my cat Velcro curled around my face. I'd be having a cup of coffee with Cassie and chatting about what plans we had for the week.

I'd still be. . . Me.

Machi said his men hadn't been looking for me, if he was telling the truth, then this was all just a horrible game of coincidence.

But they did take the time to look at you.

Who were they after?

It doesn't matter. . . He found you instead.

“I don't want to.” Rolling to my side, I hugged my knees. “I like not being able to see anything.”

The blackness had started to feel like more of a friend than an enemy. It kept my mind working, it kept my senses peaked and the horrors around me in shadows. I was starting to embrace the idea of not being able to see what was going on around me.

If he was going to kill me, I wouldn't see it coming. I wouldn't have to endure those last few moments of sadness and pain. I wouldn't have the time to process what was about to happen or have the need to pray for something that was inevitable.

Death may or may not come, but I didn't have to see it when it spread its wings and devoured me whole.

“It's been days now, if you don't take it off, I will.”

“Don't you dare try and touch me.” My body crunched up tighter as I pressed my face into the space between my knees.

“I'm taking it off.” I felt his fingertips press against the blindfold, attempting to curl under the edge.

“No!” I screamed, slapping his hand away. “Do not touch me.”

“Take. It. Off.” Machi's voice drifted between high and low tones, harboring a hint of annoyance.

Pressing my hands to the side of my head, I held the cloth in place. “No.”

“Damn it, I said take it off!” The weight of his hands fell over my arms, trying to yank them away. “Just fucking take it off!”

“Fuck. You.” Clawing at the blindfold, I tried to pierce my nails into the material, keeping it firmly against my eyes.

Machi climbed up onto the mattress, straddling my waist. Releasing one hand, I swung it through the air, trying to hit him. I connected with something; his chest, his shoulder, his stomach, I wasn't sure. But it was rock hard, crunching my fingers into my palm and cracking my knuckles with an audible pop.

“How'd that feel?” he asked, pressing down onto my ribs and catching my wrist. Pushing my arm up, he pinned it high above my head.

“Fuck you!” Snarling, I grunted in anger, desperately trying to shove him off of me. But he was too heavy, crushing my chest down and making it hard to breathe. Taking in labored gulps of air, I refused to give up.

“Get off me!” Screaming, I rocked my hips, wildly bucking my body.

The two of us wrestled, his hands snatched and tore at my face, making every effort to grab the blindfold. My hands dug into my hair, holding it in place as I moved my head so he couldn't get a good grip.

“You're taking that fucking thing off.” I thought I heard him laugh as he spoke. It was a quiet giggle that didn't sound angry or agitated. His voice had lightened, turning from heated to playful.

What the hell are you doing?

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