Page 68 of Pushed

“Fuck you!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as I slammed both fists against the surface. “I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” Pounding my hands one after the other, I cried a river of tears.

All the promises of being free and going home were vanishing, disappearing right before my eyes as if the waves from outside had found their way in and washed everything away.

The water bore a trench over my cheeks, following the curve of my jaw and soaking the seam of my bra. Sniffling, I dragged my fingers across my face, doing my best to wipe them away.

No! I will not die here like this!

Not this way, not any way.

Raking my fingers through my hair, I twisted in place and looked for something I could use to pry the wood out of the fucking wall. I wasn't going to just sit there and wither away like a forgotten animal in its pen.

Time had escaped me long enough.

From the corner of my eye, a bright twinkle caught my attention. Turning towards the shiny glare, it hit me, it was right there and I hadn't even realized it.

Grabbing the mattress, I tugged it off the frame and let it fall to the floor. Dropping to my knees, I felt the metal leg of the bed, looking for the bolts that held it together.

What the hell is that?My fingers ran over rough lines and long indents in the metal. Dipping my head under the frame, I saw letters carved into the steel. Brushing the dust off, I read the words.

I'm not afraid anymore. You can have my body, but you'll never have me—M.W.

Holding my breath, I touched the scratched letters. Each letter bled into my skin, forcing me to understand that this place was a black hole. If you got too close, and you couldn't get away, it would suck you in, tearing you apart limb by limb.

Whoever this was, whoever had left this message, probably didn't expect for it to ever be seen. I couldn't help but think they wrote out a thought in a moment of clarity. Realizing that they would never see their life again.

I was not going to be that girl, I would never allow this world to willingly have me.

It was time for me to go.

Gotcha.

Finding the small bolts tucked up near the bend, my thin fingers were able to unwind the nuts and free the leg.

This. . . This has to work.

Gripping it tightly, I kissed the cold metal.Please work.

Jumping to my feet, the bed wobbled in place, balancing on three legs. Stepping to the window, I curled my hands firmly around the metal rod.

You can do this. It's just wood, it's not stone, it's not unbreakable.

Taking a deep breath, I lined up the end with the tight space between the wall and wood. Jamming it in between the plank and the drywall, I used every bit of strength I had to try and pop it free. Gritting my teeth, I rocked back and forth, watching small flakes of dust sprinkle the floor like powdered sugar.

“Come on!”Stepping back, I lurched forward and stabbed the wall. “Just fucking break already!”

Dropping my arms to my side, I shook them out. They were still sore and cramped from being suspended up over my head. But that didn't matter, I had to ignore the pain and force it away.

Adrenaline and pure need swept in, taking over and refusing to allow any weakness to hold me down and stop me from escaping.

Keep going, don't stop. You can't give up, Perri.

Grunting loudly, I bared down hard, using all my weight to try and move something that felt like a damn mountain.

“How's that working for you?” His voice cut in, making me jump inside my skin.

Whipping my head around, I dropped the pole and ran to Machi. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I tried to embrace him, but he didn't hug me back.

Yanking my arms away, his eyes shifted around the room, looking up at the corners of the ceiling and every nook and cranny he could find. “Don't do that—just in case. . . Just don't.” Releasing my hands, he took a step back and ran his palm across his forehead. “We need to talk.”

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