Page 140 of Worthy

Warm blood pools from the wound as he drops me like a sack of potatoes. I pounce again, pulling it out and stabbing him in the groin. I don’t even think about it. It’s instinct to defend myself.

His loud, pained shout draws the attention of the other man, who throws Jessica out of the van before jumping down. His feet land with a thud in the snow as I stab his friend a third time.

Before I can pull the knife back out again, a hard boot connects with my side, causing me to fall to the ground.

The cold snow seeps beneath my short nails while I groan in pain. My side is on fire, throbbing and burning.

Coughing, I spit a wad of blood that taints the white snow, and the stark contrast could be beautiful if I weren’t struggling to breathe.

I’m vaguely aware of Jessica’s loud sobs behind me. At least I took one of them down before meeting my own end. The man is quickly bleeding out on the ground, soaking the snow crimson.

Black leather boots on either side of me sink deep into the snow. I’m grabbed and shifted onto my back.

I smile up at the stranger through bloodied teeth while I lift my heavy-as-lead arm and flip him off. “You messed with the wrong girls.”

Smirking back, he crouches over me.“‘Girl.’Singular, darling.It seems you’re the only one with a fighting spirit.” He cups his ear. “Listen to her cry.”

More blood pours from my lips. I shift onto my side to cough it all up, but he shoves me down on my back, gripping my throat. “I’ll take my time with her, make sure she fucking feels it when I finally kill her.”

He cuts off my airflow, and I soon begin to struggle, heels sliding frantically through the thick snow.

There’s no doubt about it—he’s killing me. His shadowed eyes watch closely as my lips turn blue.

“Have sweet dreams, whore,” he taunts, smiling cruelly.

Darkness settles at the corners of my eyes, and my mom’s smiling face flashes before me in quick snippets of happy memories.

I’m vaguely aware of the tight grip on my throat falling away, followed by a heavy thud as his weight disappears.

“Melanie!” Jessica falls to her knees, stroking her cold hands over my cheeks to rouse me. “Look at me, Melanie.”

I try, but I’m too weak. The world is blurring in and out of existence.

She’s on her feet, desperately searching the snowy ground for the keys to the van. They’re lost.

Grabbing my wrists and dragging me through the snow, she grunts. I’m too heavy. Her heels are sliding through the thick layer of snow.

She soon gives up and flops to the ground behind me. She’s out of breath, cursing loudly. It’s cold, and my fingers tingle painfully.

“Melanie!” she growls angrily, her weight descending on my stomach. She slaps my cheek. “Wake the fuck up, dammit!”

My eyes slowly flutter open, and I bring my hand up to my sore throat. It’s bruising already, I can feel it.

“We need to move before we freeze to death out here.”

She helps me to sit. The snow is coming down heavier now. Jessica shivers visibly as she rises to her feet and wraps her arms around herself.

It takes a lot of fucking effort, but I eventually manage to climb to my feet. We’re in the forest, surrounded by trees that keep most of the heavy snowfall at bay.

Shrugging out of my coat, I hand it to Jessica.

“You need it,” she says, ever the polite, perfect girl.

“Take it,” I insist before looking behind me.

“I knocked him out with a rock.”

“Knocked him out?”

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