Page 33 of Paradox
A bolt of lightning strikes so close to the shack that I can see its light through the sleeping bag. Then, within a second, the thunder follows like cymbals in my ear, and I scream.
A second roll of thunder is close behind, but deeper, like a bang. Then the blizzard is inside with me.
I’m in the eye of the storm.
The squall cries out my name; "Jintae!”
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to die.
There’s weight on me—this has to be it. A tree has fallen and I’m trapped beneath it.
“Jintae!”
The sleeping bag is pulled free of my hands.
My heart leaps traitorously, but I bury myself again. Maybe if I don't move, he’ll think better of his decision to come out here.
"Jintae!" Eden's voice booms. "Get the fuck up!”
I stay still, barely breathing.
Go away. Please, just go away.
Don’t make me look at you.
Don’t replace my spite with something I don’t understand.
"Don't make me drag you out."
But I won’t let him. I won’t allow him to force me back into that suffocating cabin where his hatred feels like a physical weight crushing me.
“Get up, you dumb fuck,” he yells, trying to force me, but I fight back, kicking at his side with both feet.
With my back against the wall and the opening of the sleeping bag around my chest, I glare at him through the chaos whirring around us. “Why? So you can feel better about yourself? So you can pretend you’re not a complete asshole for five minutes?”
Eden's eyes narrow dangerously. "You ungrateful brat. I'm trying to save your life."
"Oh, now you care? After leaving me out here to freeze? To starve? Fuck you, Eden."
"Fine, freeze to death. See if I give a shit."
My throat tightens.
A small, pathetic part of me wants to beg him to stay, but I swallow it down. I won't give him the satisfaction.
"Go on then!" I shout, hating how my voice trembles. "Run away. It's what you're good at!"
Eden whirls back around. "What did you say to me?"
I know I should shut up, but the words pour out anyway. "You heard me. You're a coward. That’s why you ran here instead of facing the real reason why Shawn would rather fuck Reeze instead of you."
In two long strides, he's looming over me. I shrink back instinctively, but force myself to meet his gaze.
"You don't know shit."
"I know enough. I know you're cruel. I know you're selfish. And I know I'd rather die than owe you anything else."
