Page 185 of Sage Haven

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The footsteps were wrong.

Too heavy. Too fast.

Before I could turn—a hand tangled in my hair.

Fist tight.

And yanked me violently backward, tearing me from the chair with a force that ripped the breath from my lungs.

Pain exploded behind my eyes as my head snapped back.

The room spun. Bookshelves blurred. The table overturned with a crash, the candle shattering as it hit the floor.

I fought.

Kicked.

My nails clawed at unyielding flesh, scraping skin, feeling the sting of impact against my knuckles.

But it wasn’t enough.

I slammed into a bookshelf. Then the piano.

Pain lit up my ribs. My arms. My knees.

I tried to scream, but the air was gone.

My body scraped the hardwood, then the cold concrete.

I dug my heels into the floor.

I thrashed.

I didn’t stop fighting.

But then we reached the threshold.

The front door flew open, slamming against the wall.

And then, I was thrown.

Hard. Onto the gravel outside.

The air ripped from my lungs.

My palms scraped raw.

The sharp bite of stone tore at my skin.

I rolled, coughing, gasping for breath.

But there was no time.

A heavy boot crashed toward my face.

And the world went black.

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