Page 103 of Giving In

He comes around, his blade still on my neck, and faces me. He drags his knife from my throat to my collarbone and a shiver runs down my spine. He slides it to the left and hooks the knife behind the strap of my tank top and my bra.

“N–no please,” I beg but he does it anyway. He pulls and cuts the straps, making my tears double.

“Please…” I sob. “Please don’t do this. Just leave. I won’t say anything, I promise. I won’t go to the police.”

He chuckles and points the knife at my scar. Below, my top and bra are hanging low, exposing the top of my breast.

“Nice scar.”

It’s never burnt as much as it does now.

“I remember when Alek shot your dad. I was just outside, guarding the door to make sure none of you escaped.” My heart stops altogether and so does my breathing. “He made a big mistake thinking he got all of you that day.”

I don’t say anything, I just keep eyeing the blade on my scar, my arms frozen at my side. I know I’m going to risk my life asking this, but my head is going to explode if I don’t.

“My br–my brother, is he alive?”

He laughs, loud and cold and it freezes my blood. “Ah, Aaron.” My heartbeat doubles, thinking my question will finally be answered. “What’s the point in telling you, girl? You’re going to die anyway. Do you know why you saw my face tonight?”

I know the answer, but I don’t want to say it. It is well known for the Wolves to never show their faces. It is well known that they always hide their faces when they ‘work’. No one knows who’s actually part of the gang. It is well known that when theydodecide to show their faces, it’s because the person won’t live to tell the tale.

“Because a Wolf face is the last thing you ever see,” he says. Repeating their motto. “I was sent to kill you, but nothing stops me from having a little fun before, right?”

I shake my head, my whole body trembling. The blade glides down my whole body, tracing disgust across my skin, until he settles it between my shaking thighs.

His phone rings loudly, making me jump, and his attention goes to his pocket as he tries to take it out.

I take this as my chance. I push away his hand holding the knife and make a beeline for the door to the stockroom. I type the code the fastest I’ve ever had and barge into the room, slamming the door with all my strength.

The door locks automatically and I take steps back as I hear him hit against it on the other side. I put my hand to my throat, suddenly feeling the pain from where he was holding the knife.

“Open the door, you fucking bitch!” he shouts.

I know he won’t be able to open it, but my heart is still hammering against my chest. I’m shaking at everything that just happened. I almost died. I almost...worse.

I try to gather my thoughts and look around the room. I’m safe here but there’s no exiting the café this way.

“I have all fucking night but just know the longer you take to open, the more you’ll suffer.”

Another sob escapes my mouth and when I go to wipe my cheeks again, I realize there’s blood on my hand. I touch my neck again. I’m bleeding and the panic grows thicker in my body.

It takes me a few minutes to remember that my phone is in the pocket of my apron. I grab it, try to unlock it too quickly, and watch it drop to the floor. My hands are shaking so much.

“Shit, shit, shit...shit.”

I never curse out loud but tonight got the best of me.

“Please, Lord, please let it not be broken.”

I do the sign of the cross before squatting. I pick up my phone and turn it around. The whole screen is crushed in a mix of colors. I can only read the top left corner anymore.

“Why,” I scream in frustration. “Why me?!”

I don’t know if I’m talking to the crazy guy banging on the door or God, but who cares, I’ve gone completely insane. This town has finally pushed the sanity out of my body.

My hope raises again when I recognize something in the top corner of my screen. The letters NA. I know the last person I called was Nathan on my way here before my shift. I must have managed to unlock it to my call log. If I manage to tap on his name, I can get him to call 911.

The banging on the door becomes harder and I know he’s using something to try and break it. I don’t hesitate one more second and do my best to tap exactly on the letters. I can see the screen changing and when I put it to my ear the ringtone is music to my ears.

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