Page 18 of Never Give Up

The blood stopped flowing sometime between the second and fifth time he cut off my air flow, but I can taste copper on my tongue from biting the gag and ripping something in my mouth during the struggle.

My left arm hurts more than it should, the pain searing itself into my brain in a way I would have laughed at only hours ago. But I have hope. As the lights start to dim, I know it’s going to be over soon. How many times can you choke someone to the brink of unconsciousness before their body gives out?

“It’ll be over soon.”

Except he doesn’t move from on top of my body; he just stays there, pinning me down and staring at my face.

“Not yet.”

Pain shoots through every fiber of my body when he lets go of my throat.

I shake my head, trying to forget the monster that forced his way into my home, the one trying to brand himself into my memory with every breath he’s stealing.

Less than thirty seconds later, he puts his hands around my throat and starts to squeeze.

“You won’t play along, and that’s okay.” His breath brushes against my face. “You don’t have to. Your body already gave me everything I want. Watching the life leave your eyes over and over again. Your life is mine.”

I already expect the lack of oxygen, but it’s the pain that takes me by surprise. His hands are squeezing harder this time. Which makes no sense to my brain, because I’ve lost count of the times he’s done the exact same thing.

But this is different.

This time, my body isn’t holding on.

This time, I can’t fight the darkness that’s weighing down my chest and my limbs.

Slam.

In the distance something crashes, and voices break through the silence in my mind.

“Help!” The croaked words have no voice because I have no oxygen in my lungs, but I fight just the same.

I won’t die without trying one last time.

The weight from on top of my body is gone, but I know better than to think he’s gone. He’s here, standing over my body. He mutters something to himself, then there’s nothing but white-hot pain radiating from my stomach.

What did he stab me with?

Then he’s finally, silently, gone.

In the silence I lose control and start to cry, my body trembling with shock and pain and relief all compounding into one undeniably intense emotion.

Blood, warm and wet, starts to seep out of my abdomen and I know it’s bad when the pain fades to almost nothing.

I’m gonna die, and I never even got to be loved.

My door opens.

No.

I’m exposed.

Broken.

I can’t even move my arms to cover… anything.

“Brian, you can’t come in here.” Jake’s voice is harsh, and it breaks through the fog in my brain before his face appears in the doorway, bringing with it my new reality.

I’m dying.

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