Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
BLUE
The glacial rain punches me in the chest so hard I suck in a gasp and end up getting a mouthful of water. Sputtering, tripping, and buzzing with adrenaline, I force myself to keep moving forward.
No matter how much I want to stop and swallow as much rainwater as I can, I refrain and just appreciate any drops that fly into my mouth as I run.
Roaring wind and pelting rain drown out the cursing that chases me out the door of the shed. Adrenaline is the only thing pumping my arms and legs. I don't think I would have been able to get out of there without the complete and utter fear pushing me to escape.
Part of my brain registers the small lights along a muddy, snowy path, but I avoid the obvious option and take a hard right into a cluster of bushes.
Another sharp inhale of breath makes me gag on liquid, but I couldn't care less because it feels like I'm stumbling through row after row of motherfucking thorns.
Where the hell am I?!
Forcing myself forward, I attempt to raise my legs higher, but the bushes snag my jeans and tug on the threads. "Shit," I hiss, running by a tree that seems to reach for my bare arms. The scratch is the least of my worries right now because I swear I can hear heavy footfalls behind me.
Hopefully Clarence really is drunk so we match each other’s slow stumbles through the scraggly woods. I have a head start, and I would like to keep it.
Lungs pinching and rasping, I keep breathing. Because I have to. Because I want to.
Slowly, as if Mother Nature is coming to my rescue, the piercing rain turns to floating snow. Just the slight relief of that shift gives me a boost of energy.
More soft lights twinkle ahead, but a vine or some tall ass fucking plant slaps me across the face, making me teeter and change course. Maybe that is fate's way of telling me to hide in the darkness. Avoid the light and stay hidden.
Don't go toward the light! I hear Declan tease in my mind, and I honest to God smile. The chilly air hurts my teeth, but at least I can hurt, am I right?
Enough. Focus, Felix growls in my head, snapping me out of my silly thoughts again. Christ, I need a cheeseburger, a nap, and a fucking doctor. I could fuck with a taco too.
And chocolate.
I hum, which quickly turns into a yelp when I slip. Righting myself, I try to ignore the fact that my shoe was sucked from my foot just like I ignore all the aches and pains in my body.
Keep running, Felix urges.
I'm getting tired, though. This is getting harder, and I'm worried I'm not moving fast enough. Or even in a good direction. What if, when that thing slapped me, I turned around and headed back the direction I came? Thinking about it, though, there aren't any thorns stabbing my calves anymore.
Run, Blue! Where Felix was once motivating, his urgency makes me choke on a sob and blur my vision with tears.
Just keep swimming, Jared sings instead, and I can't help but giggle.
Look. That's Roman, gently urging me to blink away my tears.
What I see once my vision comes into view confuses me. Lights are moving and swinging around. Worry courses through me. Am I about to pass out?
One of those moving lights sweeps toward me, stabbing me in the eyeballs and punching my concussed brain. Too bright!
Dizziness tilts the ground beneath me and flings me off balance. Immediately, as though he was waiting for me to fall, a heavy weight lands on me and flips me over onto my back.
A scream erupts from me, sounding shrill and feeling like tiny needles are shredding my throat. Just as fast as the scream begins, it's cut off by meaty, wet hands wrapping around my throat.
Clarence's face wavers in my vision as snowflakes land in my wide-open eyes. He looks as if he's pouting or disappointed in me, but how can that be right?
"Why did you run, kitty?" he coos as the crushing sensation of my neck heightens. My lungs stutter and throb as if they're collapsing without oxygen. I've never wanted to take a breath as much as I do right now.
Scrambling to get him off as panic sets in, I buck my hips and claw at his hands. My fingers slip, and I must have lost more nails than I thought because my attempts to peel the skin from his bones aren't working. I can't gain any purchase.
I'm going to die. That's all I can think as my ears begin to ring. Confusion and even more fear tunnel my vision as my eyes feel like they're about to burst. No, no, no! Are my eyes bleeding?!
Flashes brighten Clarence's red face and rotting teeth. Light flickers and wavers, scaring me. Am I dying?
I don't want to die. Don't go toward the light. Stop swimming!
"Oh goodness. Look at you turning blue." He cackles and squeezes harder.
I'm losing the battle to stay awake. To stay alive.
If there were ever a moment I wish my trauma had taught me to dissociate it's now. Instead, I feel the fight drain from my body, and my arms slap onto the spongy earth. Snow falls into my gaping mouth, tingling my tongue. I grasp onto that sensation and allow it to be the last thing I feel.
An alarm bangs as my eyes roll into the back of my head. Caution! Death approaching! The final thing that goes through my mind is the explosion of red flags around me. I'm gone before I heed the warning.