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Pronouciation/Glossary

Slàinte mhath - cheers/good health (slanj-eh vah)

Chapter 6 - A Night to Remember

My first proper work shift would have been a triumph, an enjoyable one at that, if it weren't for the insufferable sun determined to give everyone heat stroke. . .and the dreaded way the night ended.

Ness hated the sun, I'd concluded after a day spent working beside him. If a customer had to be served drinks near one of the windows that weren't blacked out, he made me do it, and if something needed put in the massive industrial bin outside, that was my job too. Towards the end of my shift when the blackboard had to be taken in from outside, Ness had looked at me. Cait, the only other woman I'd seen working at the pub, rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips.

"Have you actually done any work today, Ness?"

He grinned. "I've poured the drinks and taken the money."

She rolled her eyes again, then motioned for me to follow her.

The blackboard was nearly as tall as me, the blue chalk in loopy lettering reminding passers-by melting in the heat that a glass of ice water was free inside.

"Unclip it from that hook there," she guided, pointing to the metal hook drilled into the pub wall, connected to the board by a small metal chain. "You'd be surprised what teens try to nick."

I believed her. When I first moved to the city, more than once I'd been caught off guard by a group of howling teens carrying traffic cones, pushing stolen trolleys, and even turning around sign posts.

It was easy enough to unclip and fold up, but carrying it would be a pain. I rested it against the wall when I realised Cait was in no hurry to return inside.

Wiping sweat from my brow, I straightened up and groaned. I swore I could feel my skin reddening after only a few seconds in the sun. A cool breeze gave a brief moment of relief. Cait and I both sighed, then laughed at our synchronization.

She plucked a cigarette out, offering me one and tucking them back into her jeans when I shook my head. I leaned against the wall beside her anyway, one foot propped up while I tilted my face up into the sun with a lazy smile. It would disappear behind the houses soon as it dragged into evening, but at this time of year, it was only really dark from 11pm till 3am the next morning.

"How are you enjoying your first shift?" Cait asked, her short stature meaning she had to lean to the side to look at me properly.

"It's been good. Busy and sweltering, but good. I like to be kept moving." I grinned. "Can't lie though, I'm looking forward to going home to sit in front of the freezer."

Cait barked a laugh. "Why do you think I keep going into the store room? The fridge has been helping me get through the day! You've done well though, really. Wren doesn't think you'll manage to keep up with club nights if you're needed, but I think you'll be fine."

"Thanks, Cait." I appreciated that more than she knew.

She smiled. Then her eyes darted to the silken choker around my neck.

I'd folded it in half today to make it a bit more discreet; especially as I was wearing a white floral crop top that definitely clashed. However, I'd noticed hers too. A purple band of similar material hung in a stylish loose bow around her wrist, and on either end was the same Blackbird symbol that hung above our heads at that very moment.

I flinched back when she lifted her hand and tugged the silk on my neck down, going on tiptoe as if searching for something. Laughing nervously, I batted her away.

"What are you doing!"

"I was just checking for something." Her lips curled up as she eyed me curiously. "My mistake."

"Checking for what?"

She didn't answer. Taking a long draw of her cigarette, she pushed away from the wall before stubbing it out and chucking it in the bin. "Come on. There's a private event on tonight so when these people go we need to close doors for a bit so we can set up the tables."

"Be two secs," I agreed, watching her retreat inside with a frown.

Fiddling with the choker, I suddenly found it over constricting. Ness had stared at it too. Long and hard when he thought I was busy. . .busy trying to catch sight of movement in the windows of the boss' office. It itched a bit now after hours of wearing it in the heat, and after getting a proper look at the one Cait wore, I felt suddenly like the meaning had changed. Hers was the exact same as mine, whereas the I saw Laura with both one in purple, but more often in red. Was Cait's from Taran too? Was Laura's? Why did that make something in my chest pang in an off note?

Tired of the inconvenience, I found my fingers untying it and tearing it off, shoving it in my back pocket with a huff.

He did say it wasn't necessary to wear during my day shifts after all.

Another hour passed before the last of the customers came to the bar to pay and trickled out. I managed to have only one fight with the ancient till and thankfully the older couple were patient while I tried to fix it. I watched them leave with a sigh of relief. Ness patted my shoulder.

"Good job, Kiddo."

First shift over, and with no fireable mishaps.

Cait shut the front doors and flicked the latch to lock them, leaning against the wood until Wren appeared at the staff door. He must have been in the back. Ness had mentioned they'd bought the entire sprawling building that once belonged to some rich lord or other in the 19th century, which included a garden space somewhere through the living area I'd been explicitly banned from. With so many rooms and halls throughout, I wondered what else they had planned with the place.

Wren didn't spare me a glance as he hovered halfway through the door, and his voice was tight asked, "Cait, are you available?"

His tone made her straighten immediately, her expression suddenly guarded. Maybe she found his appearance as unnerving as I did. Shrouded in shadow, his eyes were unusually bright, amber like the hunting eyes of an eagle. His hair was a mess of spiked blond, and purple bags bruised the skin beneath his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well in days. He licked his lips once. Twice. And the action startled Cait forward a few steps.

"Oh! Yes," she replied, before hesitating. "But then I can't be for the rest of the week."

"In that case, who's on shift with. . ." Wren stopped his scan of the room with a scowl when his gaze landed on me. His lip curled up. "What time will the others get here?"

"Eleven, half past maybe," Cait answered. "Can you wait?"

"I could help," I offered.

Three sets of eyes landed on me.

Wren smirked and tipped his head as if considering, but Ness stepped around the bar and ushered Cait to go with his dishevelled brother. "I'll talk to Mac about Laura or someone else taking your place this weekend. There's always someone clammering for an extra shift."

Cait shrugged and winked at me as she passed, untying the bow from around her wrist. Wren tracked her movements with bright eyes as she swept past him, and he licked his lips again before following her into the back.

Someone needed to get the man a glass of water. And a hairbrush.

"Why couldn't I have helped?"

"Because you don't work the private events," Ness answered, shoving a cloth and a bottle of cleaning spray into my hands. "By the time you clean up spills on the bar and tables you're shift will probably be long past over, but if you stay back to help me set up for the night, I'll pour you a celebratory shot for a good first day on the job"

I grinned. "Sounds great."

Perfect. It had been the perfect first day.
It didn't take us long for the room to go from family friendly pub, to high-end, invite only event space. I burned myself more than once lighting the many candles on the rustic wooden tables Ness and I had to lug out from the back, but the effort paid off. The big lights had been switched off, only a few soft lamps lot up near the doors. I wished I could have stayed to see what was on as I finished clearing boxes from the stage so the nights entertainment could set up when they arrived.

As promised, as I climbed down the stairs and crossed the room, Ness pulled down two whisky glasses from the shelf.

"Whatever you want, it's on the house."

"I'll take a vodka coke then," I said, gathering my jacket and purse on the bar stool beside me.

Ness scoffed and picked up a bottle of ancient looking whisky. The label was yellow and wrinkled, the lettering nearly completely faded. "Nonsense. Here. Taran won't mind, I'm sure. Nearly one hundred and twenty five years, but not his oldest by far." He poured out an eye watering amount of the amber liquid, but the smell was tantalisingly smoky. "To your first day. Slàinte mhath!"

"Slàinte." My first testing sip earned me a look of derision, so I took a proper swig, swishing it once before swallowing. It was smoky, and sweet, burning a little too, but it was far nicer than anything my father had in his locked cabinet. "I've not drunk as much in my life as I have since coming here."

Ness chuckled, tipping his glass towards me. "Get used to it. Half the job working behind a bar is trying to avoid people offering to buy you a drink, and then pretending to drink it if that fails." His smile faltered, and he gave me a conspiratory wink. "Big boss is coming. Look busy."

"My shift is over remember. I don't need to look busy."

But goddamn my heart still beat a mile a minute as I slid from the bar stool and slid my jacket on, ear straining to hear whatever Ness did that told him Taran was on his way. I almost thought he was mistaken until the staff door swung open with a heavy thunk. I did my best not to spin around to catch sight of him like a fan-girling tween, trying to appear as though I was gathering my things to leave.

"Miss Campbell."

Swallowing, I turned with a raised brow. Miss Campbell? How formal. So Little Mouse was just between us then.

"Taran."

"Sorcha," he replied slowly, as if tasting the name and finding it unpleasant. His eyes flicked to the antique clock ticking obnoxiously behind the bar, with a growing frown. "Your shift ended at nine."

I made a point of swinging my handbag over my shoulder. "I'm just leaving now."

"Driving?"

"Walking."

"Dammit," he bit off, nearly making me flinch. "I told Mac to tell Laura. . ." Sighing, he rubbed his forehead. "Where's Wren?"

Ness made a noise rubbed the back of his neck. "He uh. . .he's with Cait. You know what he gets like, it's been a week since he last. . .well, you know."

Stress turned to anger, his hand falling to fist at his side. "And you left him alone with her?"

Ness scoffed, bracing himself on the bar with a look of hurt and irritation etched into his expression. A whole silent conversation seemed to pass between the two men, and I was stuck in the middle trying to fill in the blanks. After a tense moment, Taran deflated.

"Forgive me, Ness. I'm not myself. I know he wouldn't. . .Gwydion is coming tonight. I can't have anything going wrong. Just have Wren walk her home will you."

"Excuse me?" I choked, spinning to face him "I can walk myself. It's not even dark out yet."

The look I got was an electric shock to the system; the weight of dark eyes a physical pressure that crushed the air from my lungs. It was a look that warned of deadly consequences if I kept arguing.

Ness sucked his teeth and began to awkwardly shuffle around the bar. "I'll uh, I'll go get Wren while you two. . .yeah."

As soon as he passed behind Taran, he bolted for the staff door and tore it open so hard, the hinges creaked in protest. It slammed shut behind him with a resounding thud, and around us the candles flickered at the disturbance, causing dark shadows to sway across Taran's looming form.

"We talked about discussing rules as they cropped up; this is one of them." Voice firm, he dared me to argue. "If you walk, you walk with someone."

A rush of frustration bubbled up. It was one step from being shadowed by my 'friends' who were really my parent's eyes and ears; my mother's especially. I was tired of people thinking I needed my hand held.

"You said I could stop you crossing the line with a word. I want to use it now, whatever it is," I stated, trying to imitate the steel in his voice.

His mask slipped with a slight smile. "You need to actually pick the word, Sorcha," he said dryly. "But very well. I'll take a step back."

I blinked at his sudden withdrawal. Maybe I would pick a word if it was going to work as easily as that.

Taran folded an arm over his chest, the other propped up so he could stroke across his jaw. "Since it's too late tonight, Wren is walking you home, that's not up for debate, but after that, you either come by car and text me when you're leaving, and when you arrive home again, or someone walks with you. Those are your two options. You can think on it until your next shift."

My hopes were dashed, and I wanted to argue that those options still infringed on both my hard-won independence, and my personal space. Hands fisting at my side, I shook my head. "No. What does it matter? I go out by myself all the time; to college, shopping, and everything in between. So what? You're going to have me escorted a couple times a week as if that really makes a difference? Why? I either should be worried about Frank or I shouldn't."

I didn't like the way his gaze unfocussed as if it had never occurred to him that I would leave my own house for reasons other than to come here. Nor the way he seemed to ponder on it for quite a while as if considering what to do about that fact.

Barking an unamused laugh, I straightened the strap on my shoulder and shifted weight to go for the door to leave.

The second I turned, his voice stopped me in my tracks, dark with warning.

"Try to scurry away before I'm finished with you, Little Mouse, and we can take this to my office before Wren takes you home. I am short on time, and trust me, you would rather I take my time when it comes to discipline." He stepped closer, tipping his head. "Do we need to discuss a little discipline? A reminder that it's rude to walk away from a conversation with your employer?"

My stomach flipped, my fingers twitching as if to reach for the door handle as the threat sent a flush of heat between my legs. The imperceptible movement drew a rough sound from the man who didn't seem to know if he wanted me coming or going. Unable to help myself, my tongue flicked out to prod the spot his teeth had captured. My lip tingled in remembrance of the sting of his nip.

Taran chuckled, a husky sound that did delicious things. Lazy steps thundered in my ear as he made his way towards me, and I found myself unable to do anything other than glare at the ground as I slowly turned back to him. Body tense with anticipation, every inch he gained drew it ever more taut, like a bowstring being pulled back. He stopped so close all I could see was the stark white of his buttoned shirt and the leather of his jacket, my nose catching a hint of cigarette smoke caught in the fabric. I couldn't help but breathe it in.

His proximity stopped my thoughts short. I couldn't even remember why I was still here. Why I hadn't barged right out the door?

In my peripheral, I saw his right hand lift, and tingles erupted low in my abdomen, my breath becoming shall as one of my hands reached out to hover over his hip in case I found myself suddenly needing purchase. His fingers trailed over my jeans, sliding back so the palm of his hand rested on the curve of my ass. Without meaning to, my hips shifted to press more of myself into his palm, breath caught in my throat. It was only when I felt his fingers slide into the back pocket of my jeans to slowly pull out the length of black silk I'd stuffed there, that I realised what I'd been doing.

Face flushed red, skin tingling, I sprang away from him, blinking to clear the fog his presence created.

Fury turned from him to myself as I berated my actions. I thought my boss was about to spank me and I'd all but bent over and asked him to. He knew it too. Full lips tugged up on one side in a deliciously smug smirk as dark eyes traced the red creeping down my neck to my chest.

"Maybe I should get you something you can't shove in your back pocket with such little care and respect." Holding it out, the smile fell as his expression hardened with the order, "Put it on until you get home."

I tried to take it from him, but his grip was unrelenting and I cast him an irritated look when he wouldn't let go. A brow arched in expectation.

"Next time I get too hot, I won't shove it in my pocket," I promised.

"That sounds more like an excuse than apology but we'll work on it," Taran said, finally allowing me to tug the silk from his fingers.

I looped it a few times around my wrist, tucking the ends in to keep it in place and enjoying the twitch to his jaw as I obeyed and rebelled both at once. His eyes lingered on my throat, his tongue sweeping out to wet his lips before he shook himself free of whatever train if thought had distracted him.

"So." I cleared my throat, fighting not to think about our last encounter when my every nerve-ending was screaming. Where the heck was Wren? "Laura told you about me thinking I'd been followed then. I should have known it was you she called when she stormed out the flat."

"Actually, it was Mac she called, and he told me. Next time she's to contact me directly so I can react faster. In fact." He reached out to capture my hand and tugged, causing me to stumble forward against his chest. His rough voice made my body tingle as his breath fanned over my skin. "Next time you think you're in any danger, you contact me immediately. Do you understand?"

I couldn't speak. Arching back so I could look at his face, it was impossible to ignore how his body felt against mine. Hard muscle pressed against my softer curves, and though he didn't hold me in place with anything more than the fact his fingers lightly held my wrist, I knew this was some sort of test.

Challenge was heavy in his gaze.

He wanted me to pull away.

He wanted me to react in disgust.

And when I didn't, his brow furrowed.

The skin of his abdomen twitched beneath my palm as I tried to brace myself, and an indecipherable look passed over his features. I couldn't understand why he didn't shove me away himself when he worked his jaw as if bearing something insufferable.
Why offer protection to me when he clearly wanted me to call our back and forth quits?

Frustration burned in the depths of his gaze, his grip tightening around my wrist as if debating whether to toss me away himself.

Frozen, heart pounding along with the throbbing growing between my legs the longer we stared each other down, my voice shook as I sensed the undercurrent of something dangerous in the air. Something about the way he looked at me, hungry, starving, and not in a way that echoed the desire in my belly. . .

"Taran?" I prompted warily.

The door behind him swung open, causing both of us to jerk though Taran still didn't release me.

"Am I interrupting?"

"Yes!" Taran barked, his head whipping towards Wren at the same time I choked out a sound that was meant to be the word no.

Wren's distraction was enough for me to finally remember this was my boss I was pressed up against. I staggered back. Dark eyes shot right back to me, disapproval lifting his lip before he too seemed to remember. Grunting, he straightened his shirt, and I didn't miss his hand brushing over the spot my hand had rested as if trying to get rid of every last sign of me.

Hurt blossomed as he dismissed me by turning his back, his tone curt as he addressed Wren. "You will walk her right to her door. She'll complain, and probably insult you, she doesn't mean it. Ness said she looked anxious when she arrived this morning so I'm sure in truth, she will appreciate the company."

God, this man. I swore steam must have been rising from the top of my head. How could I have been literally falling over him one second only to immediately feel the disgust he'd seemingly been looking for.

I seethed. "You're an absolute-"

"You don't need to prove anything to me," Taran interrupted my insult, tilting his head my way, the shimmer of silver over onyx eyes telling me he'd stopped me from finishing my insult for my benefit and not his. "You're a capable woman, I'm very aware of that fact, however, but you don't need to stand on your own two feet all the time to prove so. That can turn to arrogance and pride very quickly, and that gets people killed."

Killed was maybe a bit of an overstatement but I understood his point. I could have drove this morning. In fact, I'd wanted to. It wasn't the fact the weather was bright and clear that made me decide to walk, but because if I'd gotten in the car instead, if I'd asked Laura to walk with me because one time I got a bit paranoid walking after a stressfully long day, then my mother would be right. I was a spoiled rich girl too sheltered to manage life without body guard security and manipulated friendships.

I tried to play off my surrender with a flick of my hair and a sigh. "Fine. I don't have time to argue. If I don't leave now then I'm not going to have time to work on my assignments before bed, so let's just go."

It wasn't like Wren looked entirely pleased with this situation either, but he didn't bother trying to argue. Shoving one hand in his jacket pocket, he trudged past Taran and I to unlock and wrench the doors open. Cool evening air wafted in and I shivered at the sensation of it brushing over skin still blushed warm.

I took a step to follow Wren, then paused and glanced over my shoulder, frowning, unsure quite why I even did. Taran's phone buzzing distracted him for a second, but when he glanced up and saw me still waiting, his lips twitched and he jerked his head. "I'm done with you for tonight, don't worry. You can go. If I find you've walked alone on your next shift, I will need to give you another demonstration of the consequences for rule breaking."

"Maybe we should do that anyway." The words spilled out before I could stop them, and my shock was as palpable as the two men's.

Wren groaned and stomped his way outside, muttering about having a smoke while he waited. After a surprised blink, Taran's smiled, then gave a rich laugh, his phone forgotten as he got rid of the distance between us. Catching my chin with his thumb and finger, he gave another, huskier laugh.

"I do enjoy watching someone finally learn to rebel against rules and test boundaries, as much as I know you enjoyed a taste of what happens when you break my rules. But this is one you will not test because you will not enjoy the punishment for putting yourself in harms way."

I wouldn't comprehend what he said until I was in the fresh air. This close, with his lips centimetres from mine, his voice was a drone in the background of the growing desperation I had to find out if his lips were as soft as they looked, if he would kiss me as firmly as I imagined he would, if his taste would be as addictive as his dangerously masculine scent.

"You're not ready yet, Little Mouse," he breathed gruffly, cringing as if in pain. Hands on my hips he spun me around and urged me out the door with a sharp pat to the fleshier part of my thigh. "Be nice to Wren. Make sure he sees you actually enter your flat before he leaves."

Dazed, as I usually was after interacting with my boss, I stumbled out the door and immediately got a face full of wispy grey cigarette smoke. Wren scoffed as I coughed and wafted it away, already turning on his heel to start down the street, forcing me to jog to catch up.

You're not ready yet, Little Mouse.
What did that mean? Why did I get the impression he wasn't talking about a kiss?

I couldn't exactly ask Wren, and as my mind was unable to come up with any other topic, and he certainly wasn't willing to offer the first word, awkward silence strained between us. For whatever reason, he didn't like me, I didn't care about that. I did care about what he witnessed between me and his friend, and what he might have heard, how much he could put together from Taran's carefully chosen words in front of listening ears. Not that I really believed that how Taran dealt with disobedience was a shock to Wren. No. His shock seemed to be that Taran was dealing that way with me.

"Can you please walk beside me and not behind me," I asked, peering back at Wren when I could take no more of the crawling sensation of having someone at my back.

"I can see you better if you're in front of me."

Gasping, I rounded on him in preparation to call him a misogynistic arse, but he beat me to speaking, "For feck's sake, I meant so I can keep an eye on you not so I can check you out. You're not my type, sunshine."

"Oh."

"Yeah, whatever. Keep moving."

Embarrassment scalded my face as I shuffled sheepishly on.

Up ahead, the sky was beginning to redden, the sun sinking behind the rows upon rows of roofs, and tall trees breaking up the monotony of a city suburb skyline. Wren grimaced and shielded his eyes, moving onto the shaded area of the road.

"What's the point in getting day shift workers if we still need to babysit them before the sun sets," he grumbled.

I paused at the stairs to my flat and eyed his still slightly dishevelled form. "How much did you drink last night to still be hungover?"

He ignored me and circled around the stairway, going so far as to peer into the bin cubby, sniffing the air like a blood hound. The seriousness he took in searching the area didn't make me feel anymore at ease.

Suddenly I felt as if every shadow was a potential threat as I looked around the quiet street. I knew Taran calling Frank's threat empty was a lie. But was he really upset enough to want to scare me, or worse, all because my being with Taran had forced him to have to wait for his meeting? Or because I'd laughed at him?

Talk about thin skinned, I mused to myself.

"Thank you for walking me home," I said, jingling my keys between my fingers as Wren finished scoping the place out. "Do, uh, do you want to come in for a cuppa before you go?"

Of course, I didn't expect him to say yes. But I didn't expect him to give me such a look of derision that I physically flinched.

Straightening indignantly, I marched up the first few stairs before throwing out, "You know, you lot at the pub might think I don't fit in, and that's fine, but you and Taran need to take a course on how to interact in a friendly way before you scare of customers as well as staff."

Pleased with the slack-jawed reaction I got from him, I flipped my ponytail over my shoulder, bid him a polite, if terse, goodnight, and finished climbing the stairs. Echoing steps disappearing the other way told me Wren had enough of our forced companionship too.

Good. I hoped he'd think on what I said. Maybe he'd find some manners next time. I scoffed as I shoved the key in the lock.

"Aye, that's bloody likely," I muttered.

Returning steps made me smirk, but when I looked back to accept the unexpected apology from Wren, there was nobody to be seen. I frowned, leaving the keys dangling to look over the banister of the stairs but there was no sign of Wren at all. A rustle come from the tall bushes that separated our block of flats from the fancy sprawling gardens belonging to the Victorian houses in the street behind.

The grass was overgrowing and in need of a trim but I saw no animal in distress, no sign the neighbours cat had got stuck in the fence again.

"This isn't funny, Wren!" I called out, going on tiptoe so I could lean over the wall to try and catch a glimpse of whatever was clattering about.

A prickle went up the back of my neck.

I froze.

Instincts warned something was behind me, age old and immediately filling my veins with adrenaline. A shadow passed over where my hand rested on top of the wall, and I opened my mouth to scream but no sound managed to escape. An icy hand clamped down over my nose and mouth, so tight I felt my teeth break the skin of my lips.
I thrashed and kicked, scratched and gouged at the pale arm hooked around my waist, dragging me down the stairs with ease.

Panic made my surroundings become crystal clear, the world slowing down as I struggled to keep my weight on my feet as my assailant attempted to steal me away. Too quickly we were leaving my street. Too quickly we were heading towards the abandoned garages no one used because they kept getting broken into. Deep bass music was blasting from a block of flats, and with my screams already muffled by a hand, I knew no one would hear me. Nobody would see me back here either.

No amount of beating at my assailant's side or jerking my body like a fish on a hook so much as loosened his grip.
With terrifying strength, he released my waist and spun me around to shove me up against the metal door of one of the garages. My bones rattled at the impact. Tears blurred his face from view, but I could tell he was smiling, the liquid distorting it so his canines appeared long and pointed. I whimpered. Gripping my hair tight in his fist so there was no chance of escape, his hand slowly slipped from my mouth. I sucked in a large, desperate breath, preparing to scream bloody murder, but the sound never got the chance to leave my lips.

The man darted forward, his body crushing mine as he struck for my neck with his jaw wide open like a striking snake.

As long as I lived, I would never forget the pain.

Fiery agony scorched my veins as he abnormally sharp teeth ground down on skin, sinew and bone, hot blood gushing down my right side to drip off limp fingers.

All I could do was let out a pitiful moan.

My legs gave out beneath me, fear and blood loss stealing my ability to control my own body. My deranged attacker slurped at the red liquid bubbling from my throat, sounds I'd never heard a human make - lecherous groans, gummy smacking of lips, growls and delirious laughter - only making the horrific experience all the more surreal.
The world began to grow dim around me, my veins going from burning, to being filled with ice as the agony faded to be replaced by the sensation of weightlessness.

No. No. No. Fight it!
You have to stay awake!
You have to. . .

It felt like trying to lift a led weight, my arm cramping as I forced myself to lift it. The pain returned tenfold, and I felt my body contort. Before I was unable to fight any longer, I did the only thing I could think to. I battered my fist and my booted foot against that metal rolling door of the garage so it rattled like the chains of hell were being shaken.

Then, all at once, the icy feeling disappeared, and darkness ate up my vision. My final thought was a prayer that Laura wouldn't be the one to find my mangled body.