Chapter 231.
Pure instinct takes over the second his arm locks around my throat. There’s no warning or any chance to prepare.
One second I’m inching cautiously toward Zane’s office, my heart already threatening to burst from fear, and the next....I’m ripped backward into something hard and terrifyingly strong.
My breath vanishes instantly as his forearm crushes against my throat with brutal force, cutting off my air so fast my body doesn’t even fully process it at first. Then survival hits as my hands fly up, clawing desperately at the arm constricting me, my nails scraping skin as I pull, scratch and fightr but he’s too strong, way too strong. My feet barely stay beneath me as he drags me tighter against him. Oanic detonates inside my chest as my lungs burn, my pulse roars deafeningly in my ears. I try to scream, but nothing comes out except a horrifying, strangled sound.
Oh God. No, no this can’t be how I die. Not here, Not like this and not now.
My thoughts become fragmented, wild, slippery, I thrash harder, every movement fueled by pure terror. My body jerks uselessly as I fight for even the smallest breath but his hold only tightens as dark spots begin creeping into my vision and my head feels light, my body starts weakening in ways that terrify me even more.
No no no.....i can’t pass ou, if I pass out, I die.
I know that with a chilling certainty and I can’t die like this. The words become a frantic chant in my fading mind.
I can’t die like this! I can’t die like this,
I fucking refuse so with the very last scraps of adrenaline and desperation left in me, I force myself to stop panicking just enough to act, to act, fight diety.
My leg jerks upward sharply, and with every ounce of force I have left, I drive my heel straight backward.
And it’s a Direct hit as a broken, agonized sound tears from him and the arm around my neck disappears instantly.
I collapse forward, nearly falling, coughing violently as oxygen slams back into my lungs in painful, ragged bursts, air has never felt so precious to me.
My throat feels shredded, wit jbreath burns but I don’t stop, I can’t. There is no time, I whirl around, tears stinging my eyes from both pain and oxygen deprivation.
He’s bent over now and groaning with both hands between his legs, looking vulnerable and suddenly....Something inside me snaps.
Weeks, months and Years of fear and manipulation, of being controlleda and kidnapped .
Something feral rises in me, raw rage unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
"I am so fucking tired..." My voice comes out shredded and breathless.
He starts to lift his head.
"...of people putting their hands on me and grabbing me like I’m some object."
And then I strike hard. I swing my leg with everything inside me in pure fury, my foot connects viciously with the side of his skull.
The impact is sickenin, with a brutal crack as pain shoots through my leg from the force of it, but I barely feel it.
His body drops instantly, like a puppet with its strings cut He crashes to the floor with a heavy, final thud and he doesn’t get back up.
My entire body shakes violently now, adrenaline crashing through me in brutal waves as mt chest heaves and my throat burns.
My hands tremble so badly I can barely recognize them as mine.
I stare down at him. At the unconscious...or maybe worse....man lying motionless at my feet.
And for one horrifying second....i can’t believe I did that.
But then another sound echoes faintly somewhere in the estat and reality slams back into me. I don’t have rtime to stand and think shit so I swallow hard and step over hi.
My entire body is trembling so hard it feels like my bones themselves are vibrating. I stare at him, mt pulse still hammering as i realize I can’t just leave him here. If one of the other intruders comes around this corner....if they see him lying here....They’ll know. They’ll know someone fought back and they wil know exactly where I am and then I am absolutely screwed.
"Oh my God," I whisper harshly, panic clawing its way back up my throat. "Think, Elaine. Think."
My eyes dart frantically around the dim hallway to Zane’s office.It’s right there Or close enough, if I can just drag him inside, maybe I can buy myself some time.
Maybe.
I look down at the massive man again and nearly want to cry. He’s huge, broad and Heavy as absolute hell.
"Of course you’re gigantic," I mutter bitterly under my breath.
Still, I grab him, hooking my hands under his arms, I plant my feet and pull.
Nothing...or at least...Barely anything.
His body shifts maybe an inch and I let out a strangled sound of frustration.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
My arms are already burning and my lungs still feel wrecked from nearly being strangled.
But fear is one hell of a motivator so I grit my teeth and pull again, this time harder as his body drags awkwardly across the floor with a heavy scraping sound that makes my nerves absolutely scream.
"Come on... come on..."
I pant desperately, dragging him inch by agonizing inch.
"This is why cardio matters," I hiss, half delirious with panic.
His dead weight is unbearable, every few seconds I have to stop, reposition, and keep pulling. Sweat drips down my back, my hair sticks to my face and my arms feel like they’re about to detach from my body.
"Why... are... you... so... damn... heavy?" I breathe out between painful tugs, the absurdity of it almost makes me laugh.
Almost. But terror keeps me focused, every second feels borrowed as every creak of the house makes my heart nearly explode.
Finally.....After what feels like years.....i manage to drag him all the way to Zane’s office door, relief hits me so hard I almost collapse.
"Oh thank God..."
My shaking hand reaches for the handle and twists.
Nothing....i blink.
No.No no no.
I try again, still nothing. Then i notice the digital keypad and my stomach drops so hard it feels like it hits the floor.
I stare at it, mt blood turning ice cold and that’s when I realize.....I’m royally fucked.