CHAPTER 86 JESS

I woke up to the dull ache of my head pounding. I sucked in the air but coughed - it was musty and irritated my lungs. It was dark wherever this was. I was lying face down on a bed that smelled like mold, the sheets rough and grimy against my skin. My hands were tied behind my back, and every breath made the duct tape across my mouth feel tighter.

Shit.

He must have knocked me unconscious after Laura made a run

for it.

Laure, I hope she made it. It's not like my life depended on it or anything, but it kind of did. If this is how I go out because she couldn't run fast enough, I might hold it against her and will take it up once she joins me in the afterlife.

My head throbbed, and my entire left arm was numb, a heavy, lifeless weight. I tried to shift, but the pain shot through me, searing and hot running from my shoulder to my hand. If I had thought it had been dislocated before, I'm sure now. I bit down on a scream, tears streaking down my face as I twisted myself onto my back.

At least now, I wasn't inhaling the musty sheets that smelled like moth balls. I lay still for a few seconds, taking inventory of everything that hurt. My cheek wasn't throbbing anymore. Small

CHAPTER 06

200 Mouchers

victories, I thought bitterly.

I told myself, trying to breathe through the panic.

I looked around. It was a dingy motel room, the kind of place that stank of despair and worse things. My throat tightened as I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat. The smell of stale cigarettes clung to everything, mingling A shadow passed outside the door, and then I heard voices. My heart stopped, and every muscle in my body

you need to move.

grew louder, angry and

is missing! Man, how stupid can you be?" I knew that voice. I would always know that voice. It was burned into my

Bryan...

was yelling at someone-probably

cap.

I felt the fear claw at me, threatening to pull me under, but I couldn't let it. Not now. Not when I had to

darted around the room,

CHAPTER 86

288 Woucher

door was slightly ajar, the only place I could hide, the only place with a lock. If I could just get there, maybe

Laura some time

Bryan was yelling at the guy who

bit of

keep going. I reached the chair by the dresser bending forward awkwardly to lift it with my tied hands. The weight of it was almost too much, my arms screaming in protest as I managed to grip it. I moved backward, each breath a shallow gasp against the

The

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255