I whimper out in pain, in agony, in fear. I’m so scared. So, fucking scared.
“Please,” the watery words bubble from my lips. “Please.”
He releases the pressure on my neck and I’m able to lift my head enough to take a gasping breath, but it’s temporary as the back of his hand crashes against my cheek. Blinding painexplodes behind my eyes as my body falls limp and his hand returns to the tender, bruised flesh.
I try to lift my arms, but they’re so heavy. So, so heavy.
My vision blurs as his grip tightens, stealing my air. I attempt to fight to keep my eyes open. All I can see is Orion’s outline and Seamus’ voice telling me it's going to be okay.
Somehow, it’s going to be okay.
I guess this is what happens before you die. Accepting it and telling yourself, it’s going to be okay.
Nathan pushes my face fully underwater, and I squeeze my eyes shut, losing track of the light. My Orion. Our Orion.
My body is on high alert. My legs kick as I attempt to flail my bonded arms. The watery scream is useless other than to just further choke myself on the murky water.
Suddenly, the weight that was holding me down is gone, and I’m able to hold my head above water.
My wrists scream in tender agony. My head throbs and chest heaves. The sound of splashing and muffled voices fill my ears as another deep male voice yells, and the fighting continues.
Catching my breath, I blink my heavy eyes open, but between the water and the swelling, I’m unable to see anything other than two silhouettes, their shadows mixing with each other.
My head throbs as I attempt to hold my neck up, but it weighs a hundred pounds and nothing in my frail body is working.
I need sleep, but I’m not tired. Or maybe I am. I don’t know. I’m so confused.
Everything is out of focus and dark. I squeeze my eyes shut and open them to clear my vision.
A figure stands over my body, startling me, and I attempt to drive my legs into the ground to push myself away, but my body won’t respond. I’m so weak.
“No,” I manage to squeak out as I shake my head.
“Mimi,” he shushes, comforting me. “It’s going to be okay.”
I try to open my eyes wider, but only my right eye barely opens with enough clarity to see.
“Wes?” My fractured voice is hoarse and dry.
His arms wrap around my naked, battered body. One behind my back, another under my legs, and I’m lifted out of the water. I attempt to buck out of the hold, but he shushes me again.
“Jesus, Mimi. Hold on, I’ve got you,” is all I hear before everything goes dark.
34
SEAMUS
Present Day
Ihold Mimi as she sobs in my arms. Tears stream down her face in waves as she stutters through telling me everything that Nathan did to her when he found her that night.
Not only did he violently rape her, but he almost fucking killed her. Nearly drowning her in the lake as she begged for her life.
My own guilt pulls at me, feeding my fury. I left her that night. I fucking left her because of a stupid fear of getting caught out of bed.
I could have saved her.
I could have helped her.
