Until the sound of bone-crushing and blood-curdling screams deafen me.
“OU!”
I fall to the ground free.
“GET HIM OFF! GET HIM OFF!” Over and over and over.
The door swings back open and bangs hard against the wall.
The massive man fills the doorway again.
“JORJA?” Jocko searches for me.
I try to answer, but my throat's too dry.
“JORJA!” Jocko shouts over the screams as he charges into the dark room. It’s a command, demanding I obey.
I manage to sputter. “I’m here.”
He finds me, drops to his knees, and grabs me by the shoulders. His grip's bruising. “Are you alright?”
For just a moment longer, I’m not. Then our eyes connect. The fierceness I see scares me.
I throw my arms around him and cling to his strength. “I’m fine… now!”
His arms encircle me, pulling me tight against him, and he holds me. “I gotcha. I gotcha. It’s alright.”
I start to shake. “I have never been so scared in all my life.”
He stares down at me and says, “Me either.”
