Reaching for the edge, I push myself half out of the pool when a blur of motion catches my eye.
Cruel fingers twist into my hair, dragging me back, and I cry out only for my shriek to die as my cheek slams into the concrete.
Pain explodes across my face.
Someone wrenches my head back, and I thrash in their grip. My eyes water, making it hard to see, but I blink through the pain, and little by little, Austin’s twisted face comes into view.
I open my mouth to scream, but right as I do, he forces me under water, choking off my cry for help.
Bubbles race past my face while I scream before clamping my mouth shut.
I writhe, panic and the need for air battling within me. Darkness swarms my vision.
How long can I hold my breath? Two minutes. Maybe three if I’m lucky. I haven’t really tested it in a while.
Austin releases me, and I explode upwards, gulping air in ragged gasps.
Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived when my eyes rise and lock with Austin’s. “Miss me?”
His fingers twist in my hair and he shoves me back under.
My struggles are weak, terror and adrenaline filling my veins. I kick with everything I have, but it’s the end of the day. I’ve beenhere for over an hour, and my body is tired. I have little fuel left in my tank.
Panic grips my chest, making my movements erratic and with no real direction.
I can’t breathe.
My lungs burn as I struggle to fight the overwhelming urge to take a breath. I’ll drown if I do. I know I will.
But as each second passes, the urge to breathe hammers into me.
The back of my throat burns. I claw at Austin’s hand on my head, my short nails digging into his skin. Despite my efforts, all it seems to do is piss him off more, enough to shove me down harder.
He’s going to kill me. He’s really going to kill me.
Changing up my tactic, I stop trying to reach the surface and instead, dive downward, aiming for the darkened bottom of the pool. But Austin knows what I’m trying to do because his fingers tighten their grip on my hair, keeping me from moving out of reach.
He has complete control over me, and again, I am powerless to stop him. Powerless to keep him from hurting me.
Angry tears sting the backs of my eyes to mix with the chlorinated water.
It’s not fucking fair. Why is this happening to me? What did I ever do in my life to deserve this?
Austin drags me closer to the edge, making sure to keep my head firmly beneath the water. His entire forearm is in the water now. The rolled sleeves of his shirt soaking wet.
My side scrapes the pool’s wall, and I twist in his hold, reaching for the ledge. My fingers scrape along the concrete lip, but I can’t get enough leverage to drag myself up.
He’s too strong.
My fingers slip down the smooth tiled surface, and I hear the muffled sound of Austin’s laugh.
He’s enjoying this. This asshole is going to kill me, and he’s going to do it with a freaking smile on his face.
Anger begins to override my logic. My lungs burn. Ache. They demand I take my next breath. But as soon as I do, it’s game over. I won’t let him win. He’s taken enough from me. He can’t have this. He can’t have my life.
I slam my fist into his forearm. I rake my nails down his skin.
Fuck!
