Page 134 of I’m The Worst

“Focus on me. Not them.”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

Can’t breathe.

Can’t fucking breathe.

The footsteps move closer, keys jingling. Jake grabs my wrist and forces my hand flat against his chest through the bars.

“Feel that?” His heartbeat pounds powerfully beneath my palm. “You feel my heart? Match it. Come on, Dylan. Stay with me.”

Miranda’s sobs grow louder.

So do the others.

Sarah’s crying somewhere down the row of cages, little hiccupping sobs that won’t stop. Jonas’s shaking voice keeps yelling at her to be quiet before they hear. Caleb curls around the youngest kids in his cage, trying to cover their mouths before the men come downstairs.

I grip Jake’s shirt tighter, focusing on the pounding beneath his ribs instead of the sound of boots moving down the stairs.

“Good,” he whispers. “That’s it. Keep breathing.”

I suck in a shaky breath, and the air burns my lungs. He squeezes my wrist through the bars.

“You’re a fighter, Dylan. You hear me? Strongest one down here.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know.” Blood drips from Jake’s split lip when he smiles. “Being scared doesn’t make you weak.”

The footsteps grow louder. Closer.

“Hey. Look at me. You know what wolves do when they’re scared? They protect the pack.”

I blink at him through watery eyes.

“You survive every time they hurt you. And you still worry about everybody else down here after.”

Deep laughter grows nearer.

I flinch, my vision blurring, tears now streaming my face. Jake presses my hand more firmly against his chest.

“Feel my heartbeat. Breathe.”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“Someday, Dylan, you’re gonna be big enough that nobody can ever hurt you again.” Jake glances toward the cages lining the basement before looking back at me. “And when we get out of here, you’re gonna help me protect everybody, alright?”

He says it like he believes it.

“You wanna hear about the lake again?” he asks.

I nod immediately.

The lake. Always the stupid lake. And wolves. All he ever talks about. Like if he says the stories enough, maybe they’ll become real someday.