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“Where is the fob?”
She knew it was coming, and Ellie clung hard to her resolve. “What are you talking about?”
The second hit didn’t startle her as much, and she kept her footing. This time, Panem was the one who was appeared shaken.
“The head guard told me what happened earlier. You had those keys in your hands as he changed. Only you could have taken it. So be a good little girl and hand it to me.”
He extended his hand as if she would cower like a child and do as he said. As if.
“I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have it. Search the room if you don’t believe me. As if I care about a fob.”
And that’s when Ellie saw the real face of the calculating Panem as he kicked over the coffee table and sent it crashing to the wall. Every item he could grab and fling, the man did, opening the cupboards, searching the mostly empty drawers. Between her and Sam, they barely had any belongings.
It was like watching a very dangerous toddler throwing a temper tantrum.
Once he’d finished turning the place upside down, tearing at it until the only thing still standing was her, those dark eyes turned to her and Ellie knew deep in her bones her life was on the line.
Her body moved to flee before her brain could make the decision, but just as her hand grabbed the door handle, Panem gripped her sweatshirt and pulled her back.
The man was bigger stronger than she was, but Ellie had learned from growing up on her own how to be faster.
With a twist, Ellie slipped out of her top to escape, but found herself cornered. There was only one way out and Panem was standing between her and freedom.
Frantic, she tried to find anything to defend herself with, but there was no time as her attacker approached. Now, the aggression shifted from violence to something darker. When his blazing eyes moved from her face to her bra, Ellie knew the possibility of escape grew even slimmer. Her eyes went to the door, hoping that Sam would come back, but from the way they’d parted, it was clear he’d take his time returning.
“Mr. Finch told me there’d be hell to pay if I didn’t get the fob back. Be assured, Iwillget compensation.”
Instead of succumbing to fear, Ellie felt resolve wash over her. She would overcome, survive, and get Sam to believe her. Never before in her life had she been so certain of anything.
When she took a step back, Panem took a step forward. Not waiting a moment longer, Ellie spun and bolted, deciding to lock herself in the bathroom to gain some precious time.
The moment the lock turned the door shook from Panem slamming into it. Ellie knew it wouldn’t hold. After the second hit, a huge crack appeared. Ellie braced as a few slivers of wood flew before Panem came through in an explosion of wooden shards.
Ellie attempted to evade him and climb over him when he fell forward, but he wouldn’t let her pass and seized her ankle. With all her strength and rage, she kicked out, getting in some good hits, using the door frame as leverage to pull away.
Panem recovered and got a better hold by grabbing her thighs and waistband, dragging her back inside, pinning her under him. Arms flinging, Ellie screamed, trying to hit and scratch any part of him she could reach to get free. The man caught one of her wrists, and Ellie fought even harder knowing if he disabled her completely, she couldn’t stop what would happen.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, Ellie never ceased to fight.
Panem released her wrist to cover her mouth. “This is for nothing. No one will come to save you.”
As his full weight settled on her, it made it even more difficult to breathe and when his hand covered her mouth, it was clear she wouldn’t last long. With one hand, Ellie continued to push against the body holding her down until her other hand came across something solid on the floor.
Ready to take advantage of any leverage she had, Ellie seized that object with all her strength and swung.
The broken piece of the door Panem had crashed through hit him on the side of the head with enough force that he rolled off her, holding his temple.
Once more, Ellie was at a disadvantage with him blocking the door, but she didn’t hesitate. About to deliver another blow, Ellie realized she wasn’t holding a block of wood, but a shard that resembled a stake.
Her grip shifted and before she realized what she intended, Ellie aimed for his exposed throat.
Strangely, her mind went blank. She registered blood, how her hand and arm hurt from the strokes, and the faint gurgling sounds coming from Panem in the back of her mind.
It was the silence and the emptiness pulling at her that stopped Ellie. It was only when she sat back, gasping for air, she realized what she’d done.
Blood was everywhere and Panem lay unmoving on the tiles of the bathroom floor. Ellie knew she should feel horrified, but instead, the only emotion she felt was relief that she’d survived.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last, and the adrenaline rush mixed with what she’d endured since she’d been kidnapped made her crawl into the corner and roll into a tight ball. With her eyes tightly closed, she tried to shut out what was in front of her and regain the courage to move forward.
