Unbroken

A loud sound erupts from the other side of the door, causing me to jump. My heart leaps to my throat when screams burst forth. A man’s voice, deep and wretched, filled with pain and fear. Like a mouse, I scurry from the door, propelled away from what my senses know is danger. Shivers wrack my body as the screams continue, but they’re sounding more distant by the second.

My stomach churns, white dots invade my vision as the urge to vomit overwhelms me.

“NO! PLEASE! NO! NO! NO! I’M NOT READY!”

Britney bursts into tears behind me. Fay clutches my arm tightly, dragging me into her chest, holding me tightly. For a while there, it’s the three of us, curled together, shaking, as the screams fade away.

Then I’m scrambling, shoving Fay’s arm off me, crawling feet away as bile climbs up my throat. I vomit on the ground, holding back my whimpers, trying my hardest to keep it together. Nothing comes out of me, but my body is in revolt.

“Please come,” I whisper, fighting to contain the fissures inside me. “Where are you?”

Fix this.

Please, fix this.

A memory flashes through me. His voice shudders over me,as if he’s right here in this cell with me, asking,Can I fuck you, Skye?

But I’m alone.

He’s not here.

No one is coming, and I think—

Oh, my God, I think this time I have to fight my way out on my own.

I drag a hand down my face, body quaking, and for a second there, I feel like I’m back there. In that forest. Running. With Hunter’s screams cutting into the summer night air, telling me to, “RUN, SKYE, RUN!”