Page 63 of Imbalanced Minds

Chapter Thirty-Three

Iris

A rumble is heard in the distance as Justin is telling me a story from when we were younger. I love him for trying, but nothing is ever going to keep my mind from fretting over the danger I’m in.

During all the commotion outside, I failed to hear any noise in the house and now that the roar outside has gone, I can hear faint shuffling in our room. I’m about to whisper to Justin that someone is in here when the line goes dead.

I inwardly curse the universe as I look from my dead phone screen in my hand to the shadow now at the closet door. Placing the dead phone down as quiet as possible, I bring Cory’s gun up with both hands and wait in aim. Many years of shooting targets on the farm will pay off if I have to use this weapon and although I’m petrified, I pray that I use it right.

Listening through the dead of the night, I hear footsteps come through the closet door then stop in front of me and my finger curls around the trigger.

The gun goes off with a loud crack as I shoot Tyrell in the shoulder. He clutches his arm while he strangles his curse, nostrils flaring and inhaling short and sharp heavy breaths.

“You’ll pay for that, you little bitch. And you’ll pay good.” He drawls with a psychotic glint in his eyes.

My whole body has gone into shock knowing I put a bullet in my ex-boyfriend, but before I have any chance to recover on my own, he’s pulling me up and shoving something sharp into my upper arm. The minute I compute what is happening, he’s slamming his large hand over my mouth.

Last thoughts of have mercy are all I have left as I become a heavy heap in his good arm and the cruel world once again keeps me from witnessing my demise.

—

I hear voices in the distance, but I can’t work out who they belong to. In all honesty, I can’t open my eyes to find out. What the hell is going on and why can’t I open my eyes?

I start to freak out, hoping whoever is on the other side of this darkness will leave me alone. The more I will my body, my mind, the more I come to the realisation that my body isn’t moving either. Seriously, what the hell is going on?

I’m getting to the point where having a bitch fit is imminent, but of course, nothing happens. My mind is whirling as I focus on the voices surrounding me, but they’re becoming quieter, more hushed and unknown.

That’s when the darkness strikes and pulls me under against my will.

—

I’m groggy. I’m sore. Scratch that, I’m in agony with every muscle I try to move. There’s wetness trickling down my face, and my breaths become heavy, as I recall the horrific events I endured. I’m lost to the darkness that surrounds me and I’m quite happy staying here as long as no one can get me here.

If this is what I get for being happy, then I deserve to suffer in the pits of Hell. I thought getting over the first attack would make me stronger, invincible even, but it’s torn me down and stripped me bare.

I feel like... like I’ve let everyone down. I’m dirty. Chewed up and spat out like garbage.

My eyelids start to flutter and I know it’s time to wake up, but I’m not ready. I don’t want to face my attacker or be a pawn to his whim any longer. I can’t cope with facing reality, unless by any miracle I was saved from my own horror story.

I fight with everything I have to stay asleep, but it’s useless.

“Girly? Hey girly, you wakin’ up?”

I hear an unfamiliar voice, causing my eyes to widen in fear.

“Hey, guys, girly’s awake.”

Despite the bleariness and pain, I look around frantically while trying to move away from this huge man.

“Shit, don’t do that. You’ll hurt yourself.”

This man is acting like he knows me, but I have no idea who he is. My last memory is of the monster smothering my mouth with his hand and yelling that I was his after I tried to shoot him. This memory has bile burning my throat and I can’t stop the projectile vomit that violently arises out of my mouth.

“Argh, fuck! Girly, you’re lucky we’re the good guys or that,” tank man points toward me, “would have you in serious trouble.”

I scream, cry, thrash about and claw at my throat as I try to forget. I’m lost in my own world when a set of strong, warm and familiar arms engulf my frigid frame. “Shh… baby girl, I got you. You’re safe. I’m here. I got you.”

I let all the emotion go and let out the most painful cry.