The sound of the door above us being unlocked startled me from where Hailey and I were huddled together resting. Hailey whimpered in fear and clutched handfuls of my sweater tightly in her hands. It was the first sound she had made and showed just how terrified she was.
“It’s going to be ok.” I whispered as I stood and pulled her with me. Once we were both up, I pushed Hailey right back into the corner of the room and bent enough to speak to her.
“Stay here, no matter what. Stay away from him. I’m going to do everything I can to protect you. Just stay quiet, ok?” I explained hurriedly. I had no idea if she agreed, but I had to just hope she did.
The Shadow’s heavy feet were thudding down the stairs and the space before me was gradually illuminated by the light coming from the lantern in his hand. It was all so horrifyingly familiar, as was the icy terror running through my veins. The adrenaline inducing fear surged through me and my heart pounded hard. I clenched my fists and made myself keep breathing, knowing I had to stay strong and calm, on the outside at least.
Not wanting to draw attention to Hailey, I hurried to stride toward him and stopped near the foot of the stairs. I could almost hear Kyle screaming at me, telling me to hide and not put myself in the line of fire, but I had to. I had to make The Shadow so mad with me, he’d forget to even look for Hailey.
The light illuminated the space just enough to make the monster lumbering down toward me, into the shadowy and terrifying figure that had given him his name.
Flashbacks of brutal torture and savage attacks hit me relentlessly as my entire body began to shake even harder, to the point where I wasn’t sure my legs would continue to hold me up. My breathing became faster and faster until my chest was heaving with my desperate gasps to take in oxygen.
Then he was before me and I made myself think only one thing- do whatever it took to keep him from even remembering Hailey was down there with me.
“So, we meet again you evil sonofabitch.” I baited loudly, trying with every word to hide my fear and sound tough like the guys.
I just caught the chilling, evil smile that spread across his face before he hit out hard, landing a hard punch on the right side of my cheek. I tried to move, but he was faster than I remembered and his hit landed hard enough to have me seeing stars, but I fought to stay on my feet. I had to make sure he was so exhausted by the time he got me down, that he didn’t have the energy to turn on Hailey. I’d take whatever hits I needed to, to make that happen, as long as she was safe.
I stumbled back away from him as I tried to shake off the fuzz in my already pounding head. I took a deep breath and looked up at him, forcing myself to smile through the pain, knowing it would rile him up and piss him off.
It worked and he came at me with fire in his eyes, ready to hit again, only this time my training with Kyle paid off and I managed to avoid the hit and get around him in a blur.
When he turned to me, shock was all over his face and I really did smile then.
“Not such an easy target now, am I?” I said cockily, and I knew my plan to piss him off was working perfectly. In his rage, he reached forward to grab my arm, but I slipped the hold, just as Kyle had trained me to and readied myself to throw the punch I had told Kyle I never would. Funny how survival changed a person’s morals.
I managed to get my hit in, landing it hard right in his nose, then wincing as it exploded into a bloody mess. He grunted and instantly cupped his face as I shook out my throbbing hand. I looked to the stairs, contemplating my options for escape. The Shadow was definitely in pain, and winded. If I could grab Hailey and run we had a chance, and that was all I needed.
But the second I turned back to run and grab Hailey, The Shadow was ready for me
