Seventy-Eight (Heather); Desperation.
I sit up as best I can. "Suzie you can't-!" I stop shouting my protest as, with a swift movement, the barrel of Suzie's gun is resting right between my eyes. I clench my jaw to force away the fear bubbling within me; I won't show her anything now. I won't show her how frightened I am at what she can do. I won't show her that I'm terrified I won't leave her alive. I won't show her I'm afraid of never seeing Amy, Tim or my family again. I'm more frightened than I've ever been in my life, but I cannot - will not - show her that.
"Don't speak. Don't say anything," I'm instructed. I want to say something, but I don't know what. Maybe it's to demand that the bastard with the knife leaves Danny alone; I can't bear to hear his sharp intakes of breath every time he's struck. He's acting so tough it breaks my heart. God, please don't let him get too hurt... Shit.
"Leave him alone..." I hate the sound of my voice, so desperate and pleading. I should be more commanding; I should take control of the situation! I should be calm, diplomatic, reason with them... But I can't. I'm too scared. What if Suzie pulls the trigger? Will it hurt? Will I feel much pain? Will I die instantly? Why am I thinking like this?!
"And just what did I tell you, little runt?"
This time I yell out in pain as the barrel of Suzie's gun comes into contact with my face with such force I'm knocked backwards. I taste blood and shudder, tentatively licking my lower lip and wincing in pain. "What did I tell you?" she repeats. "Answer me."
"You told me not to say anything." I mutter, trying to keep my tone as far away from the mutiny I'm feeling. I hate being told what to do! Suzie smirks, and my heart freezes; she looks exactly how I imagine someone to look before they kill. God, I'm so afraid...
"There's a good girl." she says, hitting me roughly over the head with the gun, in what I think is supposed to be some sort of patting gesture. Ouch. "Stay still, be quiet, and you'll live a little longer." As if I wasn't scared enough as it was!
A yelp of pain from Danny brings me back out of my fear, only to make me even more afraid; even I know it's not like Danny to acknowledge pain.
"For God's sake leave him alone!" I plead desperately, mentally saying 'screw that!' to Suzie's earlier rules. "You're going to kill him!" I struggle not to cry; I've got a soft spot for Danny, even if he is a snarky bastard. And I sure as hell don't want to see him hurt!
"James, honey, that's unnecessary..."
'You're telling me!'
"And I know he's a disgusting little prick." Suzie delivers a stinging blow to my face once more, semi-blinding me for a moment as red and white stars explode across my eyes. When my vision clears, Suzie's stood next to Danny. I've got a horrible, horrible sinking feeling about this.
"...please..." I manage, coughing slightly as I inhale some of the blood running from one or another of my various wounds. "...leave him..........alone..!"
Everything's happening in slow motion, and somewhere in the back of my mind I hear the phrase 'life flashing before my eyes'. I swear it does. I watch Suzie turn, point the gun, and I can't move. I don't want to die... I don't want to die - !
The gun goes off with a deafening roar, and I'm showered with dust as it bites into the wall above my head. Inches above my head. Dear God.
"Shut. Up." She snaps, and turns away again. I slump downwards, shaking so hard I'm practically jerking. I manage to curl onto my side in time as what little I had in my stomach barrels up my throat and lands, surprisingly neatly, beside me. Dizzy, nauseous and faint, I just want to pass out until it's all over. I hear a noise from Danny, some sort of protest, and then a yelp. I try to move, to see what's going on, but I don't have the strength.
"No, James, leave him be. I need him kept alive for now: I want Amy to see him die."
Chapter 77 ; Contents ; Chapter 79
