Her jacket was unzipped, flapping open as she ran.
The sleeves, far too big for her thin arms, had slipped down to her elbows.
She barely made it five—maybe six—steps before someone yanked her hood back hard.
She crashed to her knees.
A blinding pain shot through her legs.
Before she could even register what was happening, two hands grabbed her by the arms.
She twisted, craned her neck to look—
A man. Easily three, maybe four times her size.
Dragging her back into the alley.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
-Please... pl-please...
I'm begging you, let me go!
She hit the ground hard, this time on both knees.
The pain screamed through her again.
Her palms burned like fire.
Through the blur of tears, she saw his black boots—right in front of her face.
She whimpered,
-Please, sir... please... Why are you doing this to me? I swear I—
Her voice broke,
-I didn't hear anything...
+Get up.
Calm. Controlled. Cold.
Still staring at his boots, she forced herself to stand.
Diana pulled her sleeves over her fingers and clasped her hands behind her back.
Her head spun. Her stomach twisted.
Was she dying?
+Why did you run?
-I... I don't know... I... I was scared.
+Scared? Of what?
-Of... of you.
+Me? But I didn't do anything.
God—his voice.
The way he spoke.
The way his gaze pressed into her skin—into her face—maybe even deeper.
It was unbearable. Paralyzing.
+Hmm? Cat got your tongue?
-I—I won't tell anyone. I swear. Just let me go...
+Oh?
So you did hear something. I thought you said you didn't.
She'd walked right into it.
A trap.
This was it.
She was going to die here, wasn't she?
Why wouldn't it just end?
She would've given anything—everything—just to wake up from this nightmare.
But time only seemed to stretch... and stretch...