Chapter 4

Miles took a step forward and gripped my jaw in a vise-like grip with one hand, locking me in place.

I struggled to break away from his grip, but to no avail. Soon, I was left gasping for breath, my body weak and powerless.

With his other hand, he took the medicine and forced it into my mouth. Then, he poured water in right after.

I sputtered and coughed.

"Swallow it!" he ordered.

Claudia watched everything impatiently with her arms crossed.

The moment the water was poured into my mouth, I stopped resisting, for the medicine had already slid into my stomach. I could feel the coldness of the water as it traveled down my throat, but at the same time, I felt a sharp, burning pain on my neck.

As I lay on the bed, the world before my eyes grew dark and hazy, like a veil had been draped over it. My consciousness started to fade.

I had no idea how much time had passed before a wave of searing pain swept through my entire body. I felt something restraining me, and there was something stuffed in my mouth.

Voices drifted in from outside.

"Just dump her here. No one usually comes around."

"She's such bad luck. I can't believe she gave out already! I was expecting her to hold out at least a little while longer. What a waste of my prototype. And all the medication too! Ugh. Let's just go, Miles."

My eyes stung with tears when I heard their conversation, but I couldn't even cry.

What had Miles said before? Didn't he say that I wouldn't die? That he'd take care of me for the rest of my life? And this was how things turned out? How ridiculous!

They had ruined me altogether, leaving me with only a battered life that was slowly slipping away.

I curled into myself, trying to keep warm. Tears fell silently onto my body. I didn't know where I was. And even if I did, I had no means of moving. All I could do was wait for death to claim me.

As the end neared, images from my past flashed through my mind. But I wasn't ready to die yet. Not like this, at least!

I hated them for spinning lies around me, for stealing my name and my work. If I had a chance at life again, I would never let them get away with it. I would make them pay.

Suddenly, a beam of light broke through. I realized the restraints binding me had been undone.

I closed my eyes, letting the sunlight wash over me, that faint warmth giving me a thread of comfort. When I opened them again, a familiar face filled my vision.

His eyes widened, and I could see a red tint gradually climbing into them. "Why are you here, Cassidy?"

With a piece of cloth still stuffed in my mouth, I was unable to speak, so I could only blink rapidly to show that it was really me.

He carefully removed the gag and loosened the bindings on me. When he held my hand, I could see that his red-rimmed eyes were now brimming with tears. "Thank goodness! I've finally found you!" he exclaimed.

I looked at the young man who was now crying tears of joy. I remembered him. He was Carter Jenkins, my neighbor.

"What happened to you?" he asked as he bent over to carry me out and set me down in an open space. He gently wiped away my tears. "Who was it? Who the hell did this?"

I wanted to answer him, but the slightest movement of my lips tugged at my wounds, and I hissed sharply. I could only cling tightly to his clothes.

"We've been searching for you for ages! Many claimed that you were already dead, but none of us believed them. Let's get you home now!"

Yes! Home! I wanted to go home!

Gripping the fabric of his shirt, I nodded hard.

I still had a chance. Once I got home, I'd make them pay for everything they'd done!