18. DE JAVU

LETHU

I stirred back into consciousness and it was like déjà vu yet this time I was hanging from a beam in a brightly lit room. My eyes fluttered close from the assault of the light. In that second, the pain rained over my body like summer rain. It was too intense I could not even cry out. My whole face was on fire, my arms and legs aching deep from the bone because of the position I was hanging in.

I could feel what was left of my dress twisted and turned around my body. My mouth tasted of blood and burned.

The tears bleed out, glazing down my burning cheek as I sniffled. The cloud slowly slipped away with it settling on me what had happened. I shot my eyes out wide as more tears flooded out. My heart ran its own race as I shook so much it had me slightly swing in the position I was in.

The fear, such fear, it was consuming.

Not again. I kept thinking, shaking even harder until I thought I would faint.

I could recall how hard the boot had come on my face. I was afraid they had