Illusion

Chapter 33

Avery's POV

Cold hands wrap around my wrists, pulling me harshly from bed. My hazy vision fails me in the darkness, muffled voices filling my ears. My heart beats fast as I'm shoved against the wall, my head colliding with the wood causing my mind to spin.

The smell of alcohol reeks around me, causing my throat to close up and my nose to burn. I think someone's yelling but I can't hear properly, my body too pumped with sudden adrenaline to think clearly.

White hot pain explodes across my face as I feel the first hit. My tear filled eyes watch as he sways on his feet, the half empty bottle resting unstably in his grip.

My feet trip over each other as I move towards the door, fumbling with my balance as I try desperately to escape. Moonlight dimly illuminates my path, my hands grasping at the walls to stop me from falling.

You're almost there. Come on Avery.

My lungs are screaming at me from how hard I'm breathing. I whip my head behind me to see him stumble against the doorframe, his bloodshot eyes staring at me murderously.

'Avery!' A frantic voice calls to me and I focus in front of me. Tears prick my vision as I run towards him, his blue eyes the exact shade as my own.

Just a little bit further...

An ear-splitting scream leaves me as he wrenches me back by my hair. My hands grip his wrist, trying with everything I have to get free.

'You thought you could escape me? I'll show you just how pathetic you are.' His deep voice slurs over his words, his stale breath washing over my tear tracked face.

My eyes dart frantically, screams leaving me with every breath. His strong grip continues pulling me, before shoving me against the stairway railing. My body slams into the wood, pain shooting up my spine.

His eyes stare me down, the deep brown penetrating my soul. White powder sticks to the base of his nose, his features looking sunken and grey while sweat lines his brow. My body contorts in a struggle as he moves closer, my feet inching along the railing to the top of the stairs.

His needle-tracked arm reaches around my neck, tightly cutting off my airways. Spots dance in my eyes, my chest heaving uselessly up and down. A heavy weight knocks into our sides, causing him to loosen his grip for a moment. Pushing as hard against him as I can, I fumble away. Using this as my escape, I take a hasty step backwards.

My hands flail through the air as I lose my footing, missing the top step. My sight goes black as I land on the hard concrete, my head spinning dangerously. A scream cuts through my dizziness, making me blink up at his dark silhouette holding something shiny. His heavy footfalls move as if trekking through mud, but his hands are quick. Too quick. Too precise.

'Don't touch them!' Her weak voice echoes in my head, her frame coming into view at the top of the stairs.

His hands move before she can react, plunging the weapon into her stomach.

My body jolts forward, screams echoing in the broken air as tears stream down my face. I feel my limbs wrack uncontrollably, my lungs heaving as I gasp for air.

Strong hands grip my arms and I wrench away, shrieking in fear. My eyes are wide, terror pouring through me as I lunge away from him. No. Please No. He can't be back. Sheets strangle my thrashing legs and I choke on a cry, not knowing where I am.

'Avery! Avery it's okay! You're fine! Baby it's okay.' A desperate voice fills my ears and I slowly piece together where I am. 'Baby, look at me. It's okay.' I try to focus on Harry's voice, a guiding light through the broken memories.