Freedom [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 28: LONG WAY DOWN

As the days grew colder and shorter in daylight I could see just how different my body had become. I had muscles for the first time in my life, muscles that I was still learning how to use but use I did. I smiled as I lengthened my stride, enjoying the wind flinging my hair from my face. The sense of power and freedom I felt as I pushed myself harder and harder, the familiar burn something that I had begun to appreciate. I felt in control and although I wouldn't admit it happy despite not having the luxuries that my parents had thought would make it all better. I couldn't even hate them though, as I realised that they would never change and I should stop expecting them to be perfect. 

Glancing sideways, I admired Sean as he ran beside me knowing that his muscles far exceeded my own but he stayed at my pace. Forcing my head back in front, thankful that he hadn't caught me staring, I strove to move my legs faster wanting to impress the man who I had become to trust and...I shook my head at even starting to think along those lines, it would never happen and it shouldn't anyway he was way too good for a slightly less broken, but still broken nonetheless, girl like me. 

Breath coming out harshly I heard the footsteps seconds after Sean did, who had turned towards the noise. 

"Run to the meet up place, I'll join you there." He ordered but as several, thuggish men came into view I hesitated. 

"But I can help-" I said, going through the moves in my head, anticipating what could occur. 

"No, Katherine, go now." He said shoving me slightly in the other direction. 

"But you-" 

"I'll be fine, now go!" he shouted as he pulled out a gun and a knife, crouching behind a tree for cover to face the coming violence. 

As the first shot rang out, I was almost yanked back into the past but I forced myself around and with one last glance at Sean I fled. I pushed myself harder than before despite the pain as running from something rather than running for the sake of running, seemed a far better incentive. Tears escaped from my eyes uncontrolled as the thought of leaving Sean to be possibly killed by himself. The weather seemed to mimic my emotions as the heavens opened, the bare branches offering little protection from the onslaught of water. My footing was becoming more and more precarious so I was forced to slow down or otherwise end up injured and unable to move. 

Distracted as I was I only heard him seconds before his hands grasped around my waist. I twisted on instinct to try and avoid his grasp and lost my footing. I tried pushing him away but that made my already precarious position even worse and an easy target to grab hold off. I didn't give up though and stamped hard on his foot since my arms were locked into my waist. His grip didn't slacken in the slightest so I threw my head back whilst trying to free my arms simultaneously. He didn't let go, if anything his grip tightened and I struggled to breathe as he took my feet from underneath me.

"You little bitch! You're going to pay for that." He said swearing, leaving hand prints on my sides as he started walking. 

Shifting in his grasp, I let him relax slightly until he thought I had given up before lashing my leg back into his knee with all the power I could. I winced as I heard a crack as his leg gave out under him, and the earth rushed up to meet both of us. Hitting the ground I realised my mistake of attack location when the earth slid away beneath our weight and I struggled even harder to escape his grasp. He was already over the edge of the steep drop and was pulling me with him. Grasping at anything, I managed to hook my foot around a sticking out root of a nearby tree, effectively yanking us to a halt. My heart raced as I strained to not move a muscle as I was afraid one slight shift could slip my foot out of position and we would plummet to whatever awaited us below. Blood rushed to my head as we dangled upside down and I bit my lip trying to direct all the strength I had left to my right leg and foot. I watched carefully, assessing the roots strength and how I could possibly manage to get back onto safe ground. The root groaned as the man adjusted his sweaty hands against me.