Shattered

Chapter 19

"Try this door," She commanded when we came onto the one hundred fifteenth floor. Both of us panted heavily, having traversed down ten flights of stairs already. My heartbeat resounded through my body as I became dizzy and felt a thin sheen of sweat on my forehead.

Nearly throwing my body at it, I pushed and tugged, but it was as futile as the rest of the attempts were. All these doors needed a key. After a few breaths, Nakoa was ready to keep going down, but I felt more lightheaded with every blink. We didn't even have shoes on, dressed in clothes that would cause us to freeze in this weather if we were outside. We acted irrationally and didn't think this through, it clearly showed.

With loud footsteps trailing us, she made a move to grab my hand again, but I stepped away. "No, it's useless. Go if you want, but I know I won't make it, I'll pass out by the time we get halfway down." Sliding against the wall, I already felt the tears come down my cheeks, and I hated myself for it, for being so fucking weak.

Clicking her tongue, she knew I wouldn't move, so she left on her own, and I'm proud of her for it. She can do what I can't, she's brave. Here I am crying, leaving myself to be found, the seconds ticking down rapidly. If I saw the motion detector sooner, I could've stopped our plan before we would end up caught again and punished.

Not even a minute later, the angry footsteps reached me. My eyes were blurred with tears, leaving my vision smudged and unclear. "Keep going, I'll take her," Chandler muttered to Lucas as his black shoes stopped before me.

"Get up," His deep voice vibrated through me, the girl reappearing in my mind. I'm going to die. He gripped my upper arm and pulled me as Lucas continued after Nakoa. Maybe I want to die

When he had me standing, he pressed my body into the wall, leaning close. "What made you think that was a good idea?" Sniffling and reaching to wipe my eyes, the scene before me now visible.

His eyes were cold and hard, portraying an anger I deeply feared. "I didn't think it was a good idea, I wasn't even thinking at all." Through tears, I laughed at the truly pitiful situation. "Eighty flights worth ofstairs, I know I can't make it that far, and if I did, I'd freeze outside withnowhere to go." Laughing again, somewhere in my damaged mind, I believed it was hilarious, the things I get myself into.

"So why do it?" Taking a step back from me, he left his arms gripping my forearms. "Because..." Trailing on through another sniffle, I turned my gaze to the side, focusing on the footsteps below, a wolf chasing a rabbit. "Because I was mad, I wanted to piss you off."

Sharply, my cheek hit the wall beside me, forcing a groan of pain. "Yeah, slap me, what'll that do?" It was a surprise to myself, that I was acting this way, as if the situation was humorous. "It should make you watch your actions, but it seems nothing I do makes its way into your head." Revealing his sharp black switchblade, he pressed it against my upper arm, barely making me bleed.

"If you won't let me go, then kill me. Do me one favor," Sneering at him, I felt a bit of warm liquid gather in the fabric of my shirt. "I gave you an answer to that already, you'll remember if you use your brain for once." Before I could lash back, there was a sudden scream, a bang, and then silence. Lucas wouldn't kill her, I know that much, but she probably has a concussion from whatever that was. "He got her, so start walking upstairs before I make you bleed more." Looking down at my arm, I saw the crimson stain, slowly falling further down. It hardly hurt, just a slight sting.

"Walk, Jess." Rolling my eyes, I pressed my palm against the wound once he let go, trying to minimize the bleeding. Slowly, we made our way back up the steps, every passing moment filling me with more dread. I didn't want to go back in there.