Stay

7

As the adrenaline surged through my veins, I refused to succumb to the paralyzing fear that threatened to consume me. I mustered every ounce of strength and fought against the man's grip, desperately trying to break free. With a surge of determination, I sank my teeth into his hand, eliciting a cry of pain.

"Fucking bitch," the man hissed and I fell limp in his hold. It was enough to make him loosen his grip. The two other men lunged forward, but I remembered everything Reid and Caelan taught me in self- defence.

I would not go down without a fight.

"C'mere you little bitch," the blonde one said, but I dodged his outstretched arms and kicked at his leg. He cried out, falling onto his knees, and I could tell then that these men weren't trained like I was - they weren't expecting me to fight back.

Three against one though?

The odds were not in my favour.

"Run," Susannah called, appearing behind the two men. "Run, run, run."

Before I could land another blow, the man I bit grabbed my shoulder and elbowed me in the ribs. I wheezed, but shoved my palm into his face, the sickening crack of his nose echoing in the air between shuffling shoes and ragged breathing. Blood spilled from his nostrils, and he began cursing as he backed away, into the wall.

I faced the other two.

The taller man that stood with the blonde one swung at my head, clocking me in the side of the head. The world blurred as I stumbled sideways.

"Run," Suzannah yelled in my ear, "run or they'll hurt you."

"You've got no where to run, no one to save you," the tall man taunted. I swiped the blood that ran down into my eye away and grinned.

"I don't need saving,"

"Alayna, behind you," a familiar voice - Reid - called out and I spun around just in time to duck. The tall ones fist flew over my head, and I tackled the man into the wall before reaching up and digging my nails into his eyes, pressing my thumbs deep. I kneed him in the groin, making him groan as he collapsed into the garage bags littering the wall.

I glanced back at my brother to see him and the blonde fighting.

Reid shot the man in the leg, before striding up to him and smashing the butt of his gun into side of his head, knocking him out.

The blonde lay unconscious but I stepped back from him, anxious he would spring up and attack once more. I backed up further as Reid knelt over the tall man but kept his gaze on me. He pointed a finger at me, eyes flashing. "You stay the fuck where you are, Alayna."

I didn't move, shocked from what had occurred. I watched in silence, holding my bleeding nose as Reid tucked his gun into his waistband. Sirens wailed in the distance and fear pricked at my skin.

"We have to go," he said, gripping my arm. I shrugged away, out of his reach. "Alayna, I am here to help you. I don't give a shit about what David Curtis will do to me. You are my sister and I am going to help you, whether you want it or not."

The sirens weren't far now, maybe two or three streets away. Reid reached out for me again and this time I didn't move away. Instead I leaned into his arms.

"Come on, we've got to run."

+++

"He'll die and it'll be your fault," the voice sang, making me flinch. "Your fault he's going to die, he's going to die and it'll be your fault."