Yes

Without missing a beat, I break out sprinting, trying to use the crowd surrounding us to hide myself from Tom. I ignore him yelling at me, pushing drunk after drunk out of my way.

After a minute or two of fighting through the crowd of people and ****, I bolt out the bar’s front door. My eyes flicker to my car, only to see several large men filling the parking lot. Shit. When I hear the bar door swing open behind me, I turn down the sidewalk next to me, trying to find an alley to slip down into and hide in.

The footsteps echoing out behind me synch up with my heartbeat, flooding my ears. Cars race by, none of the drivers paying any mind to the chase unfolding right next to them. Christ, this is dystopian.

My eyes don’t stay on the cars for long, instead turning to the buildings and alleyways to my other side. None of them look branched enough for me to easily lose a tail in them, especially not one who’s following me this close. The entire chase, Tom’s footsteps haven’t faded at all, let alone enough for me to feel safe ducking down a straight shot alley.

Fuck. Out of nowhere, my left leg cramps up, slowing me down. No. No. No. I **** myself to try and push through it, knowing that my life as I know it is going to end if I don’t. I fight to adjust my stride to keep the same speed without fucking my leg up permanently.

This isn’t working. My heart races faster in my chest, fueled by minutes of hard running and pure fucking fear. He’s going to catch you. My chest screams in pain, tightening around my lungs and constricting my breath. This is the end. I fight to recover, feeling the muscles in my legs pulling tighter and tighter in on themselves.

Right as the pain starts easing up, I feel two hands grab on to myself and my clothes- one on my arm and one on the back of the waist on my jeans. As soon as I’ve registered what’s happened, my body gets slammed into a wall. Cold bricks press into my bare cheek, sending chills through my whole body.

Without a second thought, I jut my left elbow backward and feel it connect with the body behind me. As soon as I feel his grip loosen on me, I shake my right arm free of him and swing my fist at him as hard as possible. My confidence builds some, as that blow makes contact, too, and very clearly stuns Tom.

That all comes crashing down on me when he charges me and forces me backwards against the wall. My eyes go wide with shock and pain echoes through my body as he lands two rapid-fire blows to my stomach. I reflexively double over, one of my hands going to my stomach, the other landing on his shoulder. Tom grabs me by my hair and pulls me up to look at him, his other hand securing its place on my cheek.

“God, you have such a pretty face. We’re gonna have so much fun together.” My stomach churns at his words and blood rushes to my face. I defiantly keep from reacting, trying to keep myself from giving Tom what he wants, as well as push down the fear growing inside of me. “I already know I’m gonna love breaking you.” He gives me a final smirk, before turning away from me, releasing his grip on my hair, and gesturing for someone stopped in the limo near us to come over.

“Wow, I sure do feel special.” Tom glares at me for a moment before he grabs onto my shirt, pulls me over to the vehicle, and opens the door. This motherfucker really thinks that I’m gonna give in this easily to whatever he wants after he practically kidnapped me? Fuck that. He wanted me? Fine, but I’m his fucking problem now. I stay still, sticking to the idea of making everything as hard on him as I possibly can.

“What are you- a fucking child?” Without so much of a second glance, he shoves me into the back of the car, following himself immediately afterward. I adjust myself in a seat, crossing my arms across the lower part of my chest in an attempt to wall myself off from Tom as much as possible without giving him the spectacle I’m sure he wants from me.

I keep my eyes forward, watching Tom sit down across from me. My eyes follow his hands, watching him put up a hand and flick his fingers towards himself, signaling for me to come to him. I remain still and silent, refusing to play any more part in this game than I’m **** to. He grabs the front of my shirt again, pulling me out of my seat and onto my knees in front of him.

“Fucking blind, too. Great.” The corners of my mouth turn up and I watch frustration spread over his face. His fingers twist harder around the neck of my shirt, pulling me closer in to him. I keep my expression as fearless as possible, trying to win as much as anyone in my situation really can. Tom stares daggers down at me, clearly trying to figure out what to do with me.

“Open your mouth.”

“Wha-”

“Open your mouth.” My heart speeds up and my chest tightens around me. “You heard what I said.” I

keep my mouth shut, knowing what’s about to happen if I don’t. Tom’s hand moves from my shirt to grab my jaw, pulling me closer to him and bending down closer to me. “Listen, you stupid little fuck, I own you. You have to do whatever the hell I say, like it or not. Now open your fucking mouth.” The knot in my stomach grows and my whole body goes hot. I stay stubborn and keep my mouth shut.

“You still think I’m playing a fucking game, huh?” Tom leans back some and pulls his hand not holding me in pace with him. I tense up and close my eyes, waiting for him to slap me.

After a few moments of nothing, I open my eyes again to see Tom looking down at me, smiling.

“You really are cute.” I relax some when I notice his hand resting on his leg. At least he’s not gonna hit me. Any calm I’d built up falls away as soon as Tom reaches out and grabs my nose, holding it shut. My eyes go wide as the realization of what he’s trying to do to me sets in. “If you want to play games, that’s just fine by me, but you need to remember who’s making the rules here.”

Pain floods my chest, my lungs screaming for air. Air. Fucker, you need air. If you don’t give in soon, you’re gonna pass out. Fuck.