|
I couldn’t help myself - I tried to
run.
As useless as I knew it would be, and
weak as my knees already were, panic took over and I bolted for the
emergency door.
He was in front of me in a flash. I
didn’t see if he used his hand or his foot, it was too fast. A crushing
blow struck my chest -- I felt myself flying backward, and then heard
the crunch as my head bashed into the mirrors. The glass buckled, some
of the pieces shattering and splintering on the floor beside me.
I was too stunned to feel the pain. I
couldn’t breathe yet.
He walked toward me slowly.
“That’s a very nice effect,” he said,
examining the mess of glass, his voice friendly again. “I thought this
room would be visually dramatic for my little film. That’s why I picked
this place to meet you. It’s perfect, isn’t it?”
I ignored him, scrambling on my hand and
knees, crawling toward the other door.
He was over me at once, his foot
stepping down hard on my leg. I heard the sickening snap before I felt
it. But then I did feel it, and I couldn’t hold back my scream of
agony. I twisted up to reach for my leg, and he was standing over me,
smiling.
“Would you like to rethink your last
request?” he asked pleasantly. His toe nudged my broken leg and I heard
a piercing scream. With a shock, I realized that it was mine. |
