I fell to the ground, clutching my face. “What are you doing?” I gasped, struggling to get back on my feet.
“You just said your father is in danger. There’s no time for this,” I scolded, ignoring the throbbing pain from Jake’s punch, my thoughts focused on saving Ethan.
“You fool!” Jake spat as I quickly got up.
“The plan was to get you outside and kill you, but I’ve changed my mind. Why waste any more time?” His expression twisted into one of disgust and hate before the monster in him emerged.
“Ethan is not in danger?” I realized aloud. I didn’t need him to answer; it dawned on me, I was a fool.
My heart raced as I realized I had let crazy Jake into my house without security.
“So, what’s your plan now?” I stuttered. “I know you’re angry because I’m dating your father, but,” He cut me off.
“Shut the fuck up,” he said, pulling a knife from his pocket and pointing it at me.
“Shut the fuck up!” he yelled again, and I did, closing my mouth and watching him.
“You and that bastard you have in your stomach,” he sneered, moving the knife from my face to my stomach. “You think you can replace me? Take my father away from me?” he demanded. I shook my head.
“N-no,” I tried to reply, but he placed a finger on his lips, making a shushing sound.
“I’m going to rip that thing out of you and watch you bleed to death,” he threatened, his voice chilling.
My heart pounded like it would burst from my chest. Jake was crazy, and there was no telling what he might do.
What do I do? I wondered, carefully placing my hands on my stomach. I looked at the door, preparing to run. There were guards outside who could save me all I needed was to get outside.
“Ethan, you’re back,” I said loudly towards the door, hoping to distract him. It worked, and immediately he turned. I sprinted, running as fast as I could.
I didn’t realize how far the stairs were from the door until I found myself struggling to reach it. I stretched to grab the handle when I felt a strong grip on my hair.
The pull was so strong it forced me back.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Jake roared as I felt a sharp pain in my waist, forcing me to hold it with my left hand.
As my hand touched my waist, the pain intensified. I looked at my palm, finding it soaked in blood. Jake had sliced my waist with his knife. I raised my head to stare at him, fear in my eyes, he was really going to kill me.
“You’re not going to escape this,” he said, landing a heavy punch on my face before I could move. Flashes exploded behind my eyes, my head snapping back. The sharp pain was immediate, making it hard to stand. I tried to hold my ground, but I staggered, my face swelling as if pepper had been rubbed on an open wound.
I tried to regain my balance, but before I could, he held my shoulder and plunged his knife into my stomach.
“Ahhh!” I gasped. The pain was immediate and intense, a searing, burning sensation that cut deeper than the punch.
It felt as though fire had erupted inside me, the knife tearing through flesh and muscle.
For a moment, shock numbed the pain, a cold wave washing over me. But as the blade was withdrawn, the agony intensified and blood flowed freely.
I clutched my stomach. All I could think of was my baby, the little heartbeat I’d heard today, the little human growing inside me. Tears flowed from my eyes as the world spun around me and my legs weakened.
I fell to the ground seconds later, feeling hopeless and in so much pain. I tried to fight, to keep my eyes open, but I was too weak.
Is this my end? I wondered. Is this how I die? The wound throbbed with every breath I took, my breathing becoming short and difficult.
My eyes struggled to stay open as a blurred vision of Jake loomed over me.
“Please, please,” I whispered with the little hope I had left. My body was giving up, but my heart still wanted to surviv. I wanted me and my baby to survive.
“You can’t do this,” my voice came out in a hush, the pain from the wounds so unbearable it drained all my energy.
I watched a satisfied smile appear on his face. For someone who had just driven a knife through someone’s flesh, he had no remorse.
“Why not? You’re not going to be the first or the last,” he said as he knelt beside me, holding his knife over my body.
His words rang in my ears like a wake-up call.
Jake was a killer. I felt a surge of adrenaline course through my body. I wouldn’t let him kill my baby, I thought, suddenly feeling stronger.
As he brought the knife down towards me, I used all the strength I had to hold the blade back, the tip almost touching my body as I pushed his hands away.
“You’re stronger than I thought,” he grinned proudly, like a psychopath.
I pushed with all my strength, but it made no difference, Jake was stronger.
I winced, raising my head to his hand. I grabbed his hand with my teeth, biting as hard as I could until I could feel the taste of rusted Iron.
“You bitch!” he yelled, jerking his hand away and throwing the knife aside. As he retreated to inspect his hand, I slid away, holding my stomach and slowly moving.
The unbearable pain slowed me down. I struggled to crawl away, heading for the knife.
I picked it up quickly before struggling to my feet. Unable to stand properly, I slouched, my legs staggering as I pointed the knife at him.
I watched him get to his feet, but instead of fear or annoyance, he laughed, loudly and proudly.
“I see you don’t want to die easily,” he said, walking towards me as I swung the knife in his direction, making him slow down.
As he moved closer, I moved backward, still swinging the knife and not turning.
I slowly made my way to the dining room, picking up a heavy candle stand with my other hand.
“Don’t come near me,” I threatened, my voice still a hush as I moved forward.
With each step, my legs felt like they were going to collapse.
“Move,” I demanded, hoping he would get out of the way. He stood by the door, the only way out.
“Move!” I said again, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he leaped towards me.
As he lunged, I swung the knife, giving him a small cut on his hand and forcing him to step back.
“If you come closer, I will kill you,” I threatened. We both knew my threats were empty, but I said them anyway.
He smiled, moving forward boldly. I pierced him with the knife again, but this time he didn’t stop. He moved closer, grabbing my hand and struggling to take the knife. As he fought for the knife, I used the candle stand to hit him hard on the head.
He quickly released me, putting his hand on his head. Before he could react, I hit him again and again, not stopping until he was on the ground.
I continued to hit him, each stroke splashing blood on me. Fear and frustration took over as I kept going, unable to stop until he was completely down.
The moment I noticed he was down and weak, I stopped. Throwing the stand away, I ran straight to the door.
I opened it as quickly as I could before he could get up and chase me.
“Help! Help!” I yelled, standing by the door and surveying the environment for any of the guards.
I walked further into the cold outdoors, hoping to find someone when I saw Buck.
“Buck,” I struggled to call out, but my voice was so low.
I had lost so much blood I was unable to stand anymore, I fell to the ground, placing my hands on my stomach.
With slow deep breaths, I tried to stay awake but my newly acquired strength was drained too. I laid on the grass, with my eyes closing and my breath almost stoping.
A tear drop falling from my eyes as I realized i was taking my last few breaths. My life flashed before my eyes as my eyes closed and everything went blank.