12. Rin

12

Rin

A twisted smile spreads on his face and I cry out in despair, realizing that this is probably how I'm going to die. My life starts to flash before my eyes, but then something knocks Tehlmar down, pulling me from him.

From the impact, I roll away, scrambling backward, catching sight of a wide-eyed Roshan.

Roshan rambles toward Tehlmar, but a flash of silver hits him. With a grunt, he reels back, crying out as Tehlmar's spiked foot hits him on the chest. Roshan whimpers, his spidery legs hitting Tehlmar in a furious flurry.

Then Tehlmar hits him again, harder this time, and Roshan runs away in fear.

The animal's cries enrage me and while the green-haired alien is down, I get up and drive my foot straight into his face.

I go for a third kick, but he catches my leg, yanking me to the ground. His elbow smashes straight into my side as I land on the ground. I had forgotten how fast he is.

I try to scurry away, but he grabs my hair, dragging me across the ground and against the tree I had just escaped from. His mocking laughter snaps something inside me; I know then—I won't be leaving here alive.

I can't die. Not like this. Not without a fight. Anger drowns out my fear, and I throw the hardest punches I can, each more futile than the last, twisting to break free. But it only thrills him. "Yes, struggle with me, you little pleasure slave. I love a fighter. They break so deliciously."

I want to scream again, but I know that would be of no use at this point.

"I will make you regret the day you ever set your eyes on me, Ya Allah ," I curse, tears pouring out of my eyes.

"You can do nothing but take it like a whore."

He spits on my face. Presses his hand against my throat, he pushes me further up against the tree, cutting off all my air.

The wind is knocked out of me again when a heavy blow hits my stomach. Before I can recover, another strikes my eye, temporarily blinding me and sending a sharp pain shooting into my skull.

All I hear is a cruel laughter as this monster, my former companion, beats me relentlessly. As the pain fills my head, I feel myself slipping, thinking I am near my end.