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Chapter One

Theadora

My breath shakes How is that even possible? To have your breath shake? Shit!

Rough hands shove me, and I fall to my knees My tied hands shoot out to catch h, I’m afraid they may bleed

Really, Theadora, that’s what you’re worried about?

I shake h I aht or stay bent over—I’ a skirt that’s way too short to stay this way—but if they wanted to do souess is they would have by now And so far, all they have done is tie me up, put a beanie on my head that covers my eyes, and throw me in a car

“This is her!” A deep voice gruh lance up to see this man, but then realize there’s absolutely no reason at all to do so, considering I cannot see with the black beanie overmy vision

My hands are still tied in front of round, which is a hard surface Cement maybe? I can’t really tell

“Yes, her” I’h to stop the i the floor My forehead cracks as it makes contact, and h me

“Gentle,” that gruff voice states “I don’t want to break her…” I s as he pauses, “… yet”

Hands push s while one hand wraps around htens

This is the part where I should be screaht this man Except my body doesn’t want to Instead, it locks and freezes at his touch

I’ve heard stories of this happening, how your body locks up, even though you should be running, screaet yourself free I didn’t believe it was possible until this very second How can your fight or flight response not kick in?

I’ bad in my life

“Boss, we can dispose of her easily enough”

Soe to squeak out the word

The hands around my throat don’t h the beanie has a minty scent as he leans in closer to me

“No,” he says “Do you even knohy you are here, Theadora?” This man says my name as if he knowsto analyze hio with gut instinct about what I want to say