Read Online Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts - Free Book Online Page B

The baseball guy grunted, the first sound he’d made since the attack started, and he took a few steps backward before the weight of Mason’s body brought him down. He didn’t let go of the weapon, though, and he brought it back up in the air as the two of them struggled.
    Mason picked up a handful of dirt and threw it in the guy’s eyes. It didn’t even make him blink. Using his good hand, Mason reached out and grabbed hold of the baseball bat, desperately trying to keep the guy from using it. A second blow and he’d be done, especially if he took a shot to the head. Shoving forward, he tried to get the upper hand by pressing all his body weight on top of the guy’s arm. If he could get him to drop the bat, he’d have a better chance. His car was just five feet away. All he needed to do was get inside and lock the doors. A tiny bit of hope quelled the queasiness in his stomach. He might just get through this.
    He didn’t want to die.
    He was a little surprised to realize this.
    But the guy wasn’t letting go of the bat without a fight. Mason shifted his leg over until his foot pressed up against the guy’s wrist. He managed to bring himself up to his knees and press all his body weight against it, but the weapon stayed firm in the stranger’s hand. It was an awkward position, and in a matter of seconds the guy bucked Mason off himself. Falling backward, Mason hit his shoulder against the pavement and white stars filled his vision, bringing with them a wave of dizziness. Rolling over onto his back, he gazed at the guy as he straightened, bat in hand, and situated himself right beside Mason’s head.
    “What do you want?” Mason mumbled.
    The guy didn’t say a word. Instead he brought the bat down.
    Mason rolled to the left, grabbing the guy’s ankle and dragging him down a second time. This time the guy dropped the bat and it bounced against the pavement, making a hollow sound as the aluminum hit the rocky surface. It didn’t roll far enough away, though; it was still within reach. Mason managed to bring up his leg and kick out wildly. His foot met with the stranger’s nose, and he could actually feel the cartilage breaking beneath his shoe.
    Grabbing hold of the guy’s jean jacket, Mason pulled himself up against him, like climbing a sideways ladder. His hands caught hair and he didn’t stop to think.
    He reacted.
    The vibration spread up his fingers and into his arms as the head met with concrete. The guy immediately stopped moving.
    Mason shoved himself off the body and crab walked backward, stumbling and falling when he tried to put weight on his bad arm. He shuffled along the ground until his head met with his car. Leaning against the smooth metal, he waited apprehensively for the man’s body to move.
    It didn’t.
    He lasted about ten seconds before the bile in his stomach pushed its way to the surface. Crawling to his knees, Mason heaved into the dirt. As he puked helplessly, his body tensed, waiting for the moment when the baseball bat would crack against his skull.
    Nothing happened.
    When it was over and his head had cleared enough to look, he saw that the man was still lying on the ground. Even through the darkness Mason could see the pool of blood spreading from underneath his head.
    Had he killed him? Using the car as a crutch, Masonmanaged to climb to his feet and stumble the few feet back until he was standing over the stranger. The man faced the sky and his eyes were closed. Mason couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not, and he didn’t want to lean in closer to get a better look. Picking up the baseball bat, he tossed it as hard as he could. It cleared the parking lot and landed a few feet away in the bushes.
    He staggered back to his car and got in. Starting the engine, he winced as he placed his injured arm on the steering wheel. He backed out carefully. Even if the guy was dead, he didn’t want to drive over him.
    He made it only to the edge of the park before he had to pull over.