Read Online Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L. Reid - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heather L. Reid
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the irritating particles washed away in a flood of salty tears. When the streaming stopped, and he regained focus, all he saw was an endless void of darkness spinning out before him.
Oh, my God! I’m blind! I’m blind and alone and probably bleeding and broken. Shit. I knew it. His heart rattled against his chest, and his lungs constricted.
Don’t panic. It’s dark. That’s all. It doesn’t mean you’re blind. You have to move, or you’ll die here.
And how am I supposed to do that when I can’t see a hair in front of me! His thoughts fractured into two opposing sides, the optimist and the pessimist. Not to mention the fact that I used up all my energy opening my eyes.
Don’t panic. It’s not that bad.
Not that bad? Really? How could it be worse?
You could be nothing.
At least if I were nothing, I wouldn’t be so afraid.
Arguing with himself seemed crazy, but it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart. He had nobody else to rely on or to council with.
That’s a laugh. Don’t you remember how terrified you were the last time you died? This doesn’t feel anything like that. If we’re dead, where’s the light?
He doubted there would be any lights in hell but pushed away the thought as soon as it reared its head. Metaphorically, hell was exactly where he was right now.
Listen. There’s water dripping in the distance. The water must be getting in from somewhere. So if there was a way in, there’s a way out.
Yes. Yes. His thoughts finally made sense, worked together.
Aaron shivered. Not a scrap of clothing covered his body. Whatever happened to him stripped him of every stitch, as well as his dignity. In a different situation, he might have been embarrassed, but he was too exhausted and frightened to care. He would worry about clothes later. For now, he had to get moving and get out.
His neck, stiff from lying in the same position for too long, tingled and ached as he scraped his cheek against the rough stone. A musty mix of rusted metal and salt filled his nostrils. The smell of mustiness and stale air reminded him of home, of his father lying on the couch after drinking all night, the curtains drawn tight. But he wasn’t home. The stone floor beneath his naked flesh proved that. Did his dad even miss him? Did Josh? Would he ever see home again?
You won’t if you don’t stay focused.
Giving up wasn’t an option. Panting, he struggled again to shift the lead weights of his arms splayed out over his head, but they wouldn’t budge. They remained stuck to the floor, heavy and useless. He might as well try to move a mountain.
Light flickered in the distance. He could make out the halo around a flame, an orange eye staring at him from the blackness.
“Hello?” Aaron’s voice was rough and low. “Is anyone there?”
Whispers hushed and shushed around him, soft and ominous, but he couldn’t tell exactly where they came from.
“Please, help me. I need help.”
If he didn’t get their attention, they might miss him. Determined, he gritted his teeth and concentrated his efforts. He stretched the fingers of his right hand, then the left. A moan escaped his lips, and he sucked in his breath as pins and needles danced across his nerves.
Metal scraped and clanged against stone as he dragged his right arm in toward his body. Panic knotted his empty belly, and he pushed himself up to a sitting position. Something bit into his wrists, weighing him down, restricting his movement. He scrambled backward, the clatter following him. Something cold and wet scraped against his leg, a chain. Shackles bound each wrist and ankle. He grunted and tried to tug them free, but the more he fought against them, the tighter they held him.
A scream so raw with anger and despair surged up from his gut and exploded from his throat. He screamed and clawed at the ground in a red rage until he collapsed. Exhausted and defeated, he curled into a ball and stared at the flame winking in the distance, teasing him,
Oh, my God! I’m blind! I’m blind and alone and probably bleeding and broken. Shit. I knew it. His heart rattled against his chest, and his lungs constricted.
Don’t panic. It’s dark. That’s all. It doesn’t mean you’re blind. You have to move, or you’ll die here.
And how am I supposed to do that when I can’t see a hair in front of me! His thoughts fractured into two opposing sides, the optimist and the pessimist. Not to mention the fact that I used up all my energy opening my eyes.
Don’t panic. It’s not that bad.
Not that bad? Really? How could it be worse?
You could be nothing.
At least if I were nothing, I wouldn’t be so afraid.
Arguing with himself seemed crazy, but it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart. He had nobody else to rely on or to council with.
That’s a laugh. Don’t you remember how terrified you were the last time you died? This doesn’t feel anything like that. If we’re dead, where’s the light?
He doubted there would be any lights in hell but pushed away the thought as soon as it reared its head. Metaphorically, hell was exactly where he was right now.
Listen. There’s water dripping in the distance. The water must be getting in from somewhere. So if there was a way in, there’s a way out.
Yes. Yes. His thoughts finally made sense, worked together.
Aaron shivered. Not a scrap of clothing covered his body. Whatever happened to him stripped him of every stitch, as well as his dignity. In a different situation, he might have been embarrassed, but he was too exhausted and frightened to care. He would worry about clothes later. For now, he had to get moving and get out.
His neck, stiff from lying in the same position for too long, tingled and ached as he scraped his cheek against the rough stone. A musty mix of rusted metal and salt filled his nostrils. The smell of mustiness and stale air reminded him of home, of his father lying on the couch after drinking all night, the curtains drawn tight. But he wasn’t home. The stone floor beneath his naked flesh proved that. Did his dad even miss him? Did Josh? Would he ever see home again?
You won’t if you don’t stay focused.
Giving up wasn’t an option. Panting, he struggled again to shift the lead weights of his arms splayed out over his head, but they wouldn’t budge. They remained stuck to the floor, heavy and useless. He might as well try to move a mountain.
Light flickered in the distance. He could make out the halo around a flame, an orange eye staring at him from the blackness.
“Hello?” Aaron’s voice was rough and low. “Is anyone there?”
Whispers hushed and shushed around him, soft and ominous, but he couldn’t tell exactly where they came from.
“Please, help me. I need help.”
If he didn’t get their attention, they might miss him. Determined, he gritted his teeth and concentrated his efforts. He stretched the fingers of his right hand, then the left. A moan escaped his lips, and he sucked in his breath as pins and needles danced across his nerves.
Metal scraped and clanged against stone as he dragged his right arm in toward his body. Panic knotted his empty belly, and he pushed himself up to a sitting position. Something bit into his wrists, weighing him down, restricting his movement. He scrambled backward, the clatter following him. Something cold and wet scraped against his leg, a chain. Shackles bound each wrist and ankle. He grunted and tried to tug them free, but the more he fought against them, the tighter they held him.
A scream so raw with anger and despair surged up from his gut and exploded from his throat. He screamed and clawed at the ground in a red rage until he collapsed. Exhausted and defeated, he curled into a ball and stared at the flame winking in the distance, teasing him,
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