Survival, стр. 135

“And as for your little plan to save yourfamily, you were not as successful as you thought you’d be. I havea strategy for everything, Jaden. Don’t ever forget that and maybenext time you can save yourself the wasted pain and energy.”

I winced my lips in absolute anger, but thepain radiating in my jaw brought more tears to my eyes. I foughtagainst them, but they continued to well in the corners until onefinally fell.

“I hope it was worth it,” he said,straightening his jacket. “Because, as of yesterday, you’re nolonger a missing statistic. You’re officially dead to theworld.”

I squinted in confusion as his wordsregistered. What in the hell did he mean I was officially dead tothe world? I finally looked up at him with my confusion, but hejust smiled at me, leaned down, and kissed my forehead beforerighting himself.

“Get well soon, princess.” He smirked. “I have a whole new curriculum foryou, and I can’t wait to get started.”

With that, he sauntered out of the room withhis hands in his pockets, looking perfectly pleased with himself ashe opened the door and walked out, the guard and nurse returning inhis stead.

I looked down at the piece of paper heplaced on my lap and instantly sawmy name in bold letters. I picked the paper up with my good handand realized it was a news article, but the title had me confusedand horrified all at the same time. “Body found in Detroit AlleyConfirmed as Missing 25-Year-Old, Jaden Wilder.” My eyeswidened while my heart monitor practically blasted from my poundingheart.

“Local police confirm the body found inan alley in downtown Detroit yesterday was identified as themissing woman. Severe thermal burns prevented fingerprintidentification, but dental records have provided positiveidentification. Thecause of death has been determined as a drug overdose.The remains were later soaked with gasoline and lit on fire,possibly to prevent identification. Police have been unsuccessfulin locating the woman’s mother and boyfriend to claim the body, butsome of her distant family members have stepped forward. Funeralarrangements are being made for this Sunday …”

My mind swam in a whirlpool of panic andterror as I couldn’t even finish reading the article. I was dead.The world thought I was dead, and they were planning a funeral. Afuneral where people who knew me might be, who would nowunknowingly be placing themselves in danger. Not only that but another person, one whom I didn’t evenknow, had taken my place on my deathbed and would now be buried sixfeet under because of me. Her family would never know the truth andneither would mine.

I suddenly couldn’t breathe. My mouthinstantly went dry and my vision spun like a carousel. I felt myself begin to hyperventilatewhile the heart monitor beeped like crazy.

“Jaden, Jaden, calm down,” I heard the nurse say. “Jaden, I need you tocalm down!”

My body shook in uncontrollable terror.Darren had won. I had failed my family because he knew their heartsbetter than I did. They wouldn’t believe Jason if they were told Iwas dead. Thankfully, he and my mother and brothers were gone. Hecould keep them safe. I knew he could, but I couldn’t say the samefor everyone else.

Nurse Ginsby panicked around me as she tried to get me to calmdown, but there was no hope there. I didn’t even realize I wasscreaming until I noticed my tears fall onto the paper article. Icrinkled the thing in my hand until Ginsby finally grabbed it and tore it away from me.

“Shit!” I heard her say as she started topull a needle from one of the drawers nearby. I gripped and pulledat my hair as I practically thrashed in my bed. “Help me!” sheyelled at the guard. He rushed over and held me down so she couldstick the needle in my IV without missing.

“Shhh, Jaden. Shhh, it’s okay,” she said,trying to soothe me and she ran her hands through my hair, pushing it away from my face.

I felt a surge of exhaustion consume me andheard my heart monitor begin to slow again. My breathing eventuallyevened out as I rested my head against my pillow, tears stillfalling down my face, but it didn’t silence the terror that residedin my heart.

It was over. I had lost, and now, I wouldremain on this island, broken and powerless against the hurricane Iswore I would destroy. I closed my eyes and choked back a sob. Whatmore could I do now?

Stop it.

I had nothing left. Nothing more to fightwith. I was so weak and pathetic. Broken.

Stop being a little bitch, Jaden.

My fight was useless. He would always win.Always. How did I ever think I could compete with him? He wasruthless. He was cruel. And he owned me.

Knock it the fuck off and wake up. You’rebetter than this.

What could I do? I was so weak.

You can stand the fuck back up becauseyou’re stronger than this. Don’t be such a pussy.

I took a deep breath and relaxed, nearlysmiling.

There was another fight that was alwaysuseless, one I constantly lost no matter how hard I fought it … andthat was against my inner spirit. The one thing Darren could neverbreak. She was right. I had to stop being a little bitch and standback up. Darren chose me for my strength, and he would get nothingless. I might be broken now, but I would heal. I would regain thatspark and light Darren’s entire world on fire.

It was not over. It never would be until Ihad Darren Davis dead at my feet and his entire criminalorganization decimated to ashes. Only then would I be done.

Relief and pride filled me as I closed myeyes, finally giving in to thedrug the nurse had administered. I would have my vengeance … rightafter this nap …

To be continued…