Page 99 of Phantom Flower

Daniel grabbed my ankle and yanked.

I went down hard, face-first onto the marble floor. My chin cracked against it and I tasted blood. Before I could push myself up, he was on me.

He flipped me onto my back.

I saw the knife come down again.

This time it went through my thigh.

The pain was blinding.

I screamed so loud my throat felt like it tore. The blade sank deep into muscle, scraping against bone. I thrashed, hands flying up to grab his wrist, but he twisted the knife and I screamed again.

“Stop! Fuck, stop!”

Daniel yanked the knife out.

Blood sprayed across the floor. I could feel it gushing out of the wound with every heartbeat. My leg was on fire. I could not move it properly. The pain was so intense I thought I might pass out.

He did not give me the chance.

He grabbed my other leg and forced it flat against the floor.

“No! Please!”

The knife drove straight through my left thigh this time, just above the knee. I felt the blade punch through muscle. I screamed so hard my voice broke.

Fuck, why was this house soundproofed? The bodyguards could not even hear me unless he used the gun.

I could not stop screaming.

Tears streamed down my face as I clawed at the floor, trying to drag myself away even with both legs pinned and bleeding.

Daniel finally pulled the knife out of my left leg.

I sobbed in relief for half a second before the pain hit even harder. Both of my legs were useless.

Daniel stood over me, the bloody knife in his hand.

I tried to crawl.

I dug my fingers into the floor and dragged myself forward inch by inch, leaving a smeared trail of blood behind me. My legs dragged uselessly, the pain so overwhelming I could barely think.

Daniel stepped on my back, pressing me flat against the floor with his shoe.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

I was crying openly then, gasping through the pain. Blood was everywhere. My vision was starting to blur.

“Please…” I choked out. “Please stop—”

He did not.

He crouched down beside me, grabbed my hair, and yanked my head back so I was forced to look at him.

He drove the knife into my right thigh again, just below the first wound.

I could not move anymore.