Page 241 of Fatality

But the words are lost in my throat.

“What?”

His hand is on my thigh, only moving to change gears or yank the wheel hard.

But I don't register it, I simply can't. Everything feels distant.

He takes the turn sharply.

I brace myself, my nails digging into the leather seat, almost piercing it.

“What, Riven?” he repeats.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

I want to punch him in the implant and knock him out, I want to scream at him but I fucking can't.

It's like my own self is trapped inside a stranger's body, screaming and pounding, but no one hears.

He slams on the brakes in the middle of the road leading down to the Lower Layers.

Car horns blare as vehicles speed past us.

His hand finds the back of my skull, while the one on my thigh tightens enough to bruise.

He forces my head to turn toward him.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he snarls. “Why the hell aren't you being a brat?”

I see his glowing, furious eyes searching my face for an answer I can't even form.

“Answer me!” he screams.

I flinch.

The first tiny movement my body has made since he pulled away from the curb.

My breathing quickens, I feel a knot forming in my stomach that makes me nauseous.

I see his eyes searching, but he can't understand. How could he?

“What is wrong with you?!” he shouts again, using his grip on my skull to shake me.

My head lolls back and forth.

“E-Evren…” I whisper.

He instantly stops, his breathing is ragged.

“Answer me, Riven.”

“I... I can't.”

“The fuck do you mean you can't?” He leans over the center console. “Speak.”

“S-speed…” I gulp. “I... I'm scared.”

His eyes widen.