d filled my lungs. It wasn't just tear gas. It was something heavier, som

to my knees, choking, gaspi

ny's shrill voice cut thro

Chad grumbled. "Th

ose above the others. "Stop it, Brighton! This

performance. The

me strength. I lunged forward, blind and wild, my hands ou

ratched me! The bitch scratc

rabbed me by the hair, yanking my

nd. "Hold her down!" he

nd legs, pinning me to

inches from mine. I could feel his hot, angry

the others. "Le

ck my shoulder. They were throwing debris at me, thei

stone caught me on the temple. A flash of white-hot pain, an

I think was named Mark, sounded panicked.

voice had a slight tremor now. He hadn't e

isted, her voice tight. "She' s

w my bleeding, broken form not as a victim of his cruelty, but as a final,

die. I pushed myself up, my muscles screaming in protest, m

here. I would

ave held for him, a microscopic