Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
I yank at the dress, thankful that it is loose. My father's punishment of no food for the past few days is helping me at this moment. His plan was to make me weak and more docile so that I wouldn’t have the strength to resist.
I get the dress free, knowing it will only slow me down. The one thing that I got to do when stuck in my father's home was swim in the pool. I’d do it for hours on end.
My legs are strong, and doing all those laps gave me great endurance. I never imagined those things would come in handy. I climb over the side of the boat, my hands holding on to the railing behind me. When the light circles around and hits me, I let go.
I gasp when I hit the cold water, quickly holding my breath as I sink under. I push back up, breaking through the surface, finding that light once again. I swim at a steady pace. The light is my only focus. I don't let myself think of anything else but making it to shore. I can't. Not the burn of my muscles or the fear of them seeing that I'm gone from my room and then finding me. Freedom is my only thought as I push myself harder than I ever have before.
I have no idea how long I’ve been swimming, but eventually I see a dock come into sight along with a row of warehouses. There are cars in the parking lot, but I don't see any people. Do I want to see people? I haven't thought that far ahead. What if I make it to the shore? Then what?
It doesn’t matter. I have to get there first. I keep pushing, but I swear I hear my name being called. It only makes me move faster. A sharp pain shoots through my leg, making me slip under. I fight against it. I'm so close.
I break to the top of the water again. For a second, I think I see someone standing on the dock. The figure is tall and dark, and the light behind makes it difficult to distinguish him. However, it could be an illusion, and I might not be seeing anything at all.
Another cramp shoots through my side, making me cry out, but it's quickly silenced as I once again start to sink. The water is pulling me under. I close my eyes, knowing this is the closest to freedom I'll ever get.
Chapter Two
RICH
I rub the side of my jaw; it throbs. I took a pretty good blow, but it was worth it. It left my opponent open for a kidney shot. It had been a rookie mistake on his part. Just because something looks good doesn’t mean it is. Especially, in the ring, it’s often bait, but some people are too greedy to pay attention to the details. That’s where I excel. I pay attention to all the small things.
Then again, I guess everyone is a rookie here. Anyone can be pulled into late-night warehouse fights, and they’ve been trying to find someone that could take me down. The bets on my head are growing each week. People think it’s only a matter of time before I fall. I have yet to be beaten, and I’m determined for it to remain that way.
I’m only here because it’s a release. The rage inside of me needed a way to escape, and I get that here. Or I used to. It doesn’t seem to be working anymore. Not now that my old man is dead. I loathed that man, and now he is gone. He didn’t suffer enough, if you ask me. I’d been the one that wanted to end him. To watch the life drain from his eyes. That opportunity had been taken from me. Now I feel like I’m spiraling.
Needing to clear my head and wanting away from the noise of the warehouses, I move down toward the docks. The fights are done, but people are milling around and collecting their money. I should go home, but I’ve been avoiding it.
The dock is filled with boats; the ferry to Lighthouse Landing has slowed down since it’s so late. The only way on and off the island is by air or boat. A lot of rich people like to come over from the city and make their bets on the underground fights. It’s easier to host them here because they have fewer eyes on them. The cops on the island turn a blind eye if it means a little extra money in their pockets.
The man in charge of the fights is Vasily King. People call him King. He has the cops-part taken care of. The authorities are bought and paid for. Everyone knows they’re safe here. At least with King in charge, anyway. He makes sure things never get out of hand.