Page 59 of Chalk Outline

My fist collides with his Adam’s apple, and he chokes, but not for long. He quickly recovers from the blow and pins my hand above my head, squeezing it to the mud.

That fucker’s willpower is deadly.

I slam the heel of my palm into his nose, twice—he forgot about my other hand when he only pinned down one. A metallic smell assaults my nose. He spits in frustration, raining my face with blood and saliva.

“No one is here to save you,” he laughs.

I don’t need saving.

I wrap my arm around his head to pull it down, step on his hip with my left leg, and push it up against his shoulder so hisarm can’t escape. I pivot to the side and place my right leg on his shoulder, quickly linking both legs while I make an armbar.

Rule number three: If you’re in danger, don’t hesitate.

Locked in my grip, I clamp around him, buck my hips up, and pull his hand hard. I use all my strength to try to dislocate it.

The popping sound of his elbow joint is followed by his shrieks and cries that quickly turn into laughter.I don’t think that he feels pain that deeply if he’s high on something.

He takes a deep breath, acting nonchalant. “So you’re into pain.”

An intense, shocking pulse zaps through me. He breaks free from the armbar as I try to pull away unsuccessfully. He jerks forward, crushing me beneath his weight.

“Stop moving,” he grits out before a punch lands across my face. Air rushes out of my lungs from the impact. His working hand tightens around my throat, squeezing hard, depriving me of oxygen as he applies more pressure.

My fingers quickly skim the ground for rocks, my stun gun, or his knife as light raindrops start falling on us.

“You were supposed to be mine. You should’ve chosen me. But you chosehim. Too bad he is dead now. So fucking dead he would never get to touch his filthy little whore ever again.”

My eyes widen at his words. He catches a glimpse of my sullen expression as another flash of lightning illuminates the forest.

“Yes, I’m talking about your dead husband.”

I dig my nails into his swollen elbow, and he screams into the cold night.

Now he feels it.

I choke some more as he squeezes my throat harder.

“Maybe I should have my way with you. Cut you until you bleed out for me and make you pay for your wrong decisions.”

He loosens his grip just a bit, and I gasp as I take a deep breath.

“Get this over with,” I say in a hoarse voice.

“It’s not over until I say it’s over. This is a chance for you to make amends.”

I gulp. “I’ve got nothing to lose. I already lost everything.”

His breath on my face sends chills down my spine—not the friendly kind. “You didn’t lose me, Winnie.”

Spider-Web-Face is yanked backward with a force that sends him a few feet away.

Jason.

The rage in his darkened eyes flashes before me for a brief moment, then shifts back to the laughing train wreck that has his face planted in the mud.

“Took you long enough.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Jason barks, lunging at him and beating him up on the ground. Punch after punch, until his face is covered in blood. Jason doesn’t miss a beat and goes to break his fingers next. One by one, they snap. The sickening sound of them splintering along with his raw screams makes me squirm in place.