Page 113 of Depths of Destruction

And I try everything I can to wake up, but my eyelids won't seem to open. For a long time, she begs me and sobs, but nothing I try works.

Naomi finally gives up and hums, with her cheek pressed to mine and her arms cradling my head.

I drift back to sleep until I'm jarred awake.

"Oh, no. Andre, wake up," Naomi sternly but quietly orders.

The sliding of metal fills the room, and more harsh male voices bark words out in Spanish.

There's a shaking, and as soon as I realize it's Naomi's body, her screams fill the air. My head hits the cold floor, and her warmth leaves me.

Where is she?

What are they saying?

Naomi, come back.

The blackness fills with far-away voices. Men growl words I don't understand. Naomi screams in their language before sobbing from a distance then crying out again. Vehicles skid loudly on the ground.

It's a nightmare I'm in, and I can't get out. No matter what I do to open my eyes or move, my body won't let me.

Time is something I can't grasp. It seems to go on forever. Then it quiets, and the darkness takes over some more.

Naomi's screams fill the air again.

My body continues to be paralyzed. No matter how much I tell it to move, it doesn't. I try to open my eyes, but nothing I do works.

Her screams continue until things go quiet again.

The sliding of metal awakens me out of my blackness. My eyes finally flutter open and bright light blinds me. I quickly shut them, and the sound of Naomi gasping for air fills my ears.

I try to open them again but struggle.

Over and over, the sharp inhale of Naomi's breath is loud enough to hear over the words of the men.

The metal slides and darkness resumes.

Naomi whimpers as if in pain and continues to draw in rapid breaths.

Open your eyes, damn it.

She needs you.

With every bit of strength I have, I force my eyes to open. I can't see anything.

More gasps.

What did they do to her?

"Baby." It comes out so low, I don't know if I even spoke the words. "Baby," I say again but louder this time.

Her sobs merge with her pants and she chokes.

Panic consumes me. My heart races, and my pulse throbs in my neck. I sit up, and dizziness overpowers me. My hands hold steady on the cold surface until the spinning motion stops.

She fights for more air.

"Naomi."