Page 139 of Survival

I suddenly couldn’t breathe. My mouthinstantly went dry and my vision spun like acarousel. I felt myself begin to hyperventilatewhile the heart monitor beeped like crazy.

“Jaden, Jaden,calmdown,” I heard the nurse say. “Jaden, I need you tocalm down!”

My body shook in uncontrollable terror.Darren had won. I had failed my family because he knew their heartsbetter than I did. They wouldn’t believe Jason if they were told Iwas dead. Thankfully, he and my mother and brothers were gone. Hecould keep them safe. I knew he could, but I couldn’t say the samefor everyone else.

NurseGinsbypanicked around me as she tried to get me to calmdown, but there was no hope there. I didn’t even realize I wasscreaming until I noticed my tears fall onto the paper article. Icrinkled the thing in my hand untilGinsbyfinally grabbed it and tore it away from me.

“Shit!” I heard her say as she started topull a needle from one of the drawers nearby. I gripped and pulledat my hair as I practically thrashed in my bed. “Help me!” sheyelled at the guard. He rushed over and held me down so she couldstick the needle in my IV without missing.

“Shhh, Jaden. Shhh, it’s okay,” she said,trying to soothe me and she ran her handsthroughmy hair, pushing it away from my face.

I felt a surge of exhaustion consume me andheard my heart monitor begin to slow again. My breathing eventuallyevened out as I rested my head against my pillow, tears stillfalling down my face, but it didn’t silence the terror that residedin my heart.

It was over. I had lost, and now, I wouldremain on this island, broken and powerless against the hurricane Iswore I would destroy. I closed my eyes and choked back a sob. Whatmore could I do now?

Stop it.

I had nothing left. Nothing more to fightwith. I was so weak and pathetic. Broken.

Stop being a little bitch, Jaden.

My fight was useless. He would always win.Always. How did I ever think I could compete with him? He wasruthless. He was cruel. And he owned me.

Knock it the fuck off and wake up. You’rebetter than this.

What could I do? I was so weak.

You can stand the fuck back up becauseyou’re stronger than this. Don’t be such a pussy.

I took a deep breath and relaxed, nearlysmiling.

There was another fight that was alwaysuseless, one I constantly lost no matter how hard I fought it … andthat was against my inner spirit. The one thing Darren could neverbreak. She was right. I had to stop being a little bitch and standback up. Darren chose me for my strength, and he would get nothingless. I might be broken now, but I would heal. I would regain thatspark and light Darren’s entire world on fire.

It was not over. It never would be until Ihad Darren Davis dead at my feet and his entire criminalorganization decimated to ashes. Only then would I be done.

Relief and pride filled me as I closed myeyes, finally givingin tothedrug the nurse had administered. I would have my vengeance … rightafter this nap …

To be continued…