Page 1 of The Fix

She woke with a scream on her lips, attempting to draw back her chest and fill her lungs with the air needed to expel the sound of fear and horror.

But her body continued to disobey, a small trickle of air the only sound leaking from her mouth.

Where am I? Why is it dark? Why can’t I move? Am I dead?

She envisioned a flash of faces, leering at her, moving closer.

One in particular. The betrayal pierced her somewhere inside, where she still felt pain.

Why? Why? She’d turned and run. Away from him, from them.

But they’d caught her and ... Another flash, a bottle at her lips, liquid pouring down her throat as she fought and gagged.

The pierce of steady beeping broke through her consciousness. A machine. Close by. Was she in a hospital room? Relief descended. She’d been rescued. She was being cared for. She would heal.

And then I’ll seek retribution.

Who knew revenge better than she?

The squeak of a door opening slowly sounded, and she tried to lift her head, but it felt like a bowling ball attached to her neck.

A shaft of light appeared, and in that light, she saw a tube protruding from her mouth and, far above her, a ceiling encircled by crown molding she knew well. God. No. It can’t be. But, as if in answer, a soft whir met her ears, and her body began rising along with the bed beneath her.

He stood there at the footboard, a wicked smile on his wolfish face. “Hello, Posey.”

And that’s when she knew for certain she was still alive. But it would have been better had she died.