Winter's Grasp Chapter 10
A/N there will be descriptions of the aftermath of being beaten up. It isn't too graphic I think but if you really don't like that stuff then please don't read. Thank you😊
Beta's Saddletramp and Nakoosay
Jess's POV
The nightmare was real. As real as the blood that dripped out of my mouth, slid down my head, and the sharp, biting pain that shot through my body as they had hit me over and over and over again. They had caught me off guard, pulled me into he house and thrown me to the ground. I was up in a flash but then the sucker punch came out of nowhere and I almost crumbled. But I fought the pain and remained upwards. That is, I remained upwards for all of 5 seconds before hit from behind and down, I went. The floor was hard and cold from the freezing air that seeped blew in freely from the still open door.
The cold felt good though as it seeped through my clothes and touched my skin with its icy hand helping me fight against the sick feeling in my stomach I had after they had finished their merciless booted kicks. My head had hit the floor hard and I knew I was going to have a bump later. Half-unconscious, my thoughts were scattered to the corners of the earth and just as separated from them too. Breathe…. breathe…. just one breath at a time….in and out…. come on… I can do it…. I can do it…. Ohhh but it hurts…. it hurts bad…. no, NO…. just ignore it…. don't do it…. don't do it….
if I open my eyes what happens if it wasn't a dream?... what if it really is happening…. If Slim really is in trouble, then I must save him…. but my body hurts…. so bad…. Dang it Slim…. Where are you Partner? Don't worry… I'll find you… no matter…what. My mind now filled with images of Slim and some semblance of connected thoughts, biting back the pain and I drew myself out of the darkness and into reality.
I open my eyes against my own will and when I see my surroundings, I sigh. I'm home. The nightmare was indeed real and so was the harsh beating I had received. I moan as the dull pain I had been feeling starts to pound itself into a stabbing roar. I'm still curled up on the floor where they left me after they had finished kicking the tar out of me. I've gotten beaten up before, but this was the most vicious.
My lip is split in several places, some from punches and other where I my teeth had ripped through the skin as I had tried to deal with the pain. I can taste fresh blood coming from one of the ripped spots on my lips even as it trickles down my chin.
My jaw aches something awful where the first right hook caught me, almost sending me down. I try to get up and quickly realized I was hog tied, and it made me want to get even with them even more. My ribs felt like a horse had kicked them and it hurts just to breathe. My head slowly lessened its pounding, the roaring in my ears lessened and I started to hear myself breathe.
I was breathing raggedly from the sharp pain I got whenever I dared to breathe, and I knew that I must have at least a couple of bruised ribs. Groaning in agony I quickly assessed my injuries by moving my body slowly as much as the rope allowed me. From the way my ankle hurt and felt swelled against the tight rope. I probably have a slight sprain from the way I fell after I was hit from behind. If I looked at my chest, stomach, and my back I'm sure I would see a myriad of livid, colorful bruises.
Thankfully, nothing seemed to be broken. After I had made sure that I was basically alright, although I probably wouldn't want to move for a month, my mind turned back to the men who had done this to me.
I didn't know how long I had been out, but I knew that if they had done to Slim what they had done to me there would be no place on this Earth that they could hide where I wouldn't find them. Slim has done for me what no one else wanted or cared to do. He taught me how to appreciate life and he gave me a place to always call home. Most importantly he made me his friend and for that there is nothing for him I wouldn't do. With that in mind straining my eyes I see that the front door is closed and the men nowhere to be seen. Confused, relieves, anxious I mumble to myself "Where did they go?"
TBC
