I licked furiously at the tape. The beating had loosened it, and at last, I could open my mouth!
Saved! I could finally call for help!
I tried to shout “Help!” with all my strength.
But the next instant, my heart sank to ice.
My teeth… were almost all gone.
During Jason’s punches, they must have been knocked out or shattered and swallowed.
Agonizing pain shot from my jaw straight to my skull. My body convulsed.
I tried to make a sound, even the faintest hiss of breath, but with my throat and mouth so damaged, only the weakest wheeze escaped.
Tears streamed down my face.
I couldn’t die like this—silently, unnoticed!
I summoned every last ounce of strength, straining my shoulders and knees to knock against the inside of the bag.
Once, twice…
Jason was sitting on the couch fiddling with the remote when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the bag give the slightest shiver.
He froze, frowning, staring hard at it.
“Huh?”
He rubbed his eyes, checked the closed windows. No wind.
“Sis… the punching bag just… moved by itself?”
Emily’s door flew open again. She stormed out, glaring impatiently at the still bag.
By then, I had already drained the last of my strength and could no longer move.