I let out a loud, shaking breath when I feel the cool, familiar switch beneath my fingers and flip the switch.
Strong hands come around my neck just as light floods into the room. I scream, and a large palm covers my mouth, stifling my cry for help.
“Hush, Mel,” comes a familiar raspy voice. “It’s just me.”
Jack!
My head is starting to spin from the tightness of his arms around my neck.
I struggle against his vice grip, desperately turning my head from side to side to shake off his hand from my mouth.
I bite down on his palm.
Jack lets out a yell of pain, letting go of me to tend to his offended hand.
I promptly turn around and jam my knee into his crotch with as much force as I can. Jack falls to the ground, groaning in pain.
“You bitch!” he yells at me through gritted teeth. “This is my house, dammit! I can come and go as I please!”
I grab my bag from the ground and break into a run.
I run as far as my legs can carry me, tears streaming down my face. I don’t know where I’m going, but I keep running.
The only thought in my mind is that I have to get as far away as possible.