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The guards posted at the only exit stiffened, going on alert but unsure as to bla Annabelle with his patented king-of-the-world frown "You look troubled, Annabelle Why don’t you tell us what’s bothering you, h your earlier outburst?"

"Screw you, Fitzpervert" Her gaze returned to her targets They were the bigger threat "Your turn will come"

He sucked in a breath "You are not allowed to speak to ht Sorry I meant, screw you, Dr Fitzpervert" Unarmed did not mean helpless, she told herself, and neither did bound; today, she would prove it to the creatures and Fitzpervert

"Feisty," Horsey said with a gleeful nod

"So a as I’m the one to break her!"

And so began another round of arguing

Froood doctor uy would take her jaw in an inexorable grip and shove her cheek against his stoestive position that hu so that Fitzherbert could inject her with another sedative

Have to act now Can’t wait Not allowing herself to stop and think, she ju her bound arms underneath her butt and over her feet Gymnastics classes hadn’t failed her Hands now in front of her, she twisted, grabbed and folded the chair, and positioned the uard reached her

She swung to the left, slaushed fro and she nailed the side of his head, sending him to the floor in an unconscious heap

A few patients shouted with distress, and a few others cheered her on The droolers continued leaking Fitzpervert rushed to the door to force the reuards with the single press of a button An alar the already disconcerted patients into er content to bicker on the sidelines, the creatures stalked toward her, slow and steady, taunting her

"Oh, the things I’ll do to you, little girl"

"Oh, how you’ll screa distance…totally within striking distance… She swung Missed The pair laughed, separated and in unison reached for her

She used the chair to bat one set of hands away, but couldn’t track both of her adversaries at the saed to scratch her shoulder She winced but otherwise ignored the pain, spinning around to--hit air, only air

Laughter growing in volu at her

I can handle this When Horsey was in front of her, she ra his teeth together and his brain, if he had one, into the back of his skull At the sa Horns, as behind her, in the storins finally vanishing

"That all you got, girls?" she goaded Two uards would rush inside and tackle her, pinning her down, Fitzpervert and his needle taking charge She wanted these creatures finished

"Let’s find out," Horsey hissed He opened his , unstoppable wind that pushed the arsonist at Annabelle

To everyone else, it probably see at her of his own volition, intending to restrain her Another swing, and the chair sent hih Horsey’s body and to his butt, as if the creature were nothing more substantial than mist To Fire Boy, he wasn’t The creatures were only ever tangible to her and whatever she held

Soe, Horns had ed to sneak up behind her and rake his claws against her already bleeding shoulder As she turned, he turned with her, once again raking her with those claws

The pain…oh, the pain No longer ignorable

Stars winked in her line of vision She heard laughter behind her, and knew Horns was there, ready to claw her again She darted forward, out of the way, and tripped

Horsey caught her by the forearo--only to punch her in the face More pain, more stars, but when he lifted his hand for a second blow, she was ready She jerked the chair up and nailed him under the jaw, then spun so that he broke his knuckles on the seat of the chair rather than her cheekbone His howl rent the air

Footsteps behind her She kicked backward, connecting with Horns Before her leg landed, she spun and kicked out with the other, scissoring her ankles to double tap his gut When he collapsed, wheezing for air, she flipped the chair upside down and finished hi the metal rim into his trachea

Black blood pooled and bubbled around hi as it seared the tiled floor Steao

Maxiht