Chapter 28

Frank locked his gaze on me, then lowered it to my arm. Before I could stop him, he slashed upward on my arm. Blood spurted, then flowed. I attempted to staunch it with my other hand. It ran between my fingers, tingeing the water pink.

He pulled my hand away, wrapping my fingers around the hilt of the knife. Weakly, I tried to use it to stab him but he stepped back, watching me with an amused grin.

“Do you have any last words?” he asked mockingly.

I wanted to say, “Fuck you,” but I had other things to worry about as I started to slide down until I felt the water begin to cover my chin. And now I die. My last coherent thought, other than, You’re too late,when I heard footsteps pounding up the stairs.

* * * *

“I’m alive?” I whispered, squinting against the light as I tried to figure out where I was

“You are,” I heard someone reply. “For a while there it was touch and go.”