“Reaching out with my senses, I tried to determine what woke me, why I had the feeling I was not alone in my room. From the safety of my bed, I peered out into the gloom, the shadows only interrupted by the soft glow of the embers in the fireplace. I could neither hear nor see anything to alarm me, but the sense of intrusion remained. Cautiously, I shifted the heavy blanket from my legs and moved to stand up. A hand slammed into my chest, shoving me back down, knocking all the air out of my lung...s. Before I could catch my breath, hands wrapped around my throat and a heavy body pinned me down, immobilizing me completely. Even as black spots filled my vision, I reacted like a wild animal, clawing ineffectually at the hands crushing my throat, trying desperately to gain some room, some air so that I could think straight. The hands squeezed harder and a dark, male voice muttered incoherently above me. Now frantic for air, in a last attempt to free myself, I grasped one of the hairy arms pressing against my chest and dug in my fingernails, surprised when the flesh gave way and something cracked beneath my touch, like a twig snapping under pressure.MoreLessRead More Read Less
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