This time, there was nothing. This time, I wouldn’t survive. Crying was all that I could do, and so I did it, loud and undaunted. He stared at me from above. “You ready to die, Jaice? Do you want this to be over, once and for all?” I nodded. I was ready. I just wanted it all to end. I thought for a moment about my parents. They’d come home and see my body, and I knew it would destroy them. I hoped he’d take me with him, that they’d never have to see me like this, never know how foolish I’d been. He leaned down close to my face again. I closed my eyes, waiting for the blow, waiting for the
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