I cried out, dropping the flashlight I had been holding in my other hand.

It fell into the shallow water, its beam cutting sideways through the dark, illuminating the swirling silt.

“Let go of me!” I screamed.

I struggled against him, kicking at his shins, but he didn’t budge.

He was heavier than me, stronger than me, fueled by his own frantic desperation.

“You’re coming back to the apartment, Lena,” he growled.

His face was inches from mine, his breath hot and foul against my skin.

“We’re going to start over.”

“And this time, you’re going to learn your place.”

He twisted my wrist, trying to force me to drop the gun.

The pain shot up my arm, sharp and white-hot.

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let go of the weapon.

If I dropped it, I knew I would never see the daylight again.

“No,” I gasped.

“No!”

I threw my weight backward, trying to use the wall to pivot away from him.

But my foot slipped on the algae-slick brick floor.

We both stumbled, crashing against the wet wall of the alcove.