Liam:
"You'll regret this!" she screamed.
His fists crashed into her face again and again. She curled up, arms wrapped around her head, but I could still see how much damage he was doing. I knew it too well.
She was stronger than me, stronger than most, but the question kept hammering my skull.
Why? Why was he doing this?
Even as his blows rained down, she kept trying to lift her gaze toward me.
For the first time in my life, I saw real pain in her eyes. Her face was badly bruised; her jaw was locked tight. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, yet I could tell she was trying to speak. She moved her fingers weakly, gesturing something. It was maybe a signal for me to run.
I felt like I was dying. I lay sprawled on the ground, willing my body to move, but nothing obeyed. Helplessness pressed down on me.
"Don't worry," the man mocked. "He's not dead. Not yet. I'll let my father have that honor." He laughed, cruel. "After I finish killing you."
There was no way I was going to let him kill my friend. I had to do something. Anything. I had to buy her time, even if just a few seconds. So, I did something I wasn't good at.