4

The intense impact on my head blurred my vision. I collapsed on the cold ground, unable to move.

"Now the damn cat is dead. It's your turn next."

The man bent over, whispering with a wicked and mocking smile in my ear, like a countdown to my life.

My mind was blank as I subconsciously begged him to let me go.

Suddenly, I was jolted awake as the dampness lingered on my exposed skin, followed by a struggle and a few slaps.

I managed to feel around and finally touched a cool, smooth object - a bottle.

Without hesitation, I used all my strength to swing it at the figure above me.

"Ah!"

The bottle shattered, its glass shards scattering onto my face.

At the same time, I pressed the remaining shards against his neck and made a swift cut. Unfortunately, it missed.

The man pressed down on me again, his hands tightly gripping my throat as he angrily cursed,

"You bi*ch, I'll kill you!"

In the dim light, I saw his bloodied half-face and his bloodthirsty, glaring eyes.

As the intense suffocation overwhelmed me and my consciousness faded, a glaring light pierced through.

With the disappearance of the pressure on my neck, I gasped for fresh air but my mind remained blank.

Time seemed to stretch out as I couldn't hear any sounds around me, nor could I feel the pain in my body.

As I fell into unfamiliar arms, I faintly sensed the rapid rise and fall of the person's chest.

I grabbed his sleeve and pointed with trembling fingers to the cat in the corner.

"I know. I'll take you both to the hospital right away."

Then, I passed out.