Roxy"s cheek stuck to the piss-stinking floor. He tried to move and his body revolted, explosions of pain bombarding his senses. He couldn"t breathe. His chest constricted against his lungs, his throat burning with the lack of oxygen. No, no, no, no, no. Not like this. His gasping became more frantic. He didn"t want to die like this, pathetic and afraid and conscious. Breathe. Bloody breathe, you bastard. His racing heart pounded in his body. Breathe, he told himself again and focused on the pounding, concentrating until it started to slow.
Pain was manageable. And this wasn"t his first beating. He had to stay calm. Keep the air in his aching lungs. Keep the blood pumping. He was alive. For now, at least. His future depended on where he was and the damage already done to him. He started w
