Whatever I was breathing in was making me dizzy. My limbs felt heavy. When he dragged me across the ground, I tried to kick and to scream but nothing was working. I almost felt paralyzed. I'd been so stupid to go outside by myself.

I heard a car door open. He was going to push me inside and take me away. Once I got in that car, no one would find me. From somewhere down deep inside, I found the strength to kick out at him. He grunted and lost his grip for a second. I tried to scramble away, but I couldn't get anywhere.

Through the recesses of my mind, I heard a shout. The man tried to pick me up. I made myself as heavy as I could. And then someone came up behind him, and he let me go. My head hit the ground as I was finally released from his grasp.

I tried to roll away, but I could barely move. Each new breath was a struggle, a fight to stay awake. Through my blurry gaze, I realized there were two men now, and they were fighting.

Kade slammed the guy against the car, so hard the glass shattered, raining down all over me.

And then there was a scream, more shouts, people rushing toward us. Their faces swam before me. They were asking me questions, but I couldn't make out the words. And then Kade barreled through the crowd surrounding me, his dark hair falling over one eye, a darkening bruise on his face.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Think so," I said, still having trouble focusing. "Is he dead?"

"No. I just knocked him out," Kade said. "Did he drug you?"

"Smelled something."

I saw Kade grab something white off the ground. "Don't worry," he told me. "It will wear off. You'll be okay."

I heard sirens as I fought to keep my eyes open. Minutes later, the police arrived, along with an ambulance. The EMTs strapped me onto a stretcher. "Kade," I said, not wanting to be alone again.

"I'll meet you at the hospital. I have to talk to the police. You'll be safe."

"I don't trust anyone but you."

"Then trust me." He gazed into my eyes. "They're just going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out. I'll see you soon."

I hoped he wasn't lying, but his face was blocked by the EMT and then they loaded me into the ambulance. I closed my eyes, tired of the struggle. I really hoped I was safe because I couldn't stay awake any longer.

* * *