Thirty to Sixty Days by Alikay Wood

Author:Alikay Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2023-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

Contrary to popular belief, groin kicks are effective on people of all genders, races, and religions. Some might say a groin punch is even better. I was doing the best I could with what I had, OK?

Ethel wobbled on her one knee and keeled forward, falling into me. I hooked my arms around her neck, keeping my cuffed hand close to the table and making a V between the fist and elbow of my free arm to limit her range of movement.

Carmen stood frozen as a popsicle in front of me. “What the—”

“The keys!” I yelled and shook Ethel from side to side, jingling the key ring at her hip.

Carmen snapped out of her haze and scrambled to unclip the key ring. I moved my cuffed hand as close to her as I could. The chain held strong, cutting into the tender skin of my wrist. “Uncuff me!”

I pressed Ethel’s nose into my shoulder and cinched my elbow tight around her neck.

But Ethel refused to go down without a fight. Her head was contained, but her arms were free. She slapped and clawed at my neck.

“Lazy, entitled, selfie-taking youths,” she gasped in between big breaths.

I locked my hands together and squeezed through my elbow. Ethel was used to hunting things; I was one prey she wouldn’t catch.

Carmen jammed a key into the opening on my wrist and twisted. It didn’t work.

“Hurry!” I yelled.

“I am hurrying! You could have told me you were going to attack her.”

Ethel let out a gargled moan and threw her head forward to headbutt me. She caught my right cheekbone with her forehead.

I closed my eyes against the ache blooming near my cheek. “I’m not attacking her. I’m doing a rear naked choke hold to control her range of movement.”

“What?”

Ethel threw herself side to side, careening us toward the table, the shelves, the wall.

“My dad taught me two things before he left: how to play Land of Invaders and how to fight MMA-style. A rear naked choke is a blood choke that can render an opponent unconscious in ten seconds.”

Ethel dug her nails into my arm and dragged them down. I gritted my teeth and held on as I explained, “It’s not as effective from a forward-facing position, which is why she’s still conscious.”

Carmen stared at me blankly.

“So I can only hold her for a few more seconds. The key?”

“Right.” Carmen shuffled through the keys. Something clamped onto my shoulder.

“Do you want me to record this?” Albie asked timidly from somewhere behind me. “For the documentary?”

“I’m not in it,” I spit out between gritted teeth.

“Really? Why not?”

“Because no one likes me. She’s biting me now!” I tried to keep my voice calm, but I was freaking out.

My wrist felt like it was going to snap in half in the choke hold. Ethel clamped down harder on my shoulder.

“She’s chewing!” I pressed my arms deeper into her neck, imagining her wrinkled skin was the purple blob of the parasite. I squeezed and choked, tried to kill the thing crawling underneath my skin.

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