Part 2The Blade Betrayal

I kicked and thrashed, trying to keep them away from my legs, trying to give Barry no clear shot. But I was a fish on a chopping block. It was useless.

My resistance only hardened his resolve. More men came forward, pinning me down until I couldn’t move. Someone tried to cover my mouth.

“Don’t you dare touch her like that!” Barry snapped. Then his voice softened as he looked down at me. “Don’t be scared, Anita. This will be quick.”

He was right. It was quick.

Before I could even process it, a bolt of white-hot agony shot from my leg to my brain.

“Aaargh!” I screamed.

As the men released me and I crumpled, clutching my shattered leg, Hailey’s voice floated down, light and airy.

“Is that really enough? Anita is so tough. What if she gets a cortisone shot tomorrow and skates through the pain?”

My vision swam with red. I glared at her, my hatred a physical force. An injury like this… a cortisone shot would do nothing. She had to know that.

She didn't just want me out of the race. She wanted me off the ice. Forever.

But Barry didn't know that. Or maybe he just didn't care. “Then we’ll break it,” he said.

Hailey widened her eyes, a perfect picture of innocence. “Oh, but won’t that hurt her terribly?”

He waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine. A clean break, and there’s no way she can compete. Besides,” he added, “even if she can never skate again, my family can afford to support her.”

Hailey looked down at me, a smirk twisting her lips. “Well then, thank you, Barry.”

And with that, she turned and left. She couldn’t be seen here. If I was found injured, she needed to have an alibi.

Barry knelt beside me. “Don’t worry, babe,” he whispered, his voice a gentle caress. “I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

His words were a terrifying promise. The men lifted my leg, holding it steady. Barry raised the hammer high. He met my terrified gaze and brought it down. Hard.

“Aaaaaaaargh!”

The scream was torn from my throat, raw and primal. My leg was broken. Utterly, completely broken.

I stared at the grotesque angle of my right leg and my world shattered. It was over. A decade of blood, sweat, and tears. My grandmother’s lifelong dream. The hopes of my team, my country. All of it, gone.

Hot tears streamed down my face, mixing with the dirt and grime. I was a broken, pathetic mess on the cold concrete.

A flicker of something—pity? regret?—crossed Barry’s face. He moved to pull me into his arms.

I closed my eyes, unable to bear the sight of him. His voice, when it came, was a masterpiece of delusion. “Just forgive me this one time, babe. I know it’s not fair, but Hailey’s mom saved my life. I’m just repaying a debt. And if it wasn’t for her, I never would have met you. So, in a way, you owe her, too.”

I summoned every last ounce of strength and shoved him away. My eyes, burning with hatred, met his. “Barry,” I rasped, “why didn't you just die back then?”

I was a cornered animal, and he was finally scared. He scrambled back, a flicker of panic in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a dark anger.

“Anita, I only broke your leg. How can you say something so cruel?” He grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. A slow, terrible smile spread across his lips. “I get it. You’re jealous. You’re jealous of how much I care about Hailey.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, babe. You’re the only one I love. After Hailey’s race, we’ll get married. Just… don’t bring your dying grandmother to live with us. It would be bad luck.”

I stared at him, revulsion churning in my stomach. What kind of monster could say such things? He was insane.

“In your dreams,” I spat, my voice dripping with venom. “Barry, you and I are done. Forever. I’m breaking up with you.”