There’s a deafening thud, an echoing and eerie silence as a breath escapes him and then nothing. His body lies motionless, his hand on my ankle drops loose over my injury and I kick it away with my other foot hastily.

I’m crouching at an odd angle, still gripping the bar so tightly that my nails have pierced my own palms, breathing so hard it’s painful and making me dizzy. I turn to stare at the bulky form in the dusky light and something inside of me snaps. All fear and flight go out of me and emotionless clarity and sense come over me; a dark sense of quiet calming...