Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 77

**Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 77**

**.26 Bonus**

Harvey’s grip was like a vice around Renee’s throat, his fingers digging in with a ferocity that made it nearly impossible for her to draw breath.

Renee’s face flushed crimson, the blood draining from it as pain coursed through her. Her eyes, once bright, now glistened with the threat of tears, but she refused to surrender. With sheer determination, she kicked out violently, twisting and writhing until she finally freed her ankles from the ropes that had bound her. Summoning every ounce of strength left within her, she drove her knee upward, connecting with Harvey’s groin.

“Argh! Damn it!” he howled, doubling over in agony, his face contorted as veins throbbed menacingly on his forehead. Bloodied hands flew instinctively to protect his injured pride, and his head crashed against the mattress, the sound echoing in the room.

Renee didn’t waste a precious second. Gasping for air, she fumbled with the remaining restraints, her fingers trembling as she hastily undid them before scrambling off the bed.

Her body was trembling—whether it was from sheer panic or the remnants of whatever drugs had coursed through her system, she couldn’t tell. As soon as her feet touched the floor, her knees buckled beneath her, and she fell hard, the impact sending shockwaves of pain shooting through her legs. But there was no time to dwell on her injuries; she had to escape.

Gritting her teeth, she looked up just in time to see Harvey charging toward her again, rage etched across his features. With fear propelling her, Renee braced herself against the floor and forced herself back to her feet, sprinting toward the door with a primal instinct for survival. She yanked the door open and bolted down the hallway.

The third floor was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. Not a single soul was in sight, heightening her sense of isolation.

Barefoot and desperate, Renee leaned against the wall for support as she made her way toward the stairs. But in her haste, her foot slipped, sending her tumbling down the staircase. She crashed against the turn of the stairwell, the corner of the wall colliding with her forehead, causing a blinding pain to explode in her skull. Dizziness washed over her, leaving her momentarily disoriented, her ears ringing as her vision blurred. For a heartbeat, she couldn’t even muster the strength to move.

“Renee?”

A voice pierced through the fog of her mind. Suddenly, she felt hands on her shoulder.

Panic surged through her veins like ice water. She froze, instinctively flinching.

“Don’t touch me! Get away from me!” she screamed, her voice raw with fear.

Not even daring to look at her would-be savior, she shoved the person away with all her strength and stumbled toward the next flight of stairs.

“It’s me, Jasper!” he called out, his grip firm as he caught her wrist, keeping her from running away. “Calm down.”

Recognition dawned, and as she heard his familiar voice, something inside her shattered. She looked up into his concerned face, and in that moment, she clung to his arm as if it were her only lifeline.

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