See How She Dies by Lisa Jackson

shin.
    Wind whistled between the attacker’s teeth. “You son of a bitch! You lousy little bastard!” The man yanked harder on Zach’s arm.
    Agony ripped through his shoulder. Zach heard a sickening rip and his muscles turned to fire.
    â€œHelp me out, Rudy!” the tall man ordered.
    From the corner of his eye, Zach noticed Sophia scoot backward on the bed. Her face was white with fear as she tried to grab the receiver that dangled from the phone.
    â€œNo way, sister,” the shorter man—the one called Rudy said, as he yanked the cord from the wall.
    â€œPlease—” she cried.
    â€œShut up!” the thug snarled.
    Zach kicked his attacker again. “Let go of me!”
    â€œNo way, Danvers. You fucked up one time too many.” Again he wrenched Zach’s arm.
    Agony jarred through his body. Zach screamed.
    â€œYou tryin’ to kill him, Joey?” Rudy barked.
    â€œMaybe.” Joey twisted Zach around and slammed his face with his meaty fist. Bones shattered. Pain exploded behind Zach’s eyes. Blood spurted from his nose as his knees buckled.
    Rudy stared at Zach’s pulpy face for a minute, then glanced at his partner. “Oh, shit! Hey, man, I don’t think this is the right guy. This one, he don’t look like—”
    â€œYou’re making a mistake!” Sophia cried, clutching the blankets around her, her lips trembling.
    â€œI don’t think so.” The big one wasn’t convinced. “Let’s get this over with, Rudy! Quit screwing around!”
    Panicked, Zachary struggled, throwing himself toward the door. From the corner of his eye, he saw Rudy reach into his pocket. A flash of silver glinted in the lamplight. Zach’s guts twisted with a new numbing fear. He heard a resounding click and he nearly wet his pants. A switchblade!
    â€œOkay. Cut him,” Joey said, his foul breath warm against Zach’s head.
    â€œNo!” Zach fought even harder, hurling his weight sideways, throwing his attacker off balance.
    â€œI said, cut him!” Joey yelled.
    Rudy’s switchblade sliced through the air.
    Sophia screamed.
    Zach flinched as he felt his scalp slitting open above his ear. White-hot, the pain nearly blinded him. “Stop!” Blood poured from the wound, over his eyes and face.
    â€œThis isn’t the right guy,” Rudy said, wiping the blood from his weapon on his pants. “I’ve seen Danvers—”
    â€œDon’t matter! ’Sides, he’s claimin’ to be him.”
    â€œShit!”
    Blindly, Zach kicked.
    â€œWho cares who the fuck he is,” Rudy finally agreed. The knife plunged into Zach’s shoulder. Pain shrieked through his arm. He retched. His body sagged heavily. They’re going to kill me. I’m gonna die just like a lamb being slaughtered. Zach tried to fight, but he could barely move.
    â€œHe said he’s Jason Danvers, now let’s just get it over with,” Joey said.
    Jason? They thought he was Jason? “Zachary.” Zach spat words and blood from behind loose teeth. He tried to break free and his knees buckled. “I’m…I’m…Zachary Danvers.”
    â€œHe’s telling you the truth!” Tears rolled down Sophia’s white face. “He’s not Jason! For the love of God, just leave him alone!’
    â€œNot Jason?” Rudy repeated. “I knew it!”
    â€œShit!” Joey let go of Zach and jerked the knife out of his shoulder. The wound burned like acid. Zach dropped to the floor, banged his head and couldn’t move out of the sticky blood pooling beneath him.
    â€œI told you he was the wrong guy. Shit, man, why don’t you ever listen?” Rudy hissed. He pointed at the bed where Sophia was still huddled in fear. “You—get some clothes on and get out of here.”
    â€œBut the boy—” Sophia whispered.
    â€œHe’ll live,” Rudy snarled, casting a