Chapter 4

Kevin moved with surprising speed for his size, his large hands reaching for Sarah.

She twisted away, knocking over her chair, the pump clattering to the floor, milk spilling.

She kicked out, connecting with his shin, but he barely flinched.

He was like a clumsy, relentless machine.

His fingers brushed her shoulder, her arm.

She struck his face, a hard slap. He grunted, annoyed, but kept coming.

Her blows seemed to have no effect on his bulk. He was too big, too strong, too fixated.

Brenda cackled, a horrible, triumphant sound.

She pulled out her phone and started filming.

"That's it, Kevin! Get your milk!" she encouraged, her voice high-pitched.

Then, to Sarah, "Smile for the camera, bitch! When I show them this, they'll see how you were trying to seduce my poor, disabled boy!"

As Kevin grappled with Sarah, trying to pin her against the wall, Brenda reached out and deliberately tore Sarah's blouse, exposing her nursing bra.

The humiliation was a fresh wave of horror.

"He just wants what you're offering, dearie," Brenda taunted, her phone still recording.

"This is assault!" Sarah screamed, struggling against Kevin's weight. "You'll go to jail for this, Brenda! Both of you!"

Brenda just laughed. "Who are they going to believe? A hysterical new mother, or a devoted single mom trying to protect her vulnerable son from a predator?"

Her words were poison, twisting reality into something unrecognizable.

Kevin was grunting, his breath hot and unpleasant on Sarah's face. He was trying to force her head to the side, his hands fumbling at her bra.

Sarah felt a surge of desperate, primal fear.

Her hand, flailing, hit something hard and metallic on the small table next to her – her stainless steel water bottle.

It was heavy.

Kevin was trying to bite her shoulder, his teeth grazing her skin.

It wasn't a malicious bite, more like an animal trying to get to something. But it was terrifying.

She realized he wasn't just strong; he was also not registering her pain or resistance in a normal way.

Brenda was goading him on, "That's it, baby, get it!"

With a surge of adrenaline, Sarah swung the heavy water bottle with all her might, aiming for Kevin' s head.

It connected with a sickening thud just above his ear.

Kevin roared, a sound of pure animal pain and surprise.

He stumbled back, clutching his head, his eyes wide and unfocused.

For the first time, he looked genuinely hurt.

It was a small opening, a desperate chance.

Sarah didn't hesitate.

She scrambled away from him, towards the wall where the fire extinguisher was mounted.

Kevin, dazed but recovering, started to come after her again, urged on by Brenda' s frantic shouts.

"Get her, Kevin! Don't let her get away!"

Brenda lunged at Sarah, trying to grab her, to stop her from reaching the extinguisher.

Sarah kicked out blindly, connecting with Brenda' s shin. Brenda yelped and stumbled.

Sarah fumbled with the safety pin on the extinguisher, her hands shaking.

Kevin was almost on her.

She pulled the pin, aimed the nozzle, and squeezed the handle.

A massive cloud of white chemical powder erupted from the extinguisher, engulfing Kevin and Brenda.

They choked, sputtering, disoriented.

"Help!" Sarah screamed, her voice raw. "Somebody help me! Assault!"

She kept screaming, hoping someone, anyone, would hear through the supposedly soundproofed door.

The cloud of powder gave her a precious few seconds of cover.

She could hear Brenda coughing and cursing, Kevin wailing in confusion and pain from the chemicals in his eyes.

Then, the door to the lactation room burst open.

Chloe stood there, her face a mask of horror, a security guard right behind her.

"Sarah! Oh my god!" Chloe cried, rushing towards her.

The security guard took in the scene – the white powder everywhere, Kevin thrashing, Brenda covered in dust and screaming, Sarah disheveled and terrified.

"What in God's name is going on here?" the guard demanded.