KIERA'S POV
For a moment-after the memories rush back like a cracked dam finally giving way-Alex's face changes.
The calm mask he wore earlier, the one he always uses before hurting me, drops completely.
What's left is pure, violent hatred. A hatred that makes my stomach twist.
"You ruined my family," he whispers, like he's telling me a secret. His breath is hot with anger. "Do you know what it feels like to watch your own brother rot in prison because of some girl who couldn't keep her mouth shut?"
My heart stops.
"He killed Mira," I manage to say, my voice shaking but still mine. "He killed my friend. He killed-"
Before the sentence leaves my mouth, Alex's palm connects with my cheek so hard I see white.
I fall sideways, my vision blurring as my head hits the ground. A metallic taste fills my mouth.
Not again.
Not this.
His footsteps approach slowly. Deliberately. The way a hunter walks toward an animal he's already wounded.
"You talk too much," he says, grabbing my arm and pulling me up like I weigh nothing. "You always have."
He hits me again.
And again.
I lose count after five. My ears ring, my skin burns, and for a moment I think he might actually kill me this time.
I try to crawl backward, but he follows, muttering things I can't even understand anymore. My body feels like it's shutting down.
Then...
A voice cuts through everything.
"HEY! GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Alex jerks around just as a man runs into the compound. I don't even know who he is. Someone my aunt must've let in? Someone passing by? I can't tell. Everything is a blur.
The man grabs Alex by the collar and yanks him away from me.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouts.
Alex doesn't even hesitate. He swings a heavy punch that hits the man straight across the jaw. The man crashes to the ground, but somehow gets back up, fury blazing in his eyes.
"Fine," he growls. "You want to fight? Let's fight."
And then... he attacks.
Not defensively.
Not cautiously.
No.
He beats Alex the way a man fights when he's seen enough. Punch after punch lands with brutal force, and Alex-who has never lost control of a fight before-is suddenly the one struggling. Failing. Crumbling.
"Stop," I try to say, but my voice is too weak. "Please... stop..."
They don't hear me.
Alex falls to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth. The man doesn't stop. He grabs Alex by the shirt and hits him again so hard Alex's head snaps sideways.
I push myself forward, my palms stinging from the rough ground.
"Stop!" I finally scream.
The man doesn't. Not even for a second.
He hits Alex again.
And again.
Until I gather every last bit of strength I have and pull on his arm, stumbling into him.
"STOP!" I shout at the top of my lungs.
He freezes.
Breathing hard, fists still clenched, eyes still burning.
Alex collapses beside us, half-conscious, groaning, barely moving.
I snatch my phone with trembling hands and dial the ambulance. My fingers barely work. I'm shaking too much.
When I end the call, I turn on the man-the stranger who just interfered in a life already falling apart.
"What is wrong with you?" I snap, breathless. "Why would you do that? Why would you meddle?"
His eyes flick to me. Confusion crosses his face. Then disbelief.
"I just saved your life," he says slowly. "You're welcome, by the way."
"You made things worse," I whisper. "You don't understand... you've made everything worse."
His jaw tenses.
"You're angry at me?" he asks, voice rising. "I stopped him from killing you!"
"I didn't ask you to!" I shout back.
Silence drops between us. Thick. Heavy. Painful.
He studies my face. Really studies it, as if something about me is familiar. His expression shifts for a split second.
"You..." he murmurs. "Why do you look-?"
"Do you know me?" I ask, dread creeping up my spine.
But as soon as the question leaves my mouth, his expression hardens into a cold mask.
"No," he says. Too quickly. Too flatly.
I know a lie when I hear one.
But before I can say anything, he steps back from me like my presence burns him.
"You should be grateful," he says, voice low and tight. "But instead, you're insulting me."
"You've caused me more problems than you can imagine," I say back, my voice cracking as everything inside me breaks.
He scoffs once, bitter and sharp.
"Fine," he mutters. "Handle your life however you want. Clearly, you don't want help."
He turns away.
Walks off.
Doesn't look back even once.
The ambulance sirens grow louder in the distance, and I sink slowly to the ground, the necklace Alex put on me still cold around my neck like a chain.
I wrap my arms around myself and cry. Not just from pain, and not just from fear.
But because the only person who ever truly loved me-my best friend, the one who made my life bearable-Mira, was gone.
And somehow...
In this moment...
I feel exactly the way I did when I lost her.
Alone.
*****
RYAN'S POV
I had stepped out of the house to receive a business call when I saw a man beating up a woman. I intervened and beat him up severely to protect her, but she barked at me like I didn't just do her a really big favor.
I head back in, leaving the ungrateful human being behind.
Maybe I should have just left her on the road the other day. Then I wouldn't have had to face such a day.
My mum is the first to sight my absurd appearance, and she-together with Lara-asks me what happened.
"You got into a fight? Why?" my mum inquires restlessly.
"Who beat you up this way? Please tell me. I need to teach them a lesson," Lara's voice is loud with frustration.
Ava just stares blankly.
They are both restless, but I don't respond. I just tell my mum to come meet me by the car because we are leaving right now.
"No, please wait and let us get you treated. Ava, go get the first aid box quickly."
I storm out, and my mum follows behind me.
We find Thomas asleep, so I wake him up and tell him to drive us back home.
I remain angry and furious throughout the journey back, not even responding to my mum's worrying questions about the incident.