Elena’s Point Of View

I stormed down the hallway, heels clicking against the marble tiles like bullets fired in rapid succession. My chest rose and fell violently, every breath tight, ragged, scraping against my throat as though even air itself had turned hostile tonight.

By the time I reached the guest room, I didn’t just shut the door. I slammed it… hard enough that the frame rattled, the sharp bang echoing back at me like a gunshot.

My back hit the door immediately after, and I ...