Sophia Eaton

The car rumbled down a narrow, winding dirt road flanked by dense woods, the trees arching overhead like watchful sentinels. The farmhouse finally came into view, a modest structure with peeling white paint and a porch swing that swayed gently in the cool breeze. Despite the idyllic surroundings, an unshakable weight pressed down on Kamsi's chest as they parked.

"This is it," Alexander said quietly, his usual calm tinged with something heavier.

Kamsi swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she fiddled with the strap of her bag. The farmhouse was beautiful in a quiet, forgotten way, but the thought of what lay beyond its walls made her heart ache.

"Are you ready?" Alexander asked, his gaze steady as it rested on her.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, though the slight quaver in her voice betrayed her nerves.

They stepped onto the porch, the wooden boards creaking beneath their feet. Before they could knock, the door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman. Her face was lined with exhaustion, her eyes wary. She had the air of someone who had spent sleepless nights guarding her family from invisible threats.

"Yes?" she asked curtly, her grip tightening on the doorframe as her gaze flicked between them.

Alexander stepped forward, his tone measured and respectful. "Mrs. Eaton, my name is Alexander, and this is Kamsi. We're here about Sophia. We just want to—"

"You've got the wrong place," she snapped, moving to close the door.

"Please, we're not here to cause any trouble," Kamsi interjected quickly, her voice imploring. "We're her friends from school. We just want to see her, to make sure she's okay."

Mrs. Eaton's expression hardened further. "She doesn't need visitors. It's better if you leave."

Before she could shut the door, a man's voice called out from inside. "Who's there, Helen?"

Mrs. Eaton hesitated, glancing back. Moments later, a tall, broad-shouldered man appeared behind her, his presence commanding yet kind. "I'm her father," he said, stepping forward. "What do you need with Sophia?"

Kamsi and Alexander exchanged a glance. Alexander spoke first, his tone steady. "We need her help. What happened to her... We need her to come forward, to speak about what Jimmy did. She's the only one who can help us stop him."

Mr. Eaton's face darkened, the lines around his mouth deepening. He placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, a silent reassurance. "Come in," he said finally, stepping aside.

The living room was cozy but dimly lit, the curtains drawn as though to shield its occupants from the outside world. Sophia's mother sat stiffly on the edge of a chair, her arms folded tightly, while her father gestured for them to sit.

"Sophia isn't the same anymore," he began, his voice heavy with pain. "She used to light up every room she walked into. Now…now she barely speaks."

"Where is she?" Kamsi asked gently, her heart breaking at the raw grief in his eyes.

"Upstairs," Mrs. Eaton said reluctantly, her voice trembling. "But she won't talk to you."

"We'd like to try," Alexander said, his tone soft but firm.

After a long, tense silence, Mrs. Eaton gave a reluctant nod. "She's in her room. Second door on the left."

Kamsi and Alexander ascended the creaking staircase, their steps slow and hesitant. When they reached the door, Kamsi hesitated, her hand hovering over the knob.

"You got this," Alexander murmured, his voice a steady anchor.

Kamsi nodded and knocked softly. "Sophia? It's Kamsi and Alexander. Can we come in?"

After a pause, a faint voice replied, "Come in."

The sight that greeted them was heartbreaking. Sophia sat on the edge of her bed, her once vibrant face pale and drawn. Her eyes, once full of mischief and warmth, were now dull and lifeless.

"Sophia," Kamsi whispered, her voice cracking as she moved closer.

Sophia looked up, her lips twitching into a faint, fleeting smile. "You found me," she said, her voice barely audible.

Alexander took a step forward, his usual confidence tempered with gentleness. "We're here to help you, Sophia. But we need your help too."

Tears welled in Sophia's eyes as she looked away. "I don't want to talk about it," she murmured.

"I know it's hard," Kamsi said, her own tears threatening to spill. "But you're the only one who can stop him. If you speak up, you can save others from going through what you did."

Sophia's shoulders shook as silent sobs racked her frail frame. Slowly, she nodded. "Okay," she whispered. "I'll do it."

The room felt heavy, the weight of unspoken words pressing against the air. Sophia sat at the edge of her bed, her hands twisting nervously in her lap, fingers pulling at the hem of her oversized sweater. Her eyes darted to the window as if contemplating escape, then back to Kamsi and Alexander, who sat a few feet away, silently waiting.

Kamsi leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees, her hands clasped together. Her lips pressed tightly as she tried to steady her breathing. She could feel the tension radiating from Sophia, the fear wrapped tightly around her like a second skin. Alexander stood near the door, his arms crossed, the muscles in his jaw working furiously as he struggled to contain the storm brewing inside him.

Sophia took a shaky breath, her voice barely audible when she spoke. "I… I don't know if I should be telling you this." Her gaze dropped to her hands, trembling now, as if the weight of her story was too much to bear.

Kamsi reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against Sophia's. "You can trust us," she said softly, her voice filled with a warmth that matched the gentle squeeze of her hand.

Sophia's lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, her shoulders hunched further, as though trying to shield herself from an invisible threat. "They'll never believe me," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Alexander's voice, low and steady, cut through the tension. "We will. And we'll make them listen." His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers, offering an unspoken promise.

Sophia hesitated, her gaze flickering between them. Finally, she exhaled shakily. "It was Jimmy," she began, her voice trembling but steadying as she spoke. "We went to a nightclub… I thought it was just for fun. But…" She paused, her fingers twisting harder into the fabric of her sweater.

Kamsi leaned closer, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "It's okay," she encouraged gently. "Take your time."

Sophia nodded, swallowing hard. "He put something in my drink. I didn't notice at first—everything just felt… off. I started feeling dizzy, like the room was spinning, and before I could understand what was happening, he…" Her voice faltered, and she blinked rapidly, tears streaming down her face.

Alexander's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. His eyes burned with restrained fury as he forced himself to stay silent, not wanting to interrupt.

Sophia continued, her voice breaking. "He became touchy… too touchy. I tried to push him away, but I couldn't… I was too weak. He… he forced himself on me." Her voice cracked, and she covered her face with her hands, her body trembling as the words poured out.

Kamsi's heart shattered. She wanted to reach out and hug Sophia, to take away her pain, but she knew Sophia needed space to process. Instead, she whispered, "I'm so sorry, Sophia. None of this was your fault."

Sophia looked up, her face streaked with tears. "But when I tried to speak up, everyone blamed me. They said it was my fault for going with him, that I should've known better." Her voice rose, anger and despair mixing. "Do you know what that's like? To be told it's your fault when all you wanted was to have fun?"

Alexander's voice, quiet but resolute, broke the silence. "It's not your fault. And it never will be." His tone carried a weight that made Sophia look at him, truly look at him, for the first time.

She sniffled, her voice softer now. "But what can you do? Jimmy's family is powerful. They have everyone wrapped around their fingers."

Kamsi straightened, determination hardening her features. "I can do something, Sophia. I have the backing of the F4 families—Alexander's included. We'll make sure Jimmy faces the consequences."

Sophia's eyes widened, a flicker of hope breaking through her despair. "The F4?" she asked hesitantly.

Kamsi nodded firmly. "Yes. And they won't let him get away with this. You're not alone in this fight."

For the first time, Sophia's posture relaxed slightly. Her voice wavered as she said, "I… I thought I had no one. But maybe…" She glanced at Kamsi, then at Alexander, her lips trembling as a small, fragile smile appeared. "Maybe there's hope after all."

Alexander stepped closer, his tone softening but still resolute. "There is. I've already called my detective. We're going to take this one step at a time, and we won't stop until Jimmy gets what he deserves."

Sophia nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Her voice was faint but stronger than before. "Thank you."

Kamsi gave her a warm, encouraging smile. "You're braver than you think, Sophia. And you're not alone anymore."

As the room settled into a quieter, calmer atmosphere, the weight seemed to lift slightly. Sophia still carried her scars, but now there was a glimmer of light breaking through the darkness.