Fucking Zara!

Slap!!

A sharp crack echoed through the stairwell.

Ethan's head snapped to the side, the force of the slap making him stumble. His fingers grazed his burning cheek, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

His lips parted. "Uncle—"

Kendrick took another step forward, lifting his hand again.

Ethan flinched.

Zara exhaled shakily, the tight grip on her throat now just a ghost of pain. She pressed a hand against the wall for balance, her breath uneven. 

Kendrick reached out to her, helping her stand properly, "Are you alright?" He asked, his face ridden with worry and concern.

She forced herself to straighten, to steady her voice. "I— I'm fine." The words felt foreign, her throat still raw from Ethan's grip. 

Her lungs still felt tight, her body remembering the pressure of Ethan's fingers before her mind could catch up. Even as she stood upright, she wasn't sure if she was breathing properly or just pretending to.