Like this was a room they expected to control.
Two men stepped inside. Different ones this time. Not the ones who’d grabbed me. These were younger. Sloppier. One had a buzz cut and an oversized hoodie, the other wore a jacket with a faded military patch on the sleeve like he’d bought it off a thrift store mannequin. The taller one let the door shut behind him, locking us back into stale air and fluorescent hum.
“Time for round two,” the buzz-cut one muttered, cracking his knuckles as he looked straight at Hailey.
Round two meant they’d already decided we were objects.
Not people.
Not problems.
Just something to be handled.
She stiffened next to me, breath stuttering out of her chest.
“No,” I said quickly, pushing her behind me. “You want someone? Take me.”
I didn’t think about myself.
Didn’t think about my ribs or my wrists or the way my head still swam when I moved too fast.
All I could see was how small Hailey looked pressed against the wall.
And how no one was taking her if I was still breathing.
He didn’t even hesitate.
Didn’t say a word.
He lunged.
I didn’t move fast enough. I wasn’t strong enough. His hand caught Hailey’s arm and yanked her forward with a snap that sent her skidding. She hit the wall hard and folded to the floor with a choked sound.
Something inside me went quiet.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Just a clean, dangerous stillness.
Rage tunneled my vision.
I didn’t think. Just moved.
I threw myself at him, fists swinging, body crashing into his side like I could somehow make him feel how wrong this was.He stumbled, cursing, and backhanded me hard enough to send stars exploding behind my eyes.
My head slammed the floor. My ears rang. But I didn’t stop.
Because she wasn’t moving.
Because I was done watching.
Buzz Cut shoved me back with a growl, but I rolled, got my knees under me, and lunged again. I didn’t have a plan. Just adrenaline and fury and the full-body knowledge that if I didn’t fight now, we might not get another chance.
I slammed into his midsection. We hit the ground, and I went for his face, his eyes, anything soft. His elbow caught my ribs. Pain exploded through my side, but I didn’t stop.
“Get the fuck off me!” he barked, but I was already twisting, biting, clawing.
