(Kai's POV)
The closet door muffled it, but not enough.
It wasn't nearly enough to mask it. It was sharp, shattered words out there – Marie's tearful fury, Jarvis's low, defensive rumble – it pierced the wood, it pierced the fabric of my dress, my skin.
And just like that I was back in Ravenwood hiding in my closet, trying to drown out Greg's noise.
I was free but not really right? Every loud noise was Greg coming back. Its always Greg coming back.
My breath hitched, it was sharp and painful.
I pulled my knees tighter to my chest, burying my face against them in the dusty shoe closet.
Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart hammered against my ribs. Too loud. Too angry. Too much like before.
Then, a different sound came. It was softer and kinder, it was the sound of the closet door opening.
Light from the bedroom stabbed my eyes. I flinched, squeezing them shut, bracing for… I didn't know what.
"Kai?" Jack's voice, low and rough with worry, cut through the panic.
