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What am I going to do? My next steps are crucial; I can't afford to hesitate now. Why do I keep letting her down? This is all my fault. How could I have doubted her regarding Jack? I should have trusted her instinct instead of waiting for proof I could see for myself. Jack has her at gunpoint, and is currently dragging her through in the garden, by her hair. I’m trying my hardest to come up with some sort of solution, but my mind has gone blank. He’s going to kill her if I can’t get my shit together. Trying to talk him down would be pointless; he’s not interested in anyone’s words. Even if I did manage to get through to him, it wouldn’t matter, compassion simply isn’t something that registers with him.

Cautiously he edges his way around the side of the house, proceeding toward the driveway. I trail behind him, keeping my distance. Just far enough that he won’t swing the gun in my direction, but close enough to keep Raine in my line of sight. I can't lose her; the thought of what he might do if I fuck this up sends a chill down my spine. My heart races as I try to anticipate his next move. I have to find a way to get Raine out of his clutches before it's too late. He halts at the end of the driveway, pausing as if weighing the gravity of his surroundings. Confusion flickers in his eyes.

In a startling shift, he yanks Raine off the ground by her hair, his voice booming as he screams inches from her face. The tension crackles in the air, thick with the unexpected eruption of emotions. “This is all your fault, you did this.”

I’m frozen in place as I resist the urge to run up to her, if I do anything, my stupidity could get her killed. One wrong move and he will shoot her, I have complete faith that he will rise to the occasion. Abruptly he shoves Raine to the ground, still pointing the gun at her. She squirms and moans lying in the fetal position and with a hard swing of his foot, Jack kicks her in the stomach again and again. Fury burns through me and I close my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to find my focus. I refuse to stand by and watch him hurt Raine any longer. There has to be a way for me to do something.

I can’t quite grasp the events that unfolded in the fleeting two seconds I had my eyes closed, but when I opened them again, I was met with a captivating sight: Raine was expertly targeting Jack’s feet, her kicks precise and unrelenting. With every swift jab, she disrupted his balance, making him sway. Finally, with a hefty kick, she sends him tumbling to the ground, where he lands flat on his back, a surprised look etched on his face.

I’m already in motion before my mind fully grasps the gravity of the situation. Just as I near them, Jack rises, his eyes fixed on Raine with a chilling intensity. For a fleeting moment, there’s a flicker of fear in his gaze, but it quickly disappears.

With a harsh grip on her upper arm, he yanks Raine back to her feet, aiming the gun at her as he begins to retreat toward the parked cars across the street. He keeps walking to the cars, and I keep my distance, my feet practically itching to sprint closer. It appears he’s locked in a confrontation with Raine, though honestly, he could just as easily be arguing with himself, his rants are a trademark of his.

As they draw closer to the parked cars, my view of them begins to fade, and a cold wave of dread crashes over me at the thought of losing Raine. My heart races, pounding against my chest like a war drum, each beat echoing my fear. I’m frozen momentarily, paralyzed by the terrifying possibilities that loom ahead. I suck in a few deep, grounding breaths, before cautiously moving forward. Anger blurs my vision and I strain to see clearly, catching only a fleeting glimpse of Jack's head in the distance.

Suddenly, the sharp crack of a gunshot pierces the air, followed by the haunting sound of Raine's screams reverberating in my ears. Panic surges through me as I sprint toward her, fueled by a primal instinct to protect, oblivious to the danger that surrounds me. I refuse to entertain the thought of losing her; I simply can’t. When I finally reach Raine, she’s hunched over on the ground, and a chilling sense of urgency washes over me as I scan for Jack, who seems to have vanished into thin air, where the fuck is he?