a's

m ready to unleash. The silence vibrated with the kind of fu

ide, my thoughts churned with a mix of anger and confusion. I sh

s sights set on her, right?" For a brief moment, Uncle Zorah's eyes flickered with something that straddled amusement and ang

cisely at my head. I sidestepped smoothly, leaning against the doorframe as

ed harmlessly against the wall. Her eyes blazed, glaring at me like I was

ncess. I get that being perfect is a tough job, but

keep up his mask of power, but it was slipping-just slightly. He stood up slowly, smoothing down his suit as though he were in full cont

one holding all the cards, and I'm just the poor little pawn caught in your little game." I let ou

knife. The old man-whose name I still hadn't even bothered to learn-was watching th

here, like it belonged on a rat. "You know," the old man finally rasped, his voice like nails on a cha

mehow, that made it all the worse. They all seemed so used to this, like

oing anywhere," I snapped, lifting my chin in de

and now you think you have the power to defy us?" I could feel my anger bubbling, but I wasn't about to let her get under my skin. Instead, I p

he room, shaking the walls and rattling the glassware. I flinched, but didn't back down. He was losin

e a choice in this. Sign the damn contract or we'll make you wish you had." His words were like cold st

see it. Not now. "You'll make me wish, huh?" I raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer to the table, staring Uncle Zorah dead

moment of pure adrenaline surge through me, but then the old man stood up, cutting off any possibility of fu

e time to waste,

er ran down my spine, but I refused to le

ow it out the window, burn it, rip it apart-but I knew there was no point in that. My mind raced for an escape, but each path only led me

it felt like I was drowning in it all. Then, with a forceful motion, Unc

rdered, his voice leav

re building, but I wasn't going to be crushed by it. I grabbed the pen and with determination, I signed

m him as he watched me. Meera let out a soft, c

od g

ment, I had th